The type species of the Ordovician agnostid trilobiteGeragnostus Howell, 1935

The type of the widespread Ordovician agnostid trilobiteGeragnostus, G. sidenbladhi (Linnarsson, 1869) from the upper Tremadocian Ceratopyge Limestone of Sweden, is redescribed and a lectotype is selected.Geragnostus Howell, 1935 bears a strong similarity toArthrorhachis Hawle & Corda, 1847. Obviously the two genera are closely allied, andGeragnostus may eventually be regarded as a junior subjective synonym ofArthrorhachis. It is suggested, however, that the distinction betweenGeragnostus andArthrorhachis might be upheld if the latter genus is taken to include metagnostids in which the posterior lobe (M3) of the pygidial rhachis is distinctly shorter than the length (sag.) of the anterior and middle lobes combined (M1 + M2).     

Halichoeres bleekeri (steindachner & döderlein), a valid japanese species of labrid fish, distinct fromH. tenuispinis (günther) from china

Halichoeres bleekeri (Steindachner &; Döderlein, 1887), previously regarded as a junior synonym ofH. tenuispinis (Günther), is a valid species. It is distinct fromH. tenuispinis in nearly always having 13 instead of 14 pectoral rays. 11–15 instead of 7–11 suborbital pores, longer dorsal soft rays (1.95–2.3 in head length vs 2.25–2.4 fortenuispinis). and some features of color such as the absence of a dark spot at the upper base of the caudal fin of the female.H. tremebundus Jordan and Snyder, 1902 is a synonym ofH. bleekeri based on the female form, andArtisia festiva de Beaufort is a synonym ofH. tenuispinis, also described from the female phase,H. bleekeri is known from Korea and in Japan from Tokyo to the Izu Islands.H. tenuispinis is recorded from Hong Kong and Xiamen. China, and Taiwan. Records ofH. tenuispinis from the Philippines by Fowler and Bean (1928) represent misidentifications ofH. papilionaceus (Valenciennes).     

Revision ofMesorhyphus Handlirsch,Eoplecia Handlirsch andHeterorhyphus Bode (Diptera: Anisopodomorpha,Bibionomorpha) from the upper liassic of Germany

The holotypes of the Lower Jurassic DipteraMesorhyphus nanus Handlirsch 1920,M. areolatus Handlirsch 1939,M. anomalus Handlirsch 1939,Eoplecia primitiva Handlirsch 1920,Heterorhyphus latus Bode 1953,H. analivarius Bode 1953 andProtorhyphus (?)ovisimilis Bode 1953 were re-examined. The holotype ofEoplecia primitiva is the counterpart ofMesorhyphus areolatus. M. areolatus is a junior synonym ofM. nanus. Mesorrhyphoides Rohdendorf 1962 is a synonym ofHeterorhyphus Bode 1953.Heterorhyphus analivarius is a synonym ofProtorhyphus (?)ovisimilis, being mistakenly described from the counterpart of the holotype of the latter. The genusHeterorhyphus is valid and comprises onlyH. anomalus (Handlirsch 1939) n. comb.;H. latus is a synonym of the latter species. As the wing venation ofHeterorhyphus is conspicuously different from all fossil and Recent Anisopodomorpha, it is placed into a new family, Heterorhyphidae, within the Bibionomorpha.     

Nomenclatural status of the fish names created by J. C. van Hasselt (1823) and of some cobitoid genera

The nomenclatural status of the 16 genera and 42 species of fishes described by van Hasselt is reviewed. One genus is preoccupied and 4 genera and 26 species are nomina nuda. The status of some cobitoid generic names is reviewed with greater details:Noemacheilus van Hasselt is a nomen nudum;Acantophthalmus van Hasselt is a junior synonym ofCobitis Linnaeus andAcanthophthalmus Bleeker is an incorrect spelling; the fishes usually calledAcanthophthalmus arePangio Blyth;Acanthopsis Bleeker is an incorrect spelling ofAcantopsis van Hasselt;Acanthopsis Agassiz is valid and its type species isA. angustus Agassiz.     

Solgerites Reeside, 1932 (Cretaceous Ammonoidea) a synonym ofForresteria Reeside, 1932, with a revision ofSolgerites brancoi (Solger, 1904) (Cretaceous Ammonoidea) from Cameroon

A revision of the surviving “Barroisiceras” specimens from Cameroon described by SOLGER (1904) suggests thatBarroisiceras brancoi, type species ofSolgerites REESIDE, 1932, including varietiesmitis andarmatus of SOLGER, andBarroisiceras hoberfellneri alstadenensis SOLGER non SCHLüTER are variants of a single species and thatSolgerites is a synonym ofForresteria (Forresteria) REESIDE, 1932, of whichEboroceras BASSE, 1947 also is a synonym.     

On the Emsian (Lower Devonian) arthropods of the Rhenish Slate Mountains: 5. Rare and poorly known eurypterids from Willwerath, Germany

In addition to the previously known eurypterid taxa from Willwerath, remains ofParahughmilleria hefteri, Erieopterus sp., andJaekelopterus rhenaniae are described and figured. Body parts of small pterygotids are interpreted as representing juveniles ofJ. rhenaniae. To further substantiate this interpretation an analysis of telson ontogeny in the SilurianAcutiramus macrophthalmus of New York State, another well-known pterygotid, is included. As a result, it is suggested thatPterygotus juvenis is a juvenile and thus a junior synonym ofA. macrophthalmus. The genital appendages ofJ. rhenaniae show no segmentation and consequently the family Jaekelopteridae is rejected. The palaeoenvironment of the Willwerath eurypterid association, dominated byAdelophthalmus andRhenopterus, is interpreted as a shallow brackish to freshwater/terrestrial setting in a deltaic transitional facies. In contrast,Parahughmilleria-dominated eurypterid associations from the Rhenish Slate Mountains seem to be confined to lagerstätten where a marine influence is more obvious than at Willwerath.     

On the Emsian (Early Devonian) arthropods of the Rhenish Slate Mountains: 3. The chasmataspididDiploaspis

New specimens of the chasmataspidDiploaspis casteri Størmer, 1972 (Chelicerata: Chasmataspidida) are described from the late Lower Emsian of Alken an der Mosel, Germany. Chasmataspidids represent a distinct clade within Chelicerata, sharing characters with both xiphosurans and eurypterids.Diploaspis is significant in having the most complete appendage series of any known chasmataspidid, while we question previous interpretations of the ventral preabdominal plate.Diploaspis has unmineralized cuticle and is therefore preserved with a number of different morphologies. Study of both our new fossils andStørmer’s type material suggests that the co-occurring Alken fossilHeteroaspis novojilovi Størmer, 1972 is a preservational variant, which is regarded here as a junior synonym, ofD. casteri.     

Parabittacus analis Handlirsch 1939 undParabittacus lingula (Bode 1953), Neorthophlebiiden (Insecta: Mecoptera) aus dem Oberen Lias von Deutschland

The holotype ofParabittacus analis Handlirsch 1939 from the Upper Liassic of Dobbertin is redescribed after preparation and considered a representative of the Neorthophlebiidae. The genusPolydicrobittacus Bode 1953 from Hondelage is a junior synonym ofParabittacus.     

The trilobiteProtostygina and the composition of the Styginidae, with two new genera

The Styginidae is regarded as an exclusively Ordovician family of trilobites, separate from the Scutelluidae. The hitherto poorly known genusProtostygina Prantl &P?ibyl, 1949 is revised. It is recorded with certainty only from the Llanvirn of the Czech Republic, and the type species is a senior synonym of“Raymondaspis” rubensi rubensi P?ibyl &VANěK, 1968 and“R.” rubensi lybar ?najdr, 1976. Two new styginid genera are proposed:Cyrtocybe, with type species“Raymondaspis” turgida Whittington, 1965, is known from the upper Arenig and lower Llanvirn of Newfoundland, Maine and Norway; andPromargo, with type speciesP.forteyi n. sp., occurs in the Arenig of Newfoundland and Spitsbergen.Turgicephalus Fortey, 1980 is regarded as a junior synonym ofRaymondaspis P?ibyl inPrantl &P?ibyl, 1949. Three genera are excluded from the Styginidae:Kirkdomina Tripp, 1962,Pseudostygina Zhou inZhou et al., 1982 andStyginella P?ibyl &Vaněk, 1971.     

The trilobite generaEocryphops andPlagiolaria (Phacopidae)

Eocryphops andPlagiolaria are revised and a new species,E. albertii, is described from the Eifelian of Morocco.“Trimerocephalus” cyclophthalmus Walther, 1907, a species long assigned toEocryphops, is regarded as a junior subjective synonym of the type species ofPlagiolaria, Pl, plagiophthalma. Eocryphops originated in the evolutionary lineage leading toPhacops (s.str.), whereasPlagiolaria was probably derived fromLochkovella. Although they have been linked with the Late Devonian group of small-eyed and blind phacopids includingCryphops and its relatives. neitherEocryphops norPlagiolaria is ancestral to these forms. Confirmed occurrences ofEocryphops andPlagiolaria are from regions that were situated on the North Gondwana margin or on plates associated with this margin.     

Convolvulus grandiflorus Jacq. (Convolvulaceae) re-examined

Convolvulus grandiflorus Jacq. has been treated as a synonym ofOperculina ventricosa andStictocardia tiliifolia. It is here accepted as identifiable withIpomoea (sect.Calonyction)macrantha which is the correct name for Jacquin’s taxon. Full synonymies ofIpomoea macrantha andOperculina ventricosa are given, along with a comment about a variant occurring in Micronesia.     

Notes on Oenocarpus (Palmae) in the Colombian Amazon

Five species ofOenocarpus from the Río Caquetá, in the Colombian Amazon, are discussed. Two of themOenocarpus simplex andOenocarpus makeru are described as new.Oenocarpus bacaba var.parvus is shown to be a synonym ofO. balickii; this species andO. minor are recorded for the first time in Colombia. Some comments on the poorly knownO. circumtextus are also given. The new findings support the inclusion ofJessenia inOenocarpus.     

New data on the systematics of leaf-beetle genus Chrysolina (Coleoptera, Chrysomelinae) from the Palaearctic region

Chrysolina przewalskii (Jacobson, 1895) and Ch. lucidula Chen, 1934 are redescribed based on the type specimens. Neotype of Ch. przewalskii is designated. Ch. daccordii Lopatin, 2000 is a new junior synonym of Ch. juldusana (Lopatin, 1962); Ch. daosana Lopatin, 2007 is a new junior synonym of Ch. tani Lopatin, 1998; Ch. burchana Lopatin, 1998 is a new junior synonym of Ch. przewalskii (Jacobson, 1895). Ch. lucidula Chen, 1934 described from a mislabeled specimen is a new junior synonym of the South European Ch. lucida (Olivier, 1807). Ch. hyrcana var. cyanescens (Jacobson, 1894) is synonymized with Ch. circumducta (Ménétriés, 1848) and is merely a color form of the latter species.     

Précisions sur la structure et la microstructure deRoemeria bohemica Počta 1902, espèce-type du genreRoemeripora Kraicz 1934 (Tabulata,Dévonien inférieur de Bohême)

The speciesRoemeria bohemica Po?ta has been revised on the basis of its original material and of topotypical specimens: its characters are in general consistent with those ofCalamopora infundibulifera Goldfuss 1829, type species of the genusRoemeria Milne-Edwards & Haime 1851.Roemeria bohemica is characterized by the numerous complex tabulae and the strong development of septal spines. These characters are considered by us of only specific importance and the genusRoemeripora Kraicz 1934, based onR. bohemica, is thus considered as a junior synonym ofRoemeria. An exhaustive list of the Devonian species attributed toRoemeria or toRoemeripora is given.     

The generic classification of Fayum anthropoidea

The early anthropoid species initially described asAegyptopithecus zeuxis Simons, 1965, from the Oligocene of Egypt, although retained by many authors in the monotypic genusAegyptopithecus, has been lumped by others into the genusPropliopithecus. Similarly, the species originally described asParapithecus grangeri Simons, 1974, has been ranked by some authors in a monotypic genusSimonsius, while others retain it inParapithecus. Criteria to be considered in resolving these taxonomic debates are (1) the adequacy and consistency of proposed morphological differences between species; (2) analogy with the degree of morphological variation tolerated within extant genera; and (3) nomenclatural conservatism. A philosophy that would require strict monophyletic classification is of insufficient practical value for assessing the validity of Fayum genera. Characters cited as distinguishing vetweenAegyptopithecus andPropliopithecus, and betweenSimonsius andParapithecus, are reviewed and evaluated. The results indicate thatA. zeuxis is generically distinct from species ofPropliopithecus, based on differences in the crown structure and proportions of the molars.Pa. grangeri cannot be shown to differ at the generic level from the type and only known specimen ofPa. fraasi, thus establishing Simonsius as a junior synonym ofParapithecus.     

Zur systematischen Stellung mesozoischer und tertiärer Mecopteren einschließlichEoses triassica Tindale (angeblich Lepidoptera) (Insecta,Holometabola)

Eoses triassica Tindale, by many authors regarded as the oldest representative of the Lepidoptera, is a member of the order Mecoptera.Orthophlebia reticulata (Handlirsch 1906), andO. latipennis (Handlirsch 1906) from the Upper Lias of Mecklenburg (Germany) are synonyms ofO. Limnophila (Handlirsch 1906).O. elegans (Handlirsch 1939) is a synonym ofO. vicina (Handlirsch 1939). TheOrthophlebioides-problem is discussed in the light of Handlirsch’s argumentation. Contrary to Handlirsch’s opinion this genus represents the hind wings ofOrthophlebia as previous authors suggested. Reasons are offered for the synonymy ofSynorthophlebia withOrthophlebia andMesopanorpa, respectively.Limfiordia from the Mo-clay of the Limfjord area (Denmark) is not a scorpion-fly but a member of the Fulgoriformes (Auchenorrhyncha).Parachorista Lin 1976 (nom. praeocc, nonParachorista Tillyard 1926) from the Jurassic of China does not belong to the Orthophlebiidae (Mecoptera) but to the Trichoptera.     

Synonymy of two species of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Platycephalus</Emphasis> and validity of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Platycephalus westraliae</Emphasis> (Teleostei: Platycephalidae)

The type specimens of platycephalid Platycephalus endrachtensis Quoy and Gaimard 1825 are regarded as being conspecific with Platycephalus arenarius Ramsay and Ogilby 1886, so the latter becomes a junior synonym. This species is characterized as having a caudal fin with four or more longitudinal dark bands and lacking a yellow blotch. It is also found that Platycephalus westraliae (Whitley 1938), which had been considered to be a junior synonym of Platycephalus bassensis Cuvier 1829, is a valid species. Specimens that recently had been mistakenly identified as “P. endrachtensis,” having the caudal fin with three or four longitudinal dark bands and a yellow blotch on the upper lobe, should be referred to P. westraliae.     

The status of the gobioid genusParoxyurichthys

Examination of the holotype and only known specimen ofParoxyurichthys typus Bleeker, 1876, from Indonesia revealed it to have distinctions of the cephalic lateralis, post-cranial axial osteology and pigmentation diagnostic ofGobionellus oceanicus (Pallas, 1770) of the western Atlantic.Paroxyurichthys Bleeker, 1876, is a junior synonym ofGobionellus Girard, 1859. The only other species commonly referred toParoxyurichthys, Oxyurichthys laterisquamatus Weber, 1908, from New Guinea, has anterior nares medial to the oculoscapular canals of the snout. This feature is a synapomorphy of the genusStenogobius Bleeker, 1874. The new combination,Stenogobius laterisquamatus is proposed.