Taxonomy of subgenus Temnoclemmys Bergounioux, 1958 (Testudines: Geoemydidae: Ptychogasterinae) based on new material from the Vallès-Penedès Basin (NE Iberian Peninsula)

The taxonomy of the freshwater turtle subgenus Ptychogaster (Temnoclemmys) (Testudines, Geoemydidae, Ptychogasterinae) is revised based on new and previously-published material from the Vallès-Penedès Basin (NE Iberian Peninsula). Additional remains of subgenus Ptychogaster, first reported from this basin, are also described. Although the oldest remains of Temnoclemmys are left unassigned, most of the available remains are attributed to its type species, Ptychogaster (Temnoclemmys) batalleri, originally described from the Late Miocene (MN9 and MN10) of this basin. The new material expands the chronostratigraphic range of P. batalleri in the Vallès-Penedès Basin back to the MN7 + 8 and shows that “Testudo” celonica is its junior synonym. Emended diagnoses for Ptychogaster and Temnoclemmys are also provided.     

A new scorpion fossil from the Cretaceous amber of Myanmar (Burma). New phylogenetic implications

A fossil scorpion belonging to a new family, genus and species, Chaerilobuthus complexus gen. n., sp. n., is described from Cretaceous amber of Myanmar (Burma). This is the third species and the fourth scorpion specimen to have been found and described from Burmese amber. The new family seems quite distinct from the family Archaeobuthidae Lourenço, 2001 described from Cretaceous amber of Lebanon.     

中国浙江新昌化石木研究

本文介绍了发现于中国东南沿海地区浙江省新昌县中生代地层中的一种化石木新种———新昌南洋杉型木 (AraucarioxylonxinchangenseDuansp .nov .)。这种化石木保存在早白垩世馆头组中、下部的紫红色泥砂岩中 ,分布在新昌县城西部 ,南北绵延 2 5公里、东西宽约 2公里的狭长地区。由于在化石木产区曾发现过多种植物化石 ,因而确定了该区在早白垩世时期处于我国的欧洲 中国植物区内 ,属亚热带 热带气候区 ,种种迹象表明此时气候有些干旱。同区发现的松柏目叶化石 ,其气孔构造与南洋杉科有一定的亲缘关系 ,这一点似乎与化石木之属可以对应。     

兰州盆地早第三纪植物及古气候意义

化石采自甘肃省兰州盆地咸水河组底部,经研究认为有29种,归属20属12科。它们是：樟科 Lauraceae (Daphnogene),木通科Lardizabalaceae(Akebia),小檗科Berberidaceae(Berberis),榆科Ulmaceae (Planera,Ulmus,Zelkova),桦木科Betulaceae(Alnus,Carpinus),杨梅科Myricaceae(Myrica),杨柳科Sali- caceae(Populus,Salix),紫金牛科Myrsinacese(Ardisia),蔷薇科Rosaceae (Prunus,Sorbus,Sorbaria,Spir- aea),豆科Leguminosae(Gleditsia,Sophora),漆树科 Anacardiaceae(Rhus),忍冬科Caprifoliaceae(Viburnum) 等。经植物区系组成与叶相分析显示,该植物区系的大多数成员是落叶阔叶乔、灌木,少数为常绿灌木。其中特殊的分子是 Rhus turcomanica Korov．ex Vassilvesk,该成分是早第三纪中、晚期的标志化石植物。另一化石植物 Sorbaria callicomifolia Kornilova曾出现在中亚的早渐新世,最晚至早中新世。同一层位采集的孢粉样分析结果显示：该组合仅约20种,种类相对贫乏,并以被子植物的花粉占优势。其中出现裸子植物的麻黄粉,被子植物的白刺粉及蒿粉等,这几个类型均指示沉积时期经历干旱气候。综合植物大化石及孢粉分析研究,均出现一些指示气候为亚热带干旱或周期性干旱气候的特点,并据Rhus turcomanica出现的最晚记录,推测咸水河组底部的地质时代大约是早渐新世晚期。     

木兰科的化石记录

通过整理和分析木兰科植物的化石记录发现：不论是植物大化石还是花粉,迄今为止在白垩纪以前地层中尚无可靠的记录,自白垩纪以来,木兰科的许多种广泛发生于北半球,如亚洲,欧洲及北美等地,但非洲和大洋洲至今尚未发现木兰科的化石记录。该科最早的化石记录为中国东北延吉地区早白垩世大拉子组的喙柱始木兰Archimagnolia rostrato-stylose Tao et Zhang. 根据现有化石记录,并结合木兰科现代植物的地理分布,推测：1）木兰科的起源时间不迟于早白垩世Aptian-Albian期;2）木兰科起源地点可能是东亚,后来经过欧洲进入北美,再从北美迁移到达南美洲;3）在地质历史时期,木兰属的出现比鹅掌楸属早,从而支持根据形态学与分子系统学研究得出的木兰属较鹅掌楸属原始的结论。     

Fossil wood charcoal assemblages from Elands Bay Cave, South Africa: implications for Late Quaternary vegetation and climates in the winter-rainfall fynbos biome

Aim The aim of this paper is to analyse fossil charcoal deposits, largely identified to the species level and spanning a sequence from the late Holocene to < 40,000 BP , in order to reconstruct Late Quaternary vegetation and climatic patterns in the western (winter-rainfall) fynbos biome of South Africa. Location The charcoals were excavated from the Elands Bay Cave (32°19S, 18°20E) on the semiarid (200–250 mmyr^?1), winter-rainfall coastline of the western fynbos biome. Methods Patterns in the charcoal data set over time were sought by manual sorting of the charcoal×sample matrix, as well as by subjecting the data to multivariate analysis. Palaeoclimatic reconstruction was attempted by comparing the climatic controls on contemporary vegetation communities that resembled the fossil assemblages. Charcoal diversity was modelled using sample age and number of charcoal fragments as explanatory variables. Results The fossil assemblages ranged from xeric communities (similar to those presently occurring at the site) during the Holocene, to more mesic thicket and fynbos vegetation in the terminal Pleistocene, to Afromontane forest and riverine woodland communities after about 18,000 BP . Diversity of the charcoal samples increased monotonically with increasing sample age. Main conclusions The results suggest that, unlike the eastern fynbos biome, which is under fundamentally different climatic controls, soil moisture conditions in the western part of the biome were higher in the Last Glacial than during the Holocene. This scenario may help to explain the higher regional richness and associated diversification in the western than eastern part of the biome.     

Do coral-reef fish faunas have a distinctive taxonomic structure?

Do the highly diverse fish faunas that associate with coral reefs have distinguishing taxonomic and ecological characteristics, as proposed by Choat and Bellwood (1991) and Bellwood (1996)? Does a 50?my old (Eocene) fossil fish fauna from Italy represent a coral-reef fish assemblage that provides unique information about the evolution of such assemblages, as claimed by Bellwood (1996)? I compared the structure of the reef fish faunas of adjacent tropical regions rich and poor in coral reefs, in both America and Polynesia, and found that they exhibit no substantive differences in relative species richness among families of typical “coral-reef” fishes. While coral-rich regions have larger reef fish faunas, a variety of factors probably contribute to such differences. Thus coral-reef fish faunas may lack a distinctive taxonomic structure. A similar comparative approach would be useful for assessing whether assemblages of fishes on coral reefs have distinctive ecological characteristics. Based on patterns of habitat use by modern tropical shorefishes, the Italian Eocene fauna includes few definite reef fishes, and may well consist primarily of non-reef fishes preserved in a non-reef habitat. Until we know more about the environment in which those fossils were preserved, that fauna can contribute little to understanding how coral reef fish assemblages have evolved.     

Headshields of ephippial Chydorus piger Sars (Cladocera, Chydoridae) females from northern Finnish Lapland: a long period of gamogenesis?

Numerous headshields of ephippial Chydorus piger (currently called Paralona pigra) females were found from the Holocene sediments of Aitajärvi Lake, northern Finnish Lapland (69° 08′ N, 27° 14′ E). Headshields of ephippial females of the genus Chydorus s.l. can be easily identified since their posterior margin is elongated and pointed. According to analysis of fossil cladoceran remains, Chydorus piger lived in the lake throughout the Holocene but was never very common (less than 10% of preserved cladoceran remains). Headshields of ephippial females were found in most samples and they comprised ca 10–30% of all Chydorus piger headshields. No similar phenomenon was met in Chydorus cf. sphaericus which is common up to the most severe arctic conditions. Aitajärvi is situated north of the modern distribution area of Chydorus piger. I suggest that this species reacted to the stress of harsh climatic conditions outside of its distribution area by being gamogenetic during most of the ice-free period. The ephippial headshields could be valuable indicators of severe climatic conditions in pre-Holocene sedimentary environments.     

Gingival eruption sequences of permanent teeth in early hominids.

Gingival eruption of the permanent teeth of Australopithecus, Paranthropus, and early Homo, diagnosed from enamel scratches and facets, is similar save for two sequences: eruption of the canines relative to the premolars which may be sexually dimorphic; and agenesis of M3 with delayed eruption of M2, first seen in Homo at two million years. Gingival eruption sequences are similar also for early and modern Homo, except that in some individuals today M3, M2, M1 and I2 take longer to form and emerge through the gingiva as functioning teeth. Probably, from two million years to the present in the evolutionary history of Homo dental development slowed-down. More and more of ontogeny has been taken over for eruption.