A New Stem Placental Mammal from the Early Cretaceous of Mongolia

A new taxon of stem placentals, Hovurlestes noyon gen. et sp. nov. from the Early Cretaceous of Mongolia (Höovör locality) is described. The new taxon differs from members of the genus Prokennalestes from Höovör in the single-rooted canine and the presence of cusp e, which is an enhancing interlocking between anterior molars (m1 and m2). Hovurlestes noyon gen. et sp. nov. is one of the rarest mammal taxa from Höovör, which expands morphological diversity of the earliest Eutheria.     

A new genus of African Lasiocampidae (Lepidoptera)

The species Gastroplakaeis idakum Bethune-Baker, 1913, G. balia Tams, 1929, and G. elongata Hering, 1941 are transferred from the genus Gastroplakaeis Möschler, 1887 into the newly erected genus Weirdonia gen. n. (the type species is Gastroplakaeis idakum Bethune-Baker, 1913), and corresponding new combinations are established. New species, Weirdonia baccara sp. n. and W. hypocrita sp. n. (type locality: Democratic Republic of the Congo), W. murena sp. n. (type locality: Northern Nigeria), and W. helicea sp. n. (type locality: Gabon) are described. A new synonymy is established: Gastroplakaeis balia Tams, 1929 = Gastroplakaeis elongata Hering, 1941 syn. n. Diagnoses and distribution maps are given for all the species.     

New jewel beetles (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) from the Cretaceous of Russia,Kazakhstan, and Mongolia

A new jewel beetle genus, with one species (Cretofrontolina kzyldzharica gen. et sp. nov.) from the Upper Cretaceous of Kazakhstan is described based on a body; and three new species of the formal genus Metabuprestium are described based on isolated elytra: Metabuprestium sibiricum sp. nov. and M. arkagalense sp. nov. come from the Arkagala locality (Upper Cretaceous of Russia) and M. ichbogdense sp. nov. is from the Shar Tologoi locality (Lower Cretaceous of Mongolia).     

Neogene phasianids (Aves: Phasianidae) of Central Asia: 1. Genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tologuica</Emphasis> gen. nov.

A new genus, Tologuica, with two species (T. aurorae sp. nov. and T. karhui sp. nov.), from the Middle Miocene of the Sharga locality (western Mongolia) is described. The new genus shares some characters with the extinct genera Palaeocryptonyx, Palaeortyx, and Plioperdix and with extant Coturnix. The foot structure suggests that Tologuica resembled in ecology the European genus Palaeortyx and was probably adapted to an arboreal mode of life, in contrast to the terrestrial Coturnix and Plioperdix.     

Neogene phasianids (Aves: Phasianidae) of Central Asia: 2. Genera <Emphasis Type="Italic">Perdix,Plioperdix</Emphasis>, and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bantamyx</Emphasis>

The phasianid genera Perdix, Plioperdix, and Bantamyx from the Neogene of Mongolia and Transbaikalia are reviewed. Based on published data and new material, the diagnoses of Late Pliocene Perdix margaritae Kurochkin and Plioperdix ponticus (Tugarinov) and Late Miocene Bantamyx georgicus Kurochkin are emended. It is shown that a tarsometatarsus from the Upper Miocene of the Pavlodar locality belongs to the genus Palaeoperdix rather than Palaeortyx, as was proposed in the previous studies. Small Neogene Asian phasianids are compared in detail with Neogene taxa from Europe and extant genera.     

The family Phryganeidae (Insecta,Trichoptera) from the Mesozoic and Cenozoic of Asia (with a brief worldwide overview of the fossil caddisfly fauna)

The following new taxa of the family Phryganeidae are described: Proagrypnia sinitsae gen. et sp. nov. from the Upper Jurassic or Lower Cretaceous of Russia (Chernovskie Kopi locality) and Baissophryganoides popovi sp. nov. from the Lower Cretaceous of Mongolia (Anda-Khuduk locality). A larval case of Folindusia (Acrindusia) phryganoides sp. nov. from the Paleocene of Russia (Arkhara–Boguchan brown coal field) is described. A worldwide overview of the records of fossil adult insects and larval cases of Phryganeidae is presented.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Bevocastria magna</Emphasis> n. sp., eine neue Cyanobakterie aus den obertriassischen Riffkalken des Taurus-Gebirges (Türkei)

Bevocastria magna n. sp., an extremely large nodular species of the genusBevocastria, is described from Upper Triassic (Norian) reef limestones of a locality south of the town of Dereköy (SW Antalya, Turkey). The nodule ofB. magna looks like skeletons of chaetetid sponges which occur commonly at the same locality.B. magna is the first report of the genus from the Triassic deposits of Turkey.     

A new subfamily of ichneumonids from the Lower Cretaceous of Transbaikalia and Mongolia (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae)

A new subfamily of ichneumonids, Palaeoichneumoninae, is described from the Lower Cretaceous of Transbaikalia (Baisa locality) and Mongolia (Bon Tsagan and Kholbotu Gol localities). The new subfamily is intermediate between the archaic subfamily Tanychorinae and the Recent Ichneumonidae. It includes 12 new species, described in three new genera: Palaeoichneumon freja gen. et sp. nov., P. ornatus sp. nov., P. danu sp. nov., P. micron sp. nov., P. mirabilis sp. nov., P. tenebrosus sp. nov., P. townesi sp. nov., Rudimentifera mora gen. et sp. nov., R. suspecta sp. nov., Dischysma maculata gen. et sp. nov., D. similis sp. nov., and D. ramulata sp. nov.     

Lizards of the family Hodzhakuliidae (Scincomorpha) from the lower Cretaceous of Mongolia

The lizard family Hodzhakuliidae (Scincomorpha) endemic to the Early Cretaceous of Central Asia is characterized in the light of finds from the Khoobur (Höövör) locality in Mongolia. Available material includes Hodzhakulia magna Nessov, 1985 described from the Upper Albian of Uzbekistan and three new genera and species. It is proposed that Hodzhakuliidae occupied the adaptive zone of small carnivorous predators before the appearance of Platynota.     

Revision of non-passeriform birds from Polgárdi (Hungary,Upper Miocene): 3. Neoaves

A taxonomic revision of Upper Miocene Neoaves from Polgárdi locality is summarized. Rallicrex polgardiensis is transferred to the genus Rallus. The taxonomic position of R. kolozsvarensis is discussed. Porzana estramosi veterior and P. kretzoii are transferred to the genus Zapornia former is ranked as species. It is shown that the material referred to Egretta polgardiensis, Surnia robusta, and Otis kalmani actually belong to the fossil barn owl Tyto campiterrae. The genera Cuculus and Tetrao are identified incorrectly and several other taxa cannot be identified to genus. A fragmentary carpometacarpus originally referred to as Gallinago veterior actually belongs to Glareolidae. A complete list of revised non-passeriform taxa from Polgárdi is provided and the composition of the avifauna is discussed. The absence of taxa shared with approximately contemporaneous avian assemblage from the Hyargas-Nuur 2 locality in eastern Mongolia is evidence that at least two separate zoogeographical units of temperate avifaunas existed in the Late Miocene of Eurasia.     

The first record of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pronotalia</Emphasis> Gradwell, 1957 (Hymenoptera,Eulophidae) Wasps from Georgia

Four species of Pronotalia Gradwell (Hymenoptera, Eulophidae: Tetrastichinae) are recorded from the Lagodekhi Reserve (Georgia). Formerly, only P. carlinarum (Szelényi et Erdös) was known from Transcaucasia (Armenia) (Kostjukov, 1978). Pronotalia fiorii (Domenichini), P. orobanchiae Graham, and P. trypetae Gradwell are recorded for Georgia and Transcaucasia for the first time. In addition to these species, only 4 species are known from Europe and Anatolia: P. erzurumica Doganlar, P. hungarica (Erdös), P. inflata Graham, and P. tortumensis Doganlar; thus, 50% of Pronotalia species from Europe and Anatolia occur in the Lagodekhi Reserve.     

Vertebrates from the Pontian of the Shkodova Gora locality (Northwestern Black Sea Region,Upper Miocene)

Remains of fishes, turtles, birds, and mammals are described from the Upper Miocene (MN13) Shkodova Gora locality (Ukraine, Odessa Region), the only representative locality of Pontian large vertebrates in the northwestern Black Sea Region. Asiatic fish and avian taxa are recorded for the first time in the Upper Miocene of Europe. The Shkodova Gora ichthyofauna includes eight freshwater fish species (belonging to Acipenseridae, Cyprinidae, Siluridae, and Percidae). Taxa that have previously been recorded only in Western Siberia (Abramis bliccoides, Perca lepidopoma), eastern Kazakhstan, and the Altai Mountain (Rutilus tungurukensis) are revealed. Acipenser gueldenstaedtii is recorded for the first time in the Upper Miocene of Eastern Europe. The occurrence of the genus Ctenopharyngodon, a member of the Chinese plain faunal assemblage is of great interest. The Shkodova Gora avifauna (seven taxa) is mostly composed of waterfowl, including Phalacrocorax mongoliensis, which has previously been known only from the Lower Pliocene of Mongolia. The finding of Proanser major is the youngest record of this species in the fossil record. Mammals of the Shkodova Gora association include a hare resembling Trischizolagus dumitrescuae, Palaeoryx cf. pallasi, and Hipparion cf. moldavicum, which have not been mentioned among Pontian taxa of the northern Black Sea Region. Pontian paleolandscapes in the area of the Shkodova Gora locality are reconstructed.     

Leaf spot disease on <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tilia cordata</Emphasis> caused by the fungus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cercospora microsora</Emphasis>

Increased incidence of leaf spots on many tree species, up to the presence of peripheral importance only, including linden trees was noticed recently. First massive and continuous occurence of the fungus Cercospora microsora Sacc. [teleomorph Mycosphaerella millegrana (Cook.) Schröet., Mycosphaerella microsora Syd.], causal agent of anthracnose on linden trees (Tilia cordata Mill.) grown in urban plantings in Slovakia was reported. Along with this, certain of the important growth characteristics of this fungus were studied under laboratory conditions. To specify Cercospora biology mycelial growth of C. microsora in pure hyphal cultures was observed in relation to medium and locality. One-way ANOVA has confirmed a statistically significant influence of both factors, culture medium and locality on growth rate values of C. microsora. The effect of these factors has not proved unambiguously in all cases. In the case of one locality (Nitra), the significant influence of used media has not been proved (P > 0.05). PDAg showed generally as the most suitable medium, inducing the most intensive growth in three localities (41.06 mm/week on average). Comparing three localities, the effect of this factor is not so unambiguous. Growth rate values from the localities Bratislava and Pribeta indicate unsuitability of medium A for the fast radial growth. A Tukey test separately conducted for the factors medium and the locality revealed the significant combinations of means (P ≤ 0.05).     

New sepulcids (Hymenoptera: Sepulcidae) from the Lower Cretaceous of Asia: II. Ghilarellinae and Trematothoracinae

Five new species of sepulcids (Hymenoptera: Sepulcidae) are described from the Lower Cretaceous of Transbaikalia and Mongolia (localities Khasurty, Baissa, and Bon-Tsagan). The new species belong to the subfamilies Ghilarellinae and Trematothoracinae: Ghilarella alexialis sp. nov., G. masculina sp. nov., Trematothorax zhangi sp. nov., T. brachyurus sp. nov., and T. extravenosus sp. nov. The genus Trematothoracoides Zhang et al., 2001 (syn. nov.) is synonymized with Trematothorax Rasnitsyn, 1988. A complete list of species of Sepulcidae is provided.     

Fossil Mesozoic and Cenozoic weevils (Coleoptera,Obrienioidea, Curculionoidea)

All known extinct species of Mesozoic and Cenozoic weevils are listed. Ten species of Obrienioidea and 895 Curculionoidea species are recognized, including 88 Nemonychidae, 43 Anthribidae, 44 Ithyceridae, 65 Scolytidae, 12 Belidae, 67 Brentidae, 508 Curcuionidae, 45 Rhynchitidae, six Attelabidae, and 16 Platypodidae. The Triassic beds have yielded six fossil species; Jurassic, 64; Jurassic–Cretaceous boundary, 2; Cretaceous, 105; Paleogene, 510; Neogene, 190; and Pleistocene–Holocene, 22 (5 are synonyms). A new subfamily, Montsecbelinae Legalov, subfam. nov. (with the type genus Montsecbelus Zherikhin et Gratshev, 1997); the new tribes Cretochoragini Legalov, trib. nov. (with the type genus Cretochoragus Soriano et al., 2006), Montsecanomalini Legalov, trib. nov. (with the type genus Montsecanomalus Soriano et al., 2006), Montsecbelini Legalov, trib. nov. (with the type genus Montsecbelus Zherikhin et Gratshev, 1997), Gratshevibelini Legalov, trib. nov. (with the type genus Gratshevibelus Soriano, 2009), Davidibelini Legalov, trib. nov. (with the type genus Davidibelus Zherikhin et Gratshev, 2004); the new genera Allandroides Legalov, gen. nov. (with the type species Allandroides vossi Legalov, sp. nov.), Baissabrenthorhinus Legalov, gen. nov. (with the type species Baissabrenthorhinus mirabilis Legalov, sp. nov.), Ithyceroides Legalov, gen. nov. (with the type species Ithyceroides klondikensis Legalov, sp. nov.), Furhylobius Legalov, gen. nov. (with the type species Furhylobius troesteri Legalov, sp. nov.), Electrauletes Legalov, gen. nov. (with the type species Electrauletes unicus Legalov, sp. nov.); new species Allandroides vossi Legalov, sp. nov. (Baltic amber), Glaesotropis gusakovi Legalov, sp. nov. (Baltic amber), G. succiniferus Legalov, sp. nov. (Baltic amber), G. alleni Legalov, sp. nov. (Baltic amber), G. gratshevi Legalov, sp. nov. (Baltic amber), Baissabrenthorhinus mirabilis Legalov, sp. nov. (Baissa locality), Ithyceroides klondikensis Legalov, sp. nov. (Republic Graben locality), Melanapion poinari Legalov, sp. nov. (Baltic amber), M. gusakovi Legalov, sp. nov. (Baltic amber), Furhylobius troesteri Legalov, sp. nov. (Mors locality), Baltocar convexus Legalov, sp. nov. (Baltic amber), and Electrauletes unicus Legalov, sp. nov. (Baltic amber) are newly described.     

Upper Cretaceous paleosols of the Bain-Dzak section,southern Mongolia

Three paleosol profiles (FPS-profiles) are described from the Djadokhta Formation (Upper Cretaceous, Campanian), outcropping in the Bain-Dzak section (southern Gobi aimag, Mongolia). The new data allow the climate at the time of the formation of the Late Cretaceous FPS-profiles to be interpreted as semiarid with seasonal precipitation. The isolated fossil roots of higher plants preserved in situ in the FPS-1 profile of the Bain-Dzak section are described as a new species, Radicites gobiensis Naugolnykh, sp. nov.     

A new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tinrovia</Emphasis> Mamaev, 1987 (Monogenea: Microcotylidae) from the deep-sea fish <Emphasis Type="Italic">Notacanthus bonaparte</Emphasis> Risso (Notacanthiformes: Notacanthidae) in the Western Mediterranean and the North East Atlantic

A new microcotylid, Tinrovia mamaevi n. sp. (Monogenea: Polyopisthocotylea), is described from the gills of Notacanthus bonaparte Risso (Notacanthiformes: Notacanthidae), sampled in the Western Mediterranean and North East Atlantic. This species is allocated to the subfamily Syncoelicotylinae Mamaev & Zubchenko, 1978 due to the possession of a symmetrical haptor with two separate frills. The clamps in T. mamaevi n. sp. are of the “microcotylid” type, arranged in two distinct lateral haptoral frills; the genital atrium and the copulatory organ are armed and the vaginal pore is unarmed. The new species differs from the type- and only species of the genus, T. papiliocauda Mamaev, 1987, in having a shorter and narrower haptor with a smaller number of clamps. Clamps are also smaller in the new species, testes are more numerous, the genital atrium is smaller, divided into two lateral lobes (instead of five) with a smaller number of spines and the eggs have a short and a long filament (instead of two short filaments). The host species and locality of T. mamaevi n. sp. also differ as T. papiliocauda which was recorded in Notacanthus sexspinis Richardson from the South Pacific.     

New insects (Insecta: Eoblattida,Embiida) from the Permian of Russia and the Triassic of Kyrgyzstan,with observations on the origin of webspinners

Locustoblattina segmentata gen. et sp. nov. and L. marginata gen. et sp. nov., new members of the family Mesorthopteridae (Eoblattida) are described from the Middle Triassic of the Madygen locality (Ladinian Stage of the Kyrgyzstan). New members of the Alexarasniidae (Embiida), Alexarasnia limbata Aristov, sp. nov. and Nestorembia shcherbakovi sp. nov., are described from the Upper Permian Isady locality in the Vologda Region and the Madygen locality, respectively. Parastenaropodites fluxa Storozhenko, 1996 (Mesorthopteridae) is redescribed from Madygen. The origin of webspinners from within the Permian eoblattids and the composition of the superorder Blattidea are discussed.     

Some rare desmids (Zygnematophyceae) from Central Europe

The morphology and taxonomy of eight rare desmids (Zygnematophyceae) from Central Europe are studied, i.e. six taxa from Slovakia [Tortitaenia bahusiensis (Nordstedt et Lütkemüller) Coesel, Closterium limneticum Lemmermann var. fallax R??i?ka, Euastrum sublobatum de Brébisson in Ralfs, morpha, Cosmarium simplicius (W. et G.S. West) Grönblad, Pachyphorium canadense (Irénée-Marie) G. H. Tomaszewicz et Hindák, stat. et comb. nova, Staurastrum bloklandiae Coesel et Joosten], one species from Poland (Spirotaenia bacillaris Lütkemüller) and Austria (Cosmarium geminatum Lundell). All desmids taxa are new records for the country of their origin.