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.     

Description of Phaeobola aeris gen. nov., sp. nov (Rhizaria,Cercozoa, Euglyphida) Sheds Light on Euglyphida’s Dark Matter

The majority of Euglyphida species are characterised by shells with imbricated silica scales. Environmental surveys indicate a large unexplored diversity and recent efforts hinted at a certain diversity of yet undescribed, inconspicuous, scale-lacking Euglyphida. Here we describe Phaeobola aeris gen. nov., sp. nov. that shows a variety of morphological characters typical for the Euglyphida but lacks silica scales-instead, this species bears an agglutinated test. Neither its morphology nor phylogenetic placement allows its assignment to any currently described family. We erected the yet monospecific genus Phaeobola gen. nov., which with yet available data remain Euglyphida incertae sedis.     

Early Middle Jurassic vertebrate microremains from the Three Gorges area,southern China

Vertebrate microremains were collected from the Middle Jurassic freshwater deposits of the Lower Member of the Xietan Formation in the Three Gorges area, Hubei Province, People's Republic of China. They include remains of hybodont sharks (Hybodus aff. “H.” parvidens, Hybodus sp., cf. Parvodus sp., Polyacrodus sp. and Hubeiodus ziguiensis gen. et sp. nov.), an actinopterygian fish, and a crocodyliform. The diversity of hybodont sharks in the Xietan Formation and the appearance of a peculiar pattern of tooth morphology in Hubeiodus ziguiensis suggest the adaptive radiation of these sharks in freshwater systems in China during the Middle Jurassic. This diversification led to the rich endemic hybodont faunas of the Lower Cretaceous in Asia.     

Homalodontus nom. nov., a replacement name for Wapitiodus Mutter,de Blanger and Neuman, 2007 (Homalodontidae nom. nov., ?Hybodontoidea), preoccupied by Wapitiodus Orchard, 2005

The replacement names Homalodontus nom. nov. ( Homalodontidae nom. nov. ) are proposed for the Early Triassic shark Wapitiodus Mutter et al., 2007 (Wapitiodidae Mutter et al., 2007), preoccupied by the Triassic conodont Wapitiodus Orchard, 2005 (Gondolellidea Lindström, 1970 ). © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 154 , 419–420.     

Chondrichthyans from a Cenomanian (Late Cretaceous) bonebed,Saskatchewan, Canada

Abstract: Acid preparation of samples of a bonebed from the Cenomanian of central Canada yielded several thousand well‐preserved chondrichthyan teeth, in addition to numerous other vertebrate remains. Teeth and other remains of one species of chimaeroid, one species of hybodont shark, three species of Ptychodus, 10 species of neoselachian sharks and two species of batoid were recorded. The family Archaeolamnidae fam. nov., genera Meristodonoides gen. nov. and Telodontaspis gen. nov. and species Ptychodus rhombodus sp. nov., Telodontaspis agassizensis gen et sp. nov., Eostriatolamia paucicorrugata sp. nov., Roulletia canadensis sp. nov., Cretorectolobus robustus sp. nov. and Orectoloboides angulatus sp. nov. are described. Status of the genus Palaeoanacorax and the species Cretoxyrhina denticulata, Squalicorax curvatus and ‘Rhinobatos’incertus are discussed, and reconstructed dentitions of Archaeolamna and Roulletia presented. The fauna is of low diversity and dominated by active hunters, with many species apparently endemic to the northern Western Interior Seaway.     

Squatiniformes (Chondrichthyes,Neoselachii) from the Late Cretaceous of southern England and northern France with redescription of the holotype of Squatina cranei Woodward, 1888

Abstract: Bulk sampling of phosphate‐rich horizons within the Late Cretaceous of the Anglo‐Paris Basin yielded numerous teeth of members of the Squatiniformes. Along with isolated tooth remains, two museum specimens comprising partial articulated encoskeletal remains including the holotype of the species Squatina cranei Woodward, 1888a are described, and a new subgenus Cretascyllium is proposed for species of the genus Squatina with high degree of heterodonty and triangular anterior teeth. The species Squatina (Cretascyllium) cranei comb. nov. and Squatina (Cretascyllium) hassei comb. nov. are referred to this subgenus. The genus Parasquatina Herman, 1982 previously erected on a single tooth is valid, and two new species P. justinensis sp. nov. and P. jarvisi sp. nov. are described along with a third taxon Parasquatina sp. An enigmatic tooth referred to ?Neoselachii incertae sedis is also reported. The palaeoecology of these taxa is discussed.     

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。     

Ascominuta lignicola, a new loculoascomycete from submerged wood in Hong Kong

Ascominuta lignicola gen. et sp. nov. is described and illustrated based on a specimen collected on submerged wood in Hong Kong.Ascominuta lignicola is characterised by relatively small ascomata, globose, 4-spored asci, and ascospores with an elaborate sheath.Ascominuta lignicola is compared withMassarina, Mycosphaerella andWettsteinina. The placement ofAscominuta in the Ascomycetesincertae sedis is discussed.     

Palaeobiology of tanaidaceans (Crustacea: Peracarida) from Cretaceous ambers: extending the scarce fossil record of a diverse peracarid group

Diverse assemblages of tanaidacean peracarid crustaceans from western Tethyan continental deposits suggest that the group was relatively common in or around ancient resin‐producing forests. Here we report the results of an examination of 13 tanaidacean specimens from three Cretaceous (Albian to Turonian) French amber deposits. Two new species of the fossil family Alavatanaidae are placed in the previously described Early Cretaceous genus Eurotanais: Eurotanais pyrenaensis sp. nov. from Cenomanian Pyrenean amber (Fourtou, Aude) and Eurotanais seilacheri sp. nov. from Turonian Vendean amber (La Garnache, Vendée). The remaining specimens are placed in three newly erected genera and species (but family incertae sedis): Arcantitanais turpis gen. et sp. nov. from Albian–Cenomanian Charentese amber (Archingeay, Charente‐Maritime), and Tytthotanais tenvis gen. et sp. nov. and Armadillopsis rara gen. et sp. nov. from Pyrenean amber. These are the first formally described fossils that might be related to the paratanaoidean families Nototanaidae and Paratanaidae, sharing with these some putatively derived features and providing possible evidence for the antiquity and morphological stability of these families and the suborder Tanaidomorpha. The distinctive features and character combinations of these fossil taxa are discussed in connection with possible relationships to the living lineages of tanaidaceans. Propagation phase‐contrast X‐ray synchrotron microtomography was used to obtain high‐quality 3D images for some fossils. A discussion is provided on the putative palaeobiology of tanaidaceans and the French resiniferous forest ecosystem. The discovery of these new tanaidaceans extends the palaeogeographical distribution and stratigraphical range of the family Alavatanaidae and sheds new light on the palaeoecology and diversity of tanaidaceans in pre‐angiospermous woodlands.     

Review of the stratigraphic distribution of Permian grylloblattida (Insecta), with descriptions of New Taxa

New taxa of grylloblattid insects (Grylloblattida) are described: Tshekardomina mongolica, sp. nov. (Tshekardominidae) from Bor-Tologoi locality (Severodvinian Stage of Mongolia), Permoshurabia mesenensis, gen. et sp. nov. (Geinitziidae) from Soyana fossil site (Kazanian Stage of Arkhangelsk oblast), Khosaridelia vyatica, sp. nov. (Permotermopsidae) from Karaungir II locality (Vyatkian Stage of Kazakhstan), Euremisca kazanica, sp. nov. (Euremiscidae) from Soyana fossil site (Kazanian Stage of Arkhangelsk oblast), Megakhosarina vyaznikensis, sp. nov. (Megakhosaridae) from Balymotikha locality (Vyatkian Stage of Vladimir oblast), and Parascalicia prokopensis, gen. et sp. nov. (Skaliciidae) from Prokop’evsk fossil site (Kazanian Stage of Kemerovo oblast). The genera Lodevopterum Béthoux, Nel, Lapeyrie et Gand, 2005 (Lodève fossil site, France), Elmopterum Béthoux et Beckemeyer, 2007, and Sigmophlebia Béthoux et Beckemeyer, 2007 (Elmo and Midco fossil sites, United States) are transferred from Grylloblattida incertae sedis to families Euremiscidae, Aliculidae, and Tshekardominidae, respectively. The stratigraphic distribution of Permian grylloblattid families is reviewed.     

The new family Caucasichthyidae (Pisces,Perciformes) from the Eocene of the North Caucasus

Caucasichthys kumaensis gen. et sp. nov., a representative of a new monotypic perciform family Caucasichthyidae, from the Middle Eocene (Bartonian, Kuma Horizon) of the North Caucasus (Gorny Luch locality) is described. The new family is characterized by elongated body, strong preopercular spine in adults, absence of supraneurals, large pelvic fins, long caudal peduncle, and anal fin longer at the base than soft dorsal fin. Scales vary from cycloid to spinoid on different parts of the body. Caucasichthys shares a number of apomorphic features with members of certain percoid families, most notably the Priacanthidae. However, because of its unique combination of features, the new family cannot be properly placed within any existing perciform suborder and it is placed incertae sedis among the Perciformes.     

MICROVERTEBRATE BIOSTRATIGRAPHY OF UPPER DEVONIAN (FRASNIAN) CARBONATE ROCKS IN THE CANNING AND CARNARVON BASINS OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Abstract:  Shark teeth and scales from the Gneudna Formation type section, Carnarvon Basin are rare, but they represent a diverse fauna as well as being the first Frasnian chondrichthyan remains found in Western Australia. In contrast numerous shark teeth and scales have been obtained from coeval sections in the Canning Basin. Teeth referred to as Phoebodus bifurcatus, Phoebodus fastigatus, Phoebodus cf. fastigatus, Phoebodus latus , Phoebodus sp. C and Protacrodus sp. 1 are described from two Canning Basin localities: Horse Spring Range and McIntyre Knolls. The phoebodont species described here have a global distribution and can, therefore, be placed within the standard Frasnian phoebodont zonation. The shark remains from the Gneudna Formation type section include one new genus Emerikodus ektrapelus gen. et sp. nov., described along with Helodontidae indet and Elasmobranchii gen. et sp. indet. It is proposed that the faunal differences observed between the localities are a result of environmental differences. In addition to shark remains, scales from the thelodont Australolepis seddoni were also recovered from each locality. The well-dated Zone 6–10 conodont faunas at Horse Spring constrain the range of A. seddoni with which they occur, and importantly indicate that the Gneudna Formation type section is wholly Frasnian.     

New jewel beetles (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) and similar beetles from the Cretaceous and Early Paleogene of Asia

A new genus and two new species of jewel beetles are described, Andakhudukia ponomarenkoi gen. et sp. nov. from the Lower Cretaceous of Mongolia and Metabuprestium ustkivdense sp. nov. from the lowermost Paleogene of the Amur Region. In addition, four new monotypic genera that share some features with jewel beetles are described: Cretoelaterium kazanovense gen. et sp. nov. from the Lower Cretaceous of Eastern Transbaikalia and Cretopoena gratshevi gen. et sp. nov. from the Lower Cretaceous of Mongolia have been referred to the families Elateridae and Eucnemidae; Cretofalselaterium baiankhongoricum gen. et sp. nov. from the Lower Cretaceous of Mongolia and Cretogermen turonicum gen. et sp. nov. from the Upper Cretaceous of Kazakhstan have been erected for isolated elytra and placed in Coleoptera incertae sedis.     

Coralline red algae from the Silurian of Gotland indicate that the order Corallinales (Corallinophycidae,Rhodophyta) is much older than previously thought

Aguirrea fluegelii gen. et sp. nov. (Corallinales, Corallinophycidae, Rhodophyta) is described from the mid‐Silurian of Gotland Island, Sweden (Högklint Formation, lower Wenlock). The holotype is of dimerous construction and includes a uniporate conceptacle with a sporangium, thus providing evidence that taxa of the Corallinales/Corallinaceae existed at least 300 million years earlier than previously documented. Aguirrea fluegelii cannot be unequivocally placed in any of seven currently recognized lineages/subfamilies/groups of the Corallinaceae as not all diagnostic characters are preserved, and thus is accorded incertae sedis status within the family Corallinaceae and order Corallinales. Extant evolutionary history studies of Corallinophycidae involving molecular clocks now require updating using new calibration points to take account of the much earlier unequivocal mid‐Silurian record of uniporate conceptacle‐bearing taxa of Corallinales/Corallinaceae as well as the parallel record of Graticula, a genus attributed to the Sporolithales.     

Some new species of Haplotaxidae (Oligochaeta) from Guinea and remarks on the history of the family

Three new species of Haplotaxidae collected by Dr. A. Villiers in a cave near Kindia, Guinea, are described. One species belongs to the genus Metataxis Righi, 1985 (M. carnivorus sp. nov.) which is distributed in Western Africa and Eastern America. Another new species is similar to Lycodrilus kraepelini Michaelsen, 1914 incertae sedis: a new genus Villiersia is proposed for both species (V. guanivora sp. nov., V. kraepelini nov. comb.).A third species, of which only immature specimens are available, is tentatively attributed to the genus Haplotaxis: it is remarkable because of its peculiar setae and commissural vessels (H. villiersi sp. nov.).The three species appear to feed on bat guano and, occasionally, on aquatic arthropods. Metataxis, Tiguassu and Villiersia belong to the section of Haplotaxidae endowed with paired sperm sacs and ovisacs.The relations of Haplotaxidae with other families are discussed and it is suggested that the passage from the haplotaxid condition to that of sparganophilids and more advanced lumbriciforms is connected to a change of reproductive strategy and to an enhanced metabolism.     

Diving ducks from the Middle Miocene of western Mongolia

Medium-sized diving ducks from the Middle Miocene of the Sharga locality (western Mongolia) are described. Sharganetta mongolica gen. et sp. nov. and Nogusunna conflictoides gen. et sp. nov. are evolutionary more advanced than the thoroughly studied Early Miocene genus Mionetta, but more primitive than Anatinae and Oxyurinae. The humeral morphology gives evidence of an aberrant position of the two new genera. Another taxon, Protomelanitta gracilis gen. et sp. nov. presumably belongs to basal Mergini.     

A new diverse shark fauna from the Wordian (Middle Permian) Khuff Formation in the interior Haushi‐Huqf area,Sultanate of Oman

Abstract: Chondrichthyans are newly reported from the autochthonous Wordian Khuff Formation (middle Permian), cropping out in well‐exposed, low‐palaeolatitude sections in the interior Haushi‐Huqf area of Oman. The shark remains comprise isolated teeth, dermal denticles and fin spines and have been recovered by processing limestone in buffered acetic acid from bulk rock samples. The fauna consists of mainly ctenacanthiform and hybodontiform taxa, identified as Glikmanius cf. myachkovensis, Glikmanius culmenis sp. nov., Omanoselache hendersoni gen. et sp. nov., Omanoselache angiolinii gen. et sp. nov., cf. Omanoselache sp., Reesodus underwoodi gen et sp. nov., Teresodus amplexus gen. et sp. nov., Gunnellodus bellistriatus, Khuffia lenis gen. et sp. nov., Khuffia prolixa gen. et sp. nov. and Euselachii sp. indet. Additional specimens include rare teeth of the lonchidiid cf. ‘Palaeozoic Genus 1’ sp., of the neoselachian Cooleyella cf. fordi and a further indeterminate neoselachian, of an indeterminate petalodont and of the holocephalan Deltodus aff. mercurei and Solenodus cf. crenulatus. Fin spines add a further two taxa, Nemacanthus sp. and Amelacanthus cf. sulcatus, which have neoselachian affinities and therefore an unclear relationship to the recovered teeth. The occurrence of Nemacanthus within this Wordian fauna represents the oldest record of this taxon and its only known occurrence in the Palaeozoic. Of the remaining genera, Glikmanius has previously been recorded from the Wordian, whereas for all the others, this study represents their youngest known stratigraphic occurrence and first occurrence in Guadalupian (middle Permian) strata. This adds significantly to our knowledge of the global diversity of chondrichthyans preceding the end‐Guadalupian biotic crisis. Palaeogeographically, for all taxa, this study represents the first record from the western fringe of the marine Neotethyan basin, and only Cooleyella was previously known from the southern (Gondwanan) part of the Pangaean continental margin.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Capitulocladosporium clinodiplosidis</Emphasis> gen. et sp. nov., a hyphomyceteous ustilaginomycete from midge

A hyphomyceteous fungus producing light-colored ramoconidia was isolated from midge (Clinodiplosis sp.) in southern China. In this study, this fungus was compared with 16 morphologically similar Cladosporium-like genera, but could not be assigned to any of them due to its distinct morphological characteristics, namely absence of sympodial conidiogenous cells and presence of swollen head-like conidiogenous regions. Moreover, on the basis of phylogenetic analyses of 18S ribosomal DNA (rDNA), 5.8S rDNA, and 28S rDNA, as well as genes for the RNA polymerase II subunit and the translation elongation factor 1-alpha, this fungus was identified as a member of the Ustilaginomycetes in Basidiomycota. Therefore, Capitulocladosporium clinodiplosidis gen. et sp. nov. is proposed to accommodate the new taxon, and its morphology is described and illustrated herein. The new genus is placed in Ustilaginomycetes but without further specification on order and family level (incertae sedis), since its teleomorph and lifestyle are currently unclear.     

Phylogeny and Establishment of a New Ciliate Family,Wilbertomorphidae fam. nov. (Ciliophora,Karyorelictea), a Highly Specialized Taxon Represented by Wilbertomorpha colpoda gen. nov., spec. nov.

The morphology and molecular phylogeny of a new marine interstitial karyorelictean ciliate, Wilbertomorpha colpoda gen. nov., spec. nov., isolated from a sandy beach at Qingdao, China, are investigated. The ciliature is mainly on the right surface with the left surface barren except for a single marginal kinety, which is typical of the order Loxodida. Nevertheless, other morphological features, such as the highly reduced buccal structure, the absence of a buccal cavity and the presence of extremely specialized cortical granules, prevent its assignation to any known family. Furthermore, the secondary structure of the variable region 2 of the SSU rRNA gene is unique among loxodids. Thus, we establish a new family, Wilbertomorphidae fam. nov. for the genus Wilbertomorpha. Phylogenetic analyses based on SSU rRNA gene sequence data suggest that this taxon is a sister group to the family Geleiidae which belongs to the order Protoheterotrichida. However, morphologically Wilbertomorpha bears a much stronger resemblance to Loxodidae which belongs to the order Loxodida. Based on these findings, we tentatively place Wilbertomorphidae nov. fam. incertae sedis within Karyorelictea.     

New foliicolous lichens from New Zealand 3

Podotara gen. nov. (incertae sedis) is described. It is based on the foliicolous taxonP. pilophoriformis sp.nov., which is described and illustrated. Characteristic of the new genus and species are globose and stipitate apothecia and 3-septate, hyaline, thin-walled ascospores with annular thickening of the septa.Scoliciosporum lividum sp. nov. (Scoliciosporaceae) differs from all species of its genus known to date by its leprose grey thallus, its livid, globose, dull apothecia, and its 3-septate ascosoores spirally contorted in the ascus.