Pennsylvanian (Late Carboniferous) calcareous microfossils from Cedro Peak (New Mexico,USA). Part 1: Algae and Microproblematica

At Cedro Peak (Manzanita Mountains, central New Mexico), the Pennsylvanian succession is divided into four formations: Sandia, Gray Mesa, Atrasado, and lower part of Bursum. The sampled limestones of the Gray Mesa and Atravasado formations yielded three age distinctive fossil assemblages: (a) latest Atokan/early Desmoinesian; (b) late early Desmoinesian, and (c) middle Virgilian. The calcareous algae, incertae sedis algae and cyanobacterial-foraminiferal consortia are described here. The following new taxa are named: Epimastoporaceae n. fam.; Anthracoporellopsis novamexicana n. sp.; Tubiphytidae n. fam.; and Latitubiphytes n. gen.     

Three new species ofPenicillium isolated from soil

Three new species ofPenicillium Linkex Gray nom. cons. prop. are described and illustrated. These species have been recovered from samples of sandy soil under pine trees. They differ from all species of theGenus described so far and are, therefore, considered and proposed as new taxa:Penicillium rubefaciens sp. nov.,Penicillium vaccaeorum sp. nov. andPenicillium michaelis sp. nov.     

A taxonomic revision of the genus Mesa Saussure, 1892 from China,with a key to the Oriental species (Hymenoptera: Tiphiidae: Myzininae)

In this study, a total of eight fossorial aculeate wasps of the tiphiid genus Mesa Saussure, 1892 from China are revised, including two new species, viz., Mesa hongchibaensis sp. nov., and Mesa glaber sp. nov.. The following species Mesa dimidiata (Guérin-Méneville, 1837) and Mesa nursei (Turner, 1909) are newly recorded from China. The male specimen of Mesa formosensis Tsuneki (1986) is firstly found. In addition, an updated key to the Oriental species of the genus is provided.     

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).     

Three new species ofPenicillium isolated from soil

Three new species ofPenicillium Linkex Gray nom. cons. prop. are described and illustrated. These species have been recovered from samples of sandy soil under pine trees. They differ from all species of theGenus described so far and are, therefore, considered and proposed as new taxa:Penicillium rubefaciens sp. nov.,Penicillium vaccaeorum sp. nov. andPenicillium michaelis sp. nov.     

Rotifera of some lakes in the floodplain of the River Niger (Imo State,Nigeria)

The Rotifera of thirteen freshwater habitats in the upper floodplain of the River Niger were studied. Thirteen new species are described, viz. Lepadella berzinsi n. sp., L. discoidea n. sp., Squatinella lunata n. sp., Dipleuchlanis ornata n. sp., Euchlanis semicarinata n. sp., Itura deridderae n. sp., L. dumonti n. sp., L. nigeriensis n. sp., L. nwadiaroi n. sp., L. simonneae n. sp., L. stichoclysta n. sp., L. sylviae n. sp. and Trichocerca kostei n. sp., L. climacois Harring & Myers is reestablished as a valid species. The synonymy of Hemimonostyla Bartos and Monostyla Ehrenberg with Lecane Nitzsch is commented upon. The names Lecane myersi nom. nov. and L. robertsonae nom. nov. are proposed to replace L. ornata (Harring & Myers) non (Daday) and L. amazonica Koste & Robertson non (Murray) (new status), respectively. Lecane amazonica (Murray) and L. latissima Yamamoto replace L. murrayi Hauer non Korde and L. rotundata (Olofsson) non (Jakubski), respectively. The following new synonymies are proposed: Lepadella williamsi Koste & Shiel with L. vandenbrandei Gillard; Lecane longidactyla (Edmondson) comb. nov. (ex. Proales) with L. clara (Bryce); Lecane longidactyla Arora non (Edmondson) with L. curvicornis (Murray); L. truncata Yamamoto non (Leissling) nec (Turner) with L. brachydactyla (Stenroos); L. amazoniana Koste & Robertson with L. eutarsa Harring & Myers.     

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.     

On some megaspores from the triassic of Nidhpuri,India

The paper describes structural features of megaspores from the Middle Gondwana (Middle Triassic) beds of Nidhpuri. These include two species of Srivastavaesporites Bharadwaj et Tiwari viz. S. triassicus sp. nov. and S. major sp. nov.; Grambastisporites nidhpurensis gen. et sp. nov.; Trikonia emarginata gen. et sp. nov.; one species of Mamillaespora Pant et Srivastava, M. sidhiensis sp. nov.; Nidhitriletes spinosa gen. et sp. nov.     

A revision of the Neotropical species of Bolitogyrus Chevrolat,a geographically disjunct lineage of Staphylinini (Coleoptera,Staphylinidae)

The Neotropical species of the rarely collected genus Bolitogyrus (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Staphylininae: Staphylinini) are revised. The genus exhibits an uncommon, disjunct distribution between the Neotropical and Oriental Regions and is of unknown phylogenetic position within Staphylinini. Morphological evolution remarkable for Staphylinini was discovered within Bolitogyrus, including sexually dimorphic modifications of the pronotum that may be involved in male competition for females. rSEM interactive animations were used to establish morphological species boundaries between two highly variable species and are provided to illustrate diagnostic characters of the genitalia in unconventional views. The genus is redescribed based on the world fauna and twenty-eight Neotropical species are considered valid. Of these, nineteen are described as new to science: Bolitogyrus ashei sp. n.; B. apicofasciatus sp. n.; B. brevistellus sp. n.; B. bufo sp. n.; B. cheungi sp. n.; B. cornutus sp. n.; B. divisus sp. n.; B. falini sp. n.; B. gracilis sp. n.; B. inexspectatus sp. n.; B. longistellus sp. n.; B. marquezi sp. n.; B. newtoni sp. n.; B. pseudotortifolius sp. n.; B. pulchrus sp. n.; B. silex sp. n.; B. thomasi sp. n.; B. tortifolius sp. n.; and B. viridescens sp. n. Bolitogyrus sallei (Kraatz), stat. r. is removed from synonymy with B. buphthalmus (Erichson) and the following new synonyms are proposed: Cyrtothorax cyanescens Sharp, 1884, syn. n. = Quedius buphthalmus Erichson, 1840; C. nevermanni Scheerpeltz, 1974, syn. n. = C. costaricensis Wendeler, 1927. A summary of all available bionomic and distributional data, as well as an illustrated identification key to and diagnoses of all Neotropical species are provided.     

Lower Serpukhovian (Steshevian) foraminifers and algae from exotic limestone clasts of Nötsch (Eastern Alps,Austria)

The > 1,000 m-thick Carboniferous sedimentary succession of Nötsch is divided into the Erlachgraben, Badstub, and Nötsch formations with poorly constrained precise ages, but probably constituting a continuous lithostratigraphic Group deposited from the latest Viséan to the early Bashkirian, thus including a complete Serpukhovian succession. We date the early Serpukhovian (Steshevian) in exotic limestone clasts of the Badstub Fm. based on algae and foraminifers. These limestone clasts have been reworked from a carbonate shelf, indicating that they are older than the Badstub Fm. Microfacies and fossil assemblages indicate that a shallow marine carbonate shelf was developed at the northern margin of the deep-sea basin of Nötsch. The assemblages include the red alga Hortonella, rare green algae, and incertae sedis algae Praedonezella, Aoujgalia, and Frustulata; howchiniid and lasiodiscid foraminifers; atypical endothyrids, probably belonging to Semiendothyra emend.; rare Janischewskina; taxonomically disputable eostaffellids (including Eostaffellina aff. paraprotvae) and pseudoendothyrids; attached forms transitional between pseudolituotubid Fusulinata and calcivertellid Miliolata; and probably the oldest known free Miliolata. Newly described taxa include the incertae sedis algae Praedonezella sebbarae nov. sp. and the foraminifers Pseudoendotaxis nov. gen., Quasilituotuba serpens nov. sp., Q. pseudospiroides nov. sp., and Eoglomospiroides carnica nov. sp. Revised foraminiferal taxa include Pseudolituotubidae, Quasilituotuba cf. serpuchoviensis nov. comb., and Q. ex gr. extensa nov. comb. The studied material provides information about the phylogeny of the first Miliolata and permits the reconstruction of the lineage of Pseudolituotubidae and Calcivertellidae, between the classes Fusulinata and Miliolata. The palaeobiogeography of Austria during the Serpukhovian is not yet clearly established, but relationships with the Saharan and Mediterranean Provinces exist, and especially with the Donbass. Fewer relationships are conspicuous with England, the Moscow Basin or the Urals.     

New Pennsylvanian (Moscovian) echinoderms from Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region,western China

The few Pennsylvanian echinoderm faunas reported from the Paleotethys are from China, Japan, and Australia. The Japanese and Chinese faunas contain camerates that are rare in Pennsylvanian faunas worldwide.Genera of one monobathrid camerate, two disparids, five cladids, one flexible, one blastoid, and one archaeocidarid are reported from the late Moscovian uppermost part of the Qijiagou Formation or lowermost part of the Aoertu Formation in the Taoshigo Valley near Taoshuyuan Village, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, China. They are here referred to as the Aoertu fauna, which is most closely allied with Pennsylvanian crinoids reported from a slightly older fauna from the Qijiagou Formation in the Taoshigo Valley and with faunas known from Japan and North America. Most taxa are identified to the genus level and left in open nomenclature because of poor or partial preservation. In addition, camerate ossicles and a cup of Synbathocrinus are reported from the early Moscovian part of the Sanquanzi Formation at Yamansu, southeast of the Taoshigo Valley. New taxa described are: Synbathocrinus labrus n. sp., Stellarocrinus qijiagouensis n. sp. and Metaperimestocrinus aoertuensis n. sp.     

Nomenclatural changes in Cicadellidae: Typhlocybinae?and Delphacidae (Homoptera)

New replacement names are proposed for seven species of the subfamily Typhlocybinae; one new synonym is recognized in the family Delphacidae. The following changes are proposed: Empoasca (Empoasca) angustata nom.nov. for Empoasca angusta Linnavuori & DeLong (not Dworakowska); Empoasca (Empoasca) chilensis nom.nov. for Empoasca diversa Linnavuori & DeLong (not Vilbaste); Austroasca verdensis nom.nov. for Empoasca artemisiae Lindberg (not Lethierry); Kropka vidanoi Dworakowska for Erythroneura unipunctata Dlabola (not Cerutti); Zyginella vietnamica nom. nov. for Zyginella melichari Dworakowska (not Kirkaldy); Eupteryx (Eupteryx) dlabolai nom. nov. for Eupteryx octonotata Dlabola (not Hardy); Baaora ahmedi nom. nov. for Baaora spinosa (Ahmed) (not Beamer); Paradelphacodes insolitus Dmitriev is synonymized with Paradelphacodes gvosdevi (Mitjaev), syn. nov.     

Family-group names in Coleoptera (Insecta)

We synthesize data on all known extant and fossil Coleoptera family-group names for the first time. A catalogue of 4887 family-group names (124 fossil, 4763 extant) based on 4707 distinct genera in Coleoptera is given. A total of 4492 names are available, 183 of which are permanently invalid because they are based on a preoccupied or a suppressed type genus. Names are listed in a classification framework. We recognize as valid 24 superfamilies, 211 families, 541 subfamilies, 1663 tribes and 740 subtribes. For each name, the original spelling, author, year of publication, page number, correct stem and type genus are included. The original spelling and availability of each name were checked from primary literature. A list of necessary changes due to Priority and Homonymy problems, and actions taken, is given. Current usage of names was conserved, whenever possible, to promote stability of the classification.New synonymies (family-group names followed by genus-group names): Agronomina Gistel, 1848 syn. nov. of Amarina Zimmermann, 1832 (Carabidae), Hylepnigalioini Gistel, 1856 syn. nov. of Melandryini Leach, 1815 (Melandryidae), Polycystophoridae Gistel, 1856 syn. nov. of Malachiinae Fleming, 1821 (Melyridae), Sclerasteinae Gistel, 1856 syn. nov. of Ptilininae Shuckard, 1839 (Ptinidae), Phloeonomini Ádám, 2001 syn. nov. of Omaliini MacLeay, 1825 (Staphylinidae), Sepedophilini Ádám, 2001 syn. nov. of Tachyporini MacLeay, 1825 (Staphylinidae), Phibalini Gistel, 1856 syn. nov. of Cteniopodini Solier, 1835 (Tenebrionidae); Agronoma Gistel 1848 (type species Carabus familiaris Duftschmid, 1812, designated herein) syn. nov. of Amara Bonelli, 1810 (Carabidae), Hylepnigalio Gistel, 1856 (type species Chrysomela caraboides Linnaeus, 1760, by monotypy) syn. nov. of Melandrya Fabricius, 1801 (Melandryidae), Polycystophorus Gistel, 1856 (type species Cantharis aeneus Linnaeus, 1758, designated herein) syn. nov. of Malachius Fabricius, 1775 (Melyridae), Sclerastes Gistel, 1856 (type species Ptilinus costatus Gyllenhal, 1827, designated herein) syn. nov. of Ptilinus Geoffroy, 1762 (Ptinidae), Paniscus Gistel, 1848 (type species Scarabaeus fasciatus Linnaeus, 1758, designated herein) syn. nov. of Trichius Fabricius, 1775 (Scarabaeidae), Phibalus Gistel, 1856 (type species Chrysomela pubescens Linnaeus, 1758, by monotypy) syn. nov. of Omophlus Dejean, 1834 (Tenebrionidae). The following new replacement name is proposed: Gompeliina Bouchard, 2011 nom. nov. for Olotelina Báguena Corella, 1948 (Aderidae).Reversal of Precedence (Article 23.9) is used to conserve usage of the following names (family-group names followed by genus-group names): Perigonini Horn, 1881 nom. protectum over Trechicini Bates, 1873 nom. oblitum (Carabidae), Anisodactylina Lacordaire, 1854 nom. protectum over Eurytrichina LeConte, 1848 nom. oblitum (Carabidae), Smicronychini Seidlitz, 1891 nom. protectum over Desmorini LeConte, 1876 nom. oblitum (Curculionidae), Bagoinae Thomson, 1859 nom. protectum over Lyprinae Gistel 1848 nom. oblitum (Curculionidae), Aterpina Lacordaire, 1863 nom. protectum over Heliomenina Gistel, 1848 nom. oblitum (Curculionidae), Naupactini Gistel, 1848 nom. protectum over Iphiini Schönherr, 1823 nom. oblitum (Curculionidae), Cleonini Schönherr, 1826 nom. protectum over Geomorini Schönherr, 1823 nom. oblitum (Curculionidae), Magdalidini Pascoe, 1870 nom. protectum over Scardamyctini Gistel, 1848 nom. oblitum (Curculionidae), Agrypninae/-ini Candèze, 1857 nom. protecta over Adelocerinae/-ini Gistel, 1848 nom. oblita and Pangaurinae/-ini Gistel, 1856 nom. oblita (Elateridae), Prosternini Gistel, 1856 nom. protectum over Diacanthini Gistel, 1848 nom. oblitum (Elateridae), Calopodinae Costa, 1852 nom. protectum over Sparedrinae Gistel, 1848 nom. oblitum (Oedemeridae), Adesmiini Lacordaire, 1859 nom. protectum over Macropodini Agassiz, 1846 nom. oblitum (Tenebrionidae), Bolitophagini Kirby, 1837 nom. protectum over Eledonini Billberg, 1820 nom. oblitum (Tenebrionidae), Throscidae Laporte, 1840 nom. protectum over Stereolidae Rafinesque, 1815 nom. oblitum (Throscidae) and Lophocaterini Crowson, 1964 over Lycoptini Casey, 1890 nom. oblitum (Trogossitidae); Monotoma Herbst, 1799 nom. protectum over Monotoma Panzer, 1792 nom. oblitum (Monotomidae); Pediacus Shuckard, 1839 nom. protectum over Biophloeus Dejean, 1835 nom. oblitum (Cucujidae), Pachypus Dejean, 1821 nom. protectum over Pachypus Billberg, 1820 nom. oblitum (Scarabaeidae), Sparrmannia Laporte, 1840 nom. protectum over Leocaeta Dejean, 1833 nom. oblitum and Cephalotrichia Hope, 1837 nom. oblitum (Scarabaeidae).     

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, which include Hibolithes semisulcatusMünster, 1830; H. pignattii nov. sp.; Acutibelu0s sp. cf. acuariformisRiegraf, 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.La fauna a belemniti risulta composta quasi esclusivamente da specie nuove. Sono state riconosciute le seguenti specie: Hibolithes semisulcatusMünster, 1830; H. pignattii nov. sp.; Acutibelus sp. cf. acuariformisRiegraf, 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. Inoltre un esemplare è stato discusso con nomenclatura aperta come Belemnopseidae incertae sedis. Alcuni nuovi dati stratigrafici e paleobiogeografici sono stati analizzati ed integrati con i dati della letteratura. E’ stata anche esaminata la tafonomia del livello a belemniti e le perforazioni presenti sulla superficie dei rostri.     

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.