Systematics and taphonomy of an Early Kimmeridgian belemnite fauna from the Mediterranean Tethys (Monte Nerone, Central Apennines, Italy)

About three hundred belemnite rostra were collected from lower Kimmeridgian beds of a structural high sequence cropping out at Mt. Nerone (Central Apennines, Pesaro Province, Italy). The belemnite fauna is composed mainly of new species. Nine species were recognised, ascribed to five genera, that include Hibolithes semisulcatus M?NSTER, 1830; H. pignattii nov. sp.; Acutibelus sp. cf. acuariformis RIEGRAF, 1981; Belemnopsis neronensis nov. sp., Duvalia matteuccii nov. sp., D. nicosiai nov. sp., D. pallinii nov. sp., D. raymondi nov. sp. and Rhopaloteuthis massimoi nov. sp.; moreover a single specimen is treated in open nomenclature as Belemnopseidae incertae sedis. The stratigraphic and palaeobiogeographic significance of the new fauna is discussed. The taphonomy of the belemnite-rich level is described, with reference to borings found on the belemnite rostra.     

First record of a belemnite preserved with beaks,arms and ink sac from the Nusplingen Lithographic Limestone (Kimmeridgian,SW Germany)

Klug, C., Schweigert, G., Fuchs, D. & Dietl, G. 2009: First record of a belemnite preserved with beaks, arms and ink sac from the Nusplingen Lithographic Limestone (Kimmeridgian, SW Germany). Lethaia, 10.1111/j.1502‐3931.2009.00203.x A recent discovery of an unusually preserved belemnite from Nusplingen comprises the extraordinarily rare remains of beaks and nearly in situ arm hooks, as well as the ink sac and an incomplete phragmocone. So far, Hibolithes semisulcatus ( Münster, 1830 ) is the only belemnite known from the Nusplingen Lithographic Limestone (Upper Jurassic, Late Kimmeridgian, Beckeri Zone, Ulmense Subzone; SW Germany) that has the same phragmocone shape and size, and thus we assign the new specimen to this taxon. The rostrum was probably lost due to a lethal predation attempt in which the prey was killed but not entirely eaten. For the first time a specimen reveals details of the belemnite beak morphology, which we compare with the beaks of other Jurassic coleoids. This specimen presently represents the only known rostrum‐bearing belemnite of post‐Toarcian age with preserved non‐mineralized body parts. With the new discovery, Nusplingen now represents the only locality which has yielded complete beak apparatuses from all major Jurassic cephalopod groups. □Beaks, Belemnitida, Coleoidea, Germany, Late Jurassic, morphology, taphonomy.     

New records of early Middle Jurassic belemnites in the French Subalpine Basin and their paleobiogeographic significance

A biostratigraphic and systematic study based on belemnites collected along with ammonites was performed on four sections in the Subalpine Basin (SE France): Lac du Castillon and La Baume (Castellane area), Galabrun and Grand Lara (Gap area). The specimens, originating from hemi-pelagic marl-limestone alternations in the lower part of the “Calcaires à Zoophycos” Formation, are dated from Middle Aalenian (Murchisonae Zone) to Lower Bajocian (Humphriesianum Zone). Five belemnite taxa (Megateuthis elliptica, Holcobelus munieri, H. trauthi, Pachybelemnopsis roettingensis, Hibolithes sp.) have been identified, and two more taxa are reported in an open nomenclature (Belemnitida incertae sedis sp. 1 and sp. 2). The biostratigraphic range of the belemnite fauna is established. The new findings contribute to a more detailed understanding of the paleobiogeography of holcobelid belemnites that flourished at the northern margin of the Tethys Ocean and formed a distinct sub-Mediterranean fauna. The association herein described is similar to the fauna of the Calabro-Peloritani Arc (Calabria, Italy), a further hint for the supposed paleogeographic position of the latter during the Middle Jurassic.     

New and Little-known Nymphs of Gryllones (Insecta) from the Lower Permian of Russia

New nymphs of the gryllones insects (Insecta; Gryllones) Iblatta attrepida gen. et sp. nov. (Eoblattida incertae sedis) and Tshekardushka artenatis gen. et sp. nov. (Reculida incertae sedis) from the Lower Permian Chekarda locality (Kungurian Stage of Russia) are described. The nymph of Czekardia blattoides Martynov, 1940 (Eoblattida incertae sedis) from Chekarda is redescribed.     

Stable isotope and trace element geochemistry of Upper Cretaceous carbonates and belemnite rostra (Middle Campanian, north Germany)

Trace element contents and stable isotopic composition of Middle Campanian marl-limestone rhythmites and belemnite rostra of Belemnitella mucronata were investigated. High strontium and low iron as well as manganese and magnesium contents of belemnite calcite and bulk rock samples suggest no diagenetic overprint. However, the orange-coloured cathodoluminescence of coccolith-rich sediments indicates diagenetic cementation and/or recrystallization. The non-luminescent belemnite rostra reveal an extraordinary preservation of the microstructures that is interpreted to have been favoured by a silification of the outer rim of the belemnite rostra. Carbon isotope ratios of the coccolith limestones and belemnite rostra are comparable, with higher δ¹³C variations observed for belemnite calcite. The 1.5-2‰ depletion in δ¹⁸O of the marl-limestone rhythmites relative to belemnite calcite is explained by diagenetic alteration of the sediments. Palaeotemperatures, calculated from the δ¹⁸O values of the well-preserved belemnite rostra, are around 12.5 ± 2 °C and suggest rather low sea-surface temperatures for the Middle Campanian epicontinental sea of north Germany assuming a water depth of less than 100 m.     

浙江和江西二叠/三叠系界线以下的软骨鱼类微体化石——华南二叠/三叠系界线上下鱼类序列研究之五

记述了浙江长兴县煤山剖面、江西修水县四都乡东岭剖面和信丰县铁石口镇铁石口剖面二叠/三叠系界线以下的软骨鱼类10个类别的微体化石,包含5科6属5种,其中有3新属5新种,它们是:刘氏煤山鲨(Meishanselache liuigen.et sp.nov.)、王氏长兴鲨(Changxingsela-che wangigen.et sp.nov.)、东岭中华尖齿鲨(Sinacrodus donglingensis gen.et sp.nov.)、修水滑齿鲨(Lissodus xiushuiensis sp.nov.)和江西多尖齿鲨(Polyacrodus jiangxiensis sp.nov.)。浙、赣两省的这批软骨鱼类微体化石显示两个特点:组成以弓鲛超科化石为主;发现于特提斯区三叠纪的鲨类与发现于中国南方晚二叠世的鲨类具有密切的亲缘关系。这是包含全球二叠/三叠系界线层型剖面和点位(GSSP)在内的全球二叠/三叠系界线以下软骨鱼类微体化石序列的首次报道。软骨鱼类是我国鱼类化石研究中最为薄弱的一个环节,本文化石的记述大大地填补了这个薄弱环节。     

Tremadoc (earliest Ordovician) brachiopods from Purmamarca and the Sierra de Mojotoro, Cordillera Oriental of northwestern Argentina

The Late Tremadoc storm-dominated shoreface to inner platform deposits exposed west of the Purmamarca village (Coquena Formation) contain a considerably more diverse brachiopod fauna than previously reported. Coquinite horizons from the lower heterolitic succession have yielded monospecific associations of Nanorthis purmamarcaensis nov. sp. (formerly assigned to N. christianiae KJERULF), which is also reported from the Late Tremadoc rocks of the Cerro San Bernardo area. The fine-grained Upper Member of the Coquena Formation contains a more diverse fauna composed by Nanorthis brachymyaria nov. sp., Astraborthis quebradensis nov. sp. and the new plectorthid genus Lipanorthis (type species L. andinus nov. sp.). A different species of Lipanorthis (L. santalaurae nov. sp.) from the Mid Tremadoc Floresta Formation of the Sierra de Mojotoro is also described.     

New latest Permian foraminifers from Laren (Guangxi Province, South China): Palaeobiogeographic implications

Microfacies analyses performed on the latest Permian Wujiaping Formation at Laren (Guangxi Province, South China) show that the bioclastic-rich limestones of Late Permian age contain a rich and well-diversified foraminiferal fauna. This fauna is here revised in order to be compared with time-equivalent levels of southern Iran and southern Turkey. Some new and unexpected phylogenetic trends are highlighted among the biseriamminoids. The new or poorly known genera Retroseptellina, Septoglobivalvulina, Paraglobivalvulinoides, Dagmarita?, Bidagmarita nov. gen., Louisettita, Paradagmaritopsis nov. gen. and Paradagmarita? are concerned. Nevertheless, these newly appeared biseriamminoids are subordinate to abundant Tetrataxis and Climacammina, ultimate survivors of the families Palaeotextulariidae and Tetrataxidae, appeared as old as the Early Carboniferous (“Mississippian”). Algae, miliolids, and nodosarioids are poorly represented. Two genera and four species are here newly described: Globivalvulina curiosa nov. sp., Louisettita ultima nov. sp., Bidagmarita nov. gen., Bidagmarita sinica nov. gen. nov. sp., Paradagmaritopsis nov. gen., Paradagmaritopsis kobayashii nov. gen. nov. sp. The palaeogeographic distribution of these foraminifers is interpreted to be typically of Neo-Tethyan regions, ranging from southern Turkey (Hazro) to South China (Laren) and up to Japan for some species (i.e., Paradagmaritopsis). At Laren, Late Permian strata are generally characterized by Reichelina ex gr. simplex Sheng. Isolated samples of packstones, collected in Tsoteng region (Guangxi Province, South China), contain Sphaerulina sp. together with various smaller foraminifers and numerous representatives of the new species G. curiosa nov. sp. In this study we demonstrate that the regions of Zagros (Iran), Taurus (Turkey), South China and even Japan shared similar foraminiferal assemblages and represented intermittently connected palaeobiogeographic provinces during Late Permian times.     

New foliicolous lichens from New Zealand 2

Two new species of foliicolous lichens from New Zealand are described and illustrated. The most characteristic trait ofDimerella flava sp. nov. (Gyalectaceae) is its pale yellow tubular pycnidia, which clothe the algal-containing thallus on the upper surface of leaves and sometimes also on thin twigs.Porinula setifera sp. nov. (incertae sedis) is closely related to the type species ofPorinula, P. tanzanica, but differs in having hyaline setae on its perithecia and mostly simple paraphysoids.     

SHARKS OF THE ORDER CARCHARHINIFORMES FROM THE BRITISH CONIACIAN, SANTONIAN AND CAMPANIAN (UPPER CRETACEOUS)

Abstract: Bulk sampling of phosphate‐rich horizons within the British Coniacian to Campanian (Upper Cretaceous) yielded very large samples of shark and ray teeth. All of these samples yielded teeth of diverse members of the Carcharhiniformes, which commonly dominate the fauna. The following species are recorded and described: Pseudoscyliorhinus reussi ( Herman, 1977 ) comb. nov., Crassescyliorhinus germanicus ( Herman, 1982 ) gen. nov., Scyliorhinus elongatus ( Davis, 1887 ), Scyliorhinus brumarivulensis sp. nov., ?Palaeoscyllium sp., Prohaploblepharus riegrafi ( Müller, 1989 ) gen. nov., ?Cretascyliorhinus sp., Scyliorhinidae incertae sedis 1, Scyliorhinidae incertae sedis 2, Pteroscyllium hermani sp. nov., Protoscyliorhinus sp., Leptocharias cretaceus sp. nov., Palaeogaleus havreensis Herman, 1977 , Paratriakis subserratus sp. nov., Paratriakis tenuis sp. nov., Paratriakis sp. indet. and ?Loxodon sp. Taxa belonging to the families ?Proscylliidae, Leptochariidae and Carcharhinidae are described from the Cretaceous for the first time. The evolutionary and palaeoecological implications of these newly recognised faunas are discussed.     

On the Emsian (Lower Devonian) arthropods of the Rhenish Schiefergebirge: 1.Xenarachne, an enigmatic arachnid from Willwerath, Germany

A new fossil arachnid,Xenarachne willwerathensis n. gen., n. sp. is described from the Lower Devonian (upper Lower Emsian) Klerf-beds of Willwerath, Germany. This intriguing fossil has a pedicel and pygidium, indicating that it belongs to the tetrapulmonate arachnids, but cannot be referred with confidence to any particular order. It is placed as Tetrapulmonata incertae sedis, though has similarities to whip spiders (Amblypygi) and spiders (Araneae).Xenarachne could even represent a very early spider, though the Devonian arachnid fauna could have included taxa which did not belong in any currently recognised order.Xenarachne may be an example of just such a fossil.     

Marine Heterotrophic Amoebae, Flagellates and Heliozoa From Belize (Central America) and Tenerife (Canary Islands), With Descriptions of New Species, Luffisphaera Bulbochaete N. Sp., L. Longihastis N. Sp., L. Turriformis N. Sp. and Paulinella Intermedia N. Sp.

ABSTRACT. Thirty four taxa of heterotrophic protists (amoebae, flagellates and heliozoa) were encountered in cultures established from marine samples from Belize (Central America) and Tenerife (Canary Islands). Most species are flagellates drawn from the choanoflagellates, the cryptophyceans, the euglenids, the kinetoplastids, the bicosoecids, the chromulinids, the pedinellids and a variety of laxa of uncertain affinities (Protista incertae sedis). the identity of the thecate choanoflagellates Salpingoeca ringens Kent, 1880, and S. tuba Kent, 1880, is discussed, and four new species of heterotrophic protists are described: one new species of the amoeba genus Paulinella (Paulinella intermedia n. sp.) and three new species of the incertae sedis genus Luffisphaera Belcher & Swale, 1975 ( Luffisphaera bulbochaete n. sp.; L. longihastis n. sp.; L. turriformis n. sp.).     

Brachiopods from the family Ambocoeliidae George (Order Spiriferida) from the Emsian (Lower Devonian) of northeastern Russia

Brachiopods from the family Ambocoeliidae George from the Emsian (Lower Devonian) of northeastern Russia are described: Bisinocoelia despecta sp. nov.; Yakutospirifer gen. nov. with the type species Y. krivensis sp. nov.; Micospirifer gen. nov. with the type species M. simplex sp. nov.; Kolymospirifer gen. nov. with the type species K. optatus sp. nov. (subfamily Ambocoeliinae); Datnospirifer gen. nov. with the type species D. alius sp. nov.; Khalimospirifer gen. nov. with the type species Kh. microscopicus sp. nov.; Gerospirifer gen. nov. with the type species G. normalis sp. nov., and G. gerensis sp. nov.; Dogdospirifer gen. nov. with the type species D. yolkini sp. nov. (subfamily Rhynchospiriferinae).     

Valbro : un nouveau site à vertébrés de l’Oligocène inférieur (MP22) de France (Quercy). I – Contexte géologique ; Mammalia : Rodentia,Hyaenodontida, Carnivora

The locality Valbro (Quercy, France) has yielded a rich fossil vertebrate fauna. Here are presented the geological context, a preliminary faunal list and the systematics of the Rodentia and carnivores, the most abundant taxa of the fauna. The Rodentia are known from 11 taxa: the Theridomyidae Blainvillimys gregarius Schlosser, 1884, Blainvillimys ?gemellus Vianey-Liaud, 1989, Issiodoromys medius (Vianey-Liaud, 1976) and S. cayluxi Schlosser, 1884, the Aplodontidae Plesispermophilus angustidens Filhol, 1882, the Gliridae Butseloglis tenuis (Bahlo, 1975), Butseloglis micio (Misonne, 1957) and Bransatoglis planus (Bahlo, 1975), the Sciuridae Palaeosciurus goti Vianey-Liaud, 1974 and cf. Oligopetes sp., and the Cricetidae Atavocricetodon sp. aff. A. nanus (Pelaez-Campomanes, 1995). Thirteen taxa of carnivores are present at Valbro; among the Hyaenodontida: Hyaenodon leptorhynchus Laizer et Parieu, 1838 and cf. Apterodon sp.; among the Carnivora: a Feliformia gen. et sp. indet., the Nimravidae Nimravus intermedius (Filhol, 1872), Dinailurictis bonali Helbing, 1922 and Nimravidae gen. et sp. indet. (Certainly belonging to one the two already identified species), the Ursida Pachycynodon crassirostris Schlosser, 1888, Pachycynodon sp., Amphicynodon sp. 1 cf. A. typicus (Schlosser, 1888), Amphicynodon ? sp. 2 and Ursida gen. et sp. indet. cf. Pachycynodon boriei (Filhol, 1876), the Mustelida M. olivieri Bonis, 1997, the Carnivora incertae sedis Palaeogale sectoria (Gervais, 1848–1852), the Arctoidea gen. et sp. indet. and Carnivora gen. et sp. indet. (probably representing taxa already identified at lower taxonomic levels). The evolutionary grade of B. gregarius of Valbro compares to that of the species from Mas de Got, La Plante 2 and Cavalé, which supports an MP22 age for Valbro. This datation is further supported by the association of Theridomyinae yielded by the locality (B. gregarius, B. gemellus, I. medius and S. cayluxi), and by the presence of a N. intermedius that well compares the material of the species from Villebramar, La Plante et Mas de Got, of D. bonali, P. sectoria, M. olivieri (species known only from Mas de Got), and by additional evidence from the remaining vertebrates from Valbro, especially the squamates. Despite a limited amount of specimens (341 specimens have been studied), the faunas of rodents and carnivores from Valbro are the most speciose and diverse known for the MP22 level and, for the Carnivora fauna in particular, for the Oligocene of the Old World.     

Alilepus meini nov. sp. (Leporidae,Lagomorpha) from the Early Messinian of Tuscany (central-western Italy)

Alilepus meini nov. sp., a new leporid known only from the Early Messinian of central-western Italy (Baccinello-Cinigiano basin, V3 faunal assemblage; Tuscany), is described here. A. meini nov. sp. is an endemic taxon – not inherited from the older Tusco-Sardinian assemblages – of the continental and balanced BCB V3 fauna. The peculiarities of A. meini nov. sp. mainly reside in the occlusal surface of p3 (very large anteroconid, extremely short talonid, deep and crenulated posterior flexids, extremely thin protoisthmus) and P3 (wide hypoflexus). A. meini nov. sp. seems closely related to Alilepus turolensis, as testified by shared morphological characters (globous anteroconid and deep protoflexid, very thin protoisthmus). Palaeobiogeographical evidences support morphological data as A. meini nov. sp. and A. turolensis are the only two species of the genus present in western Europe.     

New genera and species of coelacanths from the Bear Gulch Limestone (Lower Carboniferous) of Montana (U.S.A.)

Four new species of coelacanths (Actinistia) from the Namurian E2b marine Bear Gulch Limestone of Montana are described, and a fifth species, originally described as an actinopterygian, is redescribed. Two new suborders are diagnosed. The taxonomy is: Suborder Coelacanthocdei, family Rhabdodermatidae, Caridosuctor populosum nov. sp., suborder Hadronectoroidei nov., family Hadronectoridae nov., Hadronector donbairdi nov. sp., Polyosteorhynchus simplex nov. sp. and Allenypterus montanusMelton. Lochmocercus aciculiodontus nov. sp. is incertae sedis.     

Cephalopod and brachiopod fossils from the Pacific: Evidence from the Upper Cretaceous of the Magellan Seamounts

Maastrichtian cephalopods and a brachiopod were dredged from the Butakov, Fedorov, Kotsebu, Il’ichev, Govorov, Gelendzhik, and Ita-Mai-Tai guyots in the Magellan Seamounts. The ammonoids Hypophylloceras sp., Phyllopachiceras sp., Anagaudryceras? sp. A, Anagaudryceras? sp. B, Gaudryceras aff. propemite Marshall, Gaudryceras sp., and Pseudophyllites cf. indra (Forbes), and the single brachiopod Basiliolidae gen. and sp. indet. are a first discovery in this oceanic region, following earlier finds of belemnites (Dimitobelus? sp., Dimitobelidae gen. and sp. nov., and Belemnitella? sp.), and two ammonoid species (Zelandites aff. japonicus Matsumoto and Tetragonitidae gen. and sp. indet.). The Late Cretaceous Magellan Seamounts dimitobelid belemnite fauna shows affinities with southern high latitude forms (New Zealand) and the ammonoid fauna with northern, middle and high latitude ones (Hokkaido-Sakhalin and/or Kamchatka). This suggests by the end of the Cretaceous major surface palaeo-currents from S and N sides in direction of the central Palaeo-Pacific, a position coinciding with the plate tectonic reconstruction of the Magellan Seamounts.     

Groupe de Candona clivosa, nouveau groupe de Candoninae (Crustacea, Ostracoda) et sa diversification dans le Bassin de Turiec (Slovaquie) au Miocène supérieur

The Candona clivosa-group, a new group of Candoninae - is erected on the base of the folded inner lamella observed on the postero-ventral border of the female valve. The elongated sub-triangular and rectangular valves of this group are described from the Miocene and Quaternary deposits of Europe. A folded inner lamella is also observed in 11 species of Candona from the Upper Miocene of the Turiec Basin of which 8 are new - Candona fatrica nov. sp., C. tatrica nov. sp., C. lacustris nov. sp., C. palustris nov. sp., C. stagnosa nov. sp., C. laterisimilis nov. sp., C. jiriceki nov. sp. and C. incurva nov. sp. They show a higher variability of the outline, calcification of the valves and width of the zone of concrescence. The extrinsic and intrinsic aspects of this morphological diversification in the Turiec Basin are discussed.     

A new genus Thubdora Park,gen. nov. and seven new species of the subfamily Torodorinae (Lepidoptera,Lecithoceridae) from Cameroon and Rep. of Congo,Africa

Based on the material collected from Cameroon in 1913–1918 and Congo in 1993 which are preserved in the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Pittsburgh, USA, a new genus Thubdora Park, gen. nov. and seven new species of the subfamily Torodorinae (Lecithoceridae) are described. They are Torodora efulenensis sp. nov., Dragmatucha hispidula sp. nov.; and five species of Thubdora: T. acutalis sp. nov., T. bilobella sp. nov., T. aciphalla sp. nov., T. ambliodes sp. nov., and T. cameroona sp. nov. In addition, six species of Lecithocera Herrich-Shäffer described by Viette, 1955, Viette, 1986 and Meyrick, 1931, Meyrick, 1933 are newly transferred to Torodora and its related genera, due to the male genital characters: Idiopteryx adella (Viette, 1955), comb. nov.; Thubdora decavella (Viette, 1955), comb. nov.; Thubdora mocquerysella (Viette, 1955), comb. nov.; Torodora kambanella (Viette, 1986), comb. nov.; Torodora masoalella (Viette, 1955), comb. nov.; Torodora monobyrsa (Meyrick, 1931), comb. nov.; and T. ochrometra (Meyrick, 1933), comb. nov. For the new species, images of adults with their labels and genitalia are provided.     

云南禄丰古猿地点的松鼠类化石

记述了云南禄丰晚中新世石灰坝古猿地点发现的松鼠科化石。禄丰石灰坝动物群的松鼠动物共有 7属 7种 :地松鼠Sciurotamiaswangisp .nov .,树松鼠Tamiopssp .、Callosciurussp .、Dremomysprimitivussp .nov .和飞松鼠Miopetauristaasiaticasp .nov .、Hylopetodondianensegen .etsp.nov.、Pteromyinaegen.etsp .indet.。该动物群松鼠类动物的组成以树松鼠和飞松鼠为主 ,反映了较为湿润的热带—亚热带森林环境。在动物地理上 ,其成员几乎局限于东南亚分布 ,具有浓厚的现代东洋界色彩