A first report of Sphenothallus Hall, 1847 in the Cambrian of Variscan Europe

Ten specimens of two phosphatic fossils have been recently discovered in lower and middle portions of Middle Cambrian Jince Formation in the Czech Republic. They are attributed to the genus Sphenothallus Hall, 1847 and described as two separate species; comparatively small conchs are described as S. kozaki sp. nov., the much larger specimens characterized by its smooth and partly flexible organo-phosphatic walls of shell are determined as ?S. kordulei sp. nov. Sphenothallus is known to range from Cambrian to Permian and accommodates numerous species. However, its Cambrian distribution is considerably restricted. Generally rare specimens have been described from Lower to Middle Cambrian of Laurentia and from the Lower Cambrian of Gondwana and peri-Gondwana. The new record of Sphenothallus from the Jince Biota represents a notable extension of their geographic range.     

A new chondrophorine (Cnidaria,Hydrozoa) from the cadiz formation (Middle Cambrian) of California

We describe a new species of chondrophorine hydrozoan,Palaelophacmaea valentinei sp. nov., from the early Middle Cambrian part of the Cadiz Formation of the Marble Mountains of southeastern California. This find extends the stratigraphic range of this genus into the early Middle Cambrian and its geographic range into the western United States. We review various chondrophorine-like fossils and present a tentative chondrophorine phylogeny in light of this find.     

Boselaphines (Artiodactyla, Ruminantia, Bovidae) from the Middle Siwaliks of Hasnot, Pakistan

In this paper, boselaphine material from several localities in the area of the Hasnot Pakistan, is described, identified, and discussed. Four species that belong to three different genera of the tribe Boselaphini have been found: Selenoportax vexillarius, S. lydekkeri, Pachyportax latidens and Eotragus sp. Eotragus sp. is reported for the first time from the Hasnot and consequently from other Upper Middle Siwalik sediments of Pakistan and equivalent strata of the world, extending the range of the genus from the Lower to the Middle Siwaliks. Reviewing the Siwaliks’ Selenoportax species, S. dhokpathanensis Akhtar and S. tatrotensis Akhtar are synonymized with S. lydekkeri and S. vexillarius, respectively.     

A Middle Cambrian edrioasteroid from the Murero biota (NE Spain) with Australian affinities

A Middle Cambrian edrioasteroid belonging to the genus Cambraster is described from the Middle Cambrian Murero biota (Cadenas Ibéricas, NE Spain). Up to now, this genus was known only from Australia and France. This represents the first record of the class Edrioasteroidea in the Cambrian of Spain. Moreover, preliminary results on the diversity and biostratigraphic position of Cincta, Eocrinoidea and Edrioasteroidea from this area are reported.     

Sunosuchus (Archosauria, Crocodyliformes) from the Toutunhe Formation (Middle Jurassic) of the Southern Junggar Basin (Xinjiang, NW-China)

A new specimen of the widespread Middle Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous Asian gonipholidid crocodilian genus Sunosuchus is described on the basis of a partial skeleton from the Upper Toutunhe Formation (Middle Jurassic, ?Bathonian-Callovian) of Liuhonggou, SW of Urumqi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, People’s Republic of China. The specimen is represented by a partial mandible, teeth, vertebrae, limb and girdle bones and osteoderms. It can be distinguished from other nominal species of the genus by a unique combination of characters: slightly heterodontous dentition, strongly sculptured posteroventral part of the mandible, short fenestra mandibularis, convex dorsal surface of the retroarticular process, keeled cervical vertebral centra and ventral osteoderms with a distinctive sculpture of wide pits and narrow ridges. The heterodontous dentition is a potential autapomorphy of this form. The new specimen is closest in morphology to material described recently from the Callovian of Kirghisia as Sunosuchus sp. It represents the second Middle Jurassic record of the genus, the first crocodile from the Toutunhe Formation, the first substantial crocodile find from the Mesozoic of the Southern Junggar Basin, and the first Middle Jurassic record of Sunosuchus from China. This extends both the paleobiogeographical distribution of the genus in Asia and its stratigraphic distribution in China considerably.     

The Middle–Late Ordovician brachiopod Plectorthis from North America and its paleobiogeographic significance

Plectorthis is a commonly reported Late Ordovician brachiopod genus from Laurentia and several other tectonic plates. Examination of shells from the Cincinnati Arch type area shows that species previously assigned to the genus have a considerable range of variability, such as ribbing style, shell outline, and musculature. The type species, Orthis plicatella Hall, 1847 is characterized by generally simple costae, with double-rowed aditicules on each rib, and a cordate ventral muscle field. Some species previously attributed to Plectorthis have a subtriangular ventral muscle field and hence a closer affinity to the plaesiomyid genus Austinella. Orthis fissicosta is here demoted to a subspecies of Plectorthis plicatella based on its similar ribbing style to some specimens of the type species. In Laurentia, Plectorthis first appeared in the Darriwilian–Sandbian boundary interval, achieved a relatively high species diversity and wide paleogeographic distribution in pericratonic seas during the early Katian; the subequatorial species attained a notably larger shell than those in the higher paleotropics. The genus did not invade the intracratonic basins of Laurentia and became extinct by the late Katian.     

Phylogeny, diversity, and species delimitation of the North American Round-Nosed Minnows (Teleostei: Dionda), as inferred from mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences

Accurate delimitation of species is a critical first step in protecting biodiversity. Detection of distinct species is especially important for groups of organisms that inhabit sensitive environments subject to recent degradation, such as creeks, springs, and rivers in arid or semi-desert regions. The genus Dionda currently includes six recognized and described species of minnows that live in clear springs and spring-fed creeks of Texas, New Mexico (USA), and northern Mexico, but the boundaries, delimitation, and characterization of species in this genus have not been examined rigorously. The habitats of some of the species in this genus are rapidly deteriorating, and many local populations of Dionda have been extirpated. Considering the increasing concerns over degradation of their habitat, and pending a more detailed morphological revision of the genus, we undertook a molecular survey based on four DNA regions to examine variation over the range of the genus, test species boundaries, and infer phylogenetic relationships within Dionda. Based on analyses of two mitochondrial (cytb and D-loop) and two nuclear (Rag1 and S7) DNA regions from specimens collected throughout the range of Dionda, we identified 12 distinct species in the genus. Formerly synonymized names are available for two of these species, and four other species remain undescribed. We also redefine the known range of six species. The limited distribution of several of the species, coupled with widespread habitat degradation, suggests that many of the species in this genus should be targets for conservation and recovery efforts.     

Some solenopleurine trilobites from the Languedocian (Late Mid Cambrian) of Western Europe

The solenopleurine trilobite genera Jincella and Liosolenopleura are revised herein. The species Jincella prantli, Jincella convexa nov. sp. and Liosolenopleura serventi occur in Languedocian (upper Middle Cambrian) rocks of the southern Montagne Noire (France), southwestern Sardinia (Italy), and the P?íbram-Jince and Skryje areas (Czech Republic). The correlation of their first appearances permits us to improve the Middle Cambrian biostratigraphic correlations in western and central Europe. At least 17 Middle Cambrian Bohemian species are already reported outside the Czech Republic, whose outcrops can be considered as a hinge in the correlations between southwestern Europe, Saxo-Thuringia, Avalonia and Baltica.     

New species and records of Charisius Champion from Mexico and Central America (Coleoptera,Tenebrionidae, Alleculinae)

The species of the genus Charisius Champion, from Mexico and Central America are reviewed. The flightless genus Narses Champion, with one included species, N. subalatus Champion, is placed in synonymy with the genus Charisius. Four new species are described and illustrated, C. granulatus and C. punctatus (from Guatemala) and C. apterus and C. howdenorum (from Mexico). Charisius subalatus (Champion) is redescribed and illustrated. The species C. interstitialis Champion is placed in synonymy with C. zunilensis Champion. The genus is redescribed to include the four new species and N. subalatus. New distributional records are presented for all other species of the genus and a revised key is presented for identification of all the species of the genus.     

Cambrian (Series 2 to Miaolingian) platform facies from central Sonora,Mexico and the regional correlation

This study provides new insights about depositional paleoenvironments through siliciclastic microfacies, carbonate microfacies, and biofacies analysis from sedimentary formations of the lower and middle Cambrian (Stage 4–Wuliuan), exposed in central Sonora, northern Mexico. Results of the petrographic analysis of 48 samples revealed the following lithologies: quartzarenite, oncolytic rudstone, grainstone-packstone, wackestone, mudstone, and to a lesser extent sandy limestone. Two siliciclastic microfacies were identified: (A) quartzarenite with cross-bedded and horizontal stratification deposited in an intertidal and supratidal environment; and (B) massive quartzarenite with Skolithos ichnofacies deposited in subtidal and intertidal environments. Four carbonate microfacies were identified: microfacies 1 is a sandy limestone with trilobite fragments; microfacies 2 is a grainstone with intraclasts, salterellids, hyolithids, trilobites, and echinoderms plates; microfacies 3 is an oncolytic rudstone consisting of microbes and abundant echinoderms plates; and microfacies 4 is a packstone-grainstone with abundant ooids, trilobite fragments, and echinoderm plates. Two biofacies were identified: Agnostid-polymeroid biofacies with predominance of the trilobites Pentagnostus, Bathyuriscus, Oryctocephalites, and Elrathina; and Pagetia biofacies with abundant trilobites of the genera Pentagnostus, Pagetia and Elrathina. It is concluded by the sedimentation model that changes in sea level is the most important parameter in determining the siliciclastic microfacies, carbonate microfacies and biofacies; as well as the depositional environments that vary from the coastline (subtidal to supratidal) to shallow-water open circulation marine platform with low and high energy waters. The Cambrian deposits of northern Mexico are correlated with the deposits of California and Nevada (USA), as well as to the Precordillera (Argentina), where the species in common show a strong affinity.     

Phylogenetic relationships of the algae scraping cyprinid genus Capoeta (Teleostei: Cyprinidae)

We reconstructed the matrilineal phylogeny of Asian algae-eating fishes of the genus Capoeta based on complete mitochondrial gene for cytochrome b sequences obtained from 20 species sampled from the majority of the range and 44 species of closely related barbs of the genera Barbus s. str. and Luciobarbus. The results of this study show that Capoeta forms a strongly supported monophyletic subclade nested within the Luciobarbus clade, suggesting that specialized scraping morphology appeared once in the evolutionary history of the genus. We detected three main groups of Capoeta: the Mesopotamian group, which includes three species from the Tigris-Euphrates system and adjacent water bodies, the Anatolian-Iranian group, which has the most diversified structure and encompasses many species distributed throughout Anatolian and Iranian inland waters, and the Aralo-Caspian group, which consists of species distributed in basins of the Caspian and Aral Seas, including many dead-end rivers in Central Asia and Northern Iran. The most probable origination pathway of the genus Capoeta is hypothesized to occur as a result of allopolyploidization. The origin of Capoeta was found around the Langhian-Serravallian boundary according to our molecular clock. The diversification within the genus occurred along Middle Miocene-Late Pliocene periods.     

Lower Cambrian (Botomian) polycystine Radiolaria from the Altai Mountains (southern Siberia, Russia)

Relatively well-preserved polycystine Radiolaria are here described from Lower Cambrian (Botomian) strata of the Shashkunar Formation, Altai Mountains in southern Siberia (Russia). These radiolarians display a test formed of a disorderly and three-dimensionally interwoven meshwork of numerous straight and curved bars branching from a five-rayed point-centered spicule located within the inner shell surface. The shell structure allows their assignment to the family Archeoentactiniidae, thus extending the known age range of the family down to the Lower Cambrian. The Botomian age is based essentially on trilobites (Parapagetia-Serrodiscus zone), but also on archaeocyathids identified in earlier publications. The study of the radiolarian-bearing sedimentary sequence confirms the presence of polycystine radiolaria in the external platform environments of Lower Cambrian ecosystems.     

Sexual dimorphism and polymorphism in a Callovian Phlycticeras (Ammonoidea) assemblage of Kutch, India

An assemblage of Phlycticeras Hyatt from a precisely dated zone of Middle Callovian in Kutch, India has been analyzed. Systematic study reveals that this sample can be divided into two size groups. The larger set shows different adult modifications leading to ornamental polymorphism. Polymorphs are very similar, if not identical, to different chronospecies of Europe, which range between Middle to Upper Callovian. They are grouped under well-known Phlycticeras polygonium (Zieten). The group of smaller specimens on the other hand, strongly resembles a species, which has been previously described as Phlycticeras schaumburgi (Waagen) from the younger Upper Callovian horizons in Kutch. It has a peculiar ‘rooster’-like septicarinate keel in the venter near adult aperture. Phlycticeras-Oecoptychius have been considered as a possible dimorphic pair since long, but here shown to have many inconsistencies to support these views. Instead, sexual dimorphism is explored within Phlycticeras and P. polygonium-P. schaumburgi is proposed as possible antidimorphs. A similar association is found in different stratigraphic assemblages of Europe. Interestingly these two morphs show parallel evolutionary changes within the Phlycticeras genus.     

A review of the cleptoparasitic bee genus Townsendiella (Apidae,Nomadinae, Townsendiellini), with the description of a new species from Pinnacles National Park

The cleptoparasitic bee genus Townsendiella Crawford (Nomadinae, Townsendiellini) is a rare group restricted to the southwestern United States and adjacent Mexico, whose taxonomy and biology remain poorly known. This paper describes Townsendiella ensifera sp. n., the first known record of this genus from Pinnacles National Park. A key to the species of the genus is provided. Several potential areas of future research are also discussed.     

Cieneguiticeras, a new genus of Tithonian oppeliids (Ammonoidea, Late Jurassic)

The new genus Cieneguiticeras, assigned to the family Oppeliidae, is described on the basis of Andean lower-middle Tithonian ammonites from Arroyo Cieneguita, west-central part of the Neuquén-Mendoza Basin, Argentina. The macroconchs are closely homoeomorphic with Neochetoceras Spath and the microconchs have a ‘glochiceratid’-type morphology. The stratigraphic range of Cieneguiticeras nov. gen. includes the lower and middle Tithonian by means of a succession of two or three species which are interpreted as members of a phyletic lineage. Ammonites from the Tithonian of Cuba, Mexico and France are more or less confidently included in this new genus.     

Slapylitidae: a new family of hyolithids (Cambrian–?Devonian; Baltica,Laurentia, Gondwana)

Hyoliths are usually preserved as isolated skeletal elements consisting of conch, operculum, and helens. The occurrence of a conch associated with an operculum is ordinarily exceptional, and the co-occurrence of helens with other skeletal parts is a great rarity. The extraordinary finds of hyolithid conchs associated with opercula in situ are relatively abundant in the Cambrian and Ordovician clastic sediments of the Barrandian area in the Czech Republic. The platyclaviculate operculum with clavicles divided by longitudinal walls into channels characterizes members of the newly established family Slapylitidae fam. nov., which includes two genera: Slapylites Marek, 1980 known from the mid-Cambrian of West Gondwana and Baltica and Nevadalites Marek, 1976 documented from the Late Cambrian of Laurentia. To this family most probably belongs also an operculum from the Cambrian Series 2–Series 3 boundary of North Greenland and poorly known material from the Middle Devonian of Bolivia.     

Age and distribution of the Late Devonian brachiopod genus Dzieduszyckia Siemiradzki, 1909 in southern China

Conodont biostratigraphical work was done at four sections recently found with occurrence of the rhynchonellide brachiopod genus, Dzieduszyckia Siemiradzki, in southern Guangxi and in the border area between Dushan County of Guizhou and Nandan County of Guangxi, South China. These sections represent two different types of facies, i.e., carbonate platform and intraplatform basin. The conodont analysis reveals that this genus occurs in the Upper triangularis Zone and the Middle crepida Zone at the Dazhai Section, through the Lower to Upper crepida zones at Dalong, and is restricted within the Upper rhomboidea Zone at the two intraplatform basin sections (Changtang and Duli). This result demonstrates that the occurrence of these peculiar rhynchonellide brachiopods in South China, regardless of the depositional environments, is within the Lower Famennian instead of the previously suggested Upper Famennian. Furthermore, this brachiopod genus in South China began to inhabit on the carbonate platform almost since the beginning of the Famennian and did not extend to the intraplatform basin facies until the late Early Famennian.Available biostratigraphic data indicate that during the Early and Middle Famennian, Dzieduszyckia is widely distributed not only in South China, but also throughout the world, such as Morocco and southern Ural.Observation on the new collections from the four studied sections reveals that the peculiar rhynchonellide brachiopods have a great morphological variation within each section. Significant differences existed among the collections from different sedimentary settings and localities, probably reflecting the environmental and geographic constraint on the morphology of Dzieduszyckia. Samples from different layers in the same section have nearly identical morphological variation, suggesting the temporal inheritance in morphology of the rhynchonellide brachiopod.     

Gregoryceras in the Oxfordian of Kachchh (India): Diverse eventful implications

The Kachchh Oxfordian ammonoid stratigraphic record for over 150 years remained restricted largely to Early Oxfordian condensed oolitic facies in the relatively distal Mainland Kachchh. Recently, it has been enlarged with the discovery in 1994 of over 200 m-thick uncondensed Middle to Late Oxfordian succession at Kantkote in the proximal part of the basin. Apart from abundant Perisphinctinae and Mayaitinae, a 10 m-thick sediment interval in the lower half of the above succession yielded a few examples of Gregoryceras. The specimens are here identified as G. gr. devauxi Bert and Enay and in view of their association with Larcheria subschilli (Lee) are assigned to the Middle Oxfordian Subschilli Horizon of the Schilli Subzone. Gregoryceras distribution south of the equator in Kachchh, Chile, Mexico and Madagascar, all within 35-40° latitude marks the southern limit of its latitudinal expansion during the first order maximum flooding surface (MFS) of the Schilli Subzone of the Kachchh Toarcian-Hauterivian Sequence. The maximum ammonoid diversity, density and frequency of the Kachchh first order sequence coupled with dominance of mayaitins and perisphinctins suggest over 20 m depth in the Gregoryceras interval. Distinctly greater bathymetry in the 200 km distally away basinal part causes sediment starved situation, and explains the Middle Oxfordian to early Early Kimmeridgian submarine nondepositional hiatus in the Mainland Kachchh.