Bryozoa from the Surmaq Formation (Permian) of the Hambast Mountains,south of Abadeh,central Iran

The Permian bryozoan fauna of the Surmaq Formation exposed in a section near Kuh-e Hambast (Hambast Mountains, central Iran) includes ten species. Four species (Fistulipora sawatai Sakagami 1999, Fistulipora takauchiensis Sakagami 1961, Fistulipora monticulosa Nikiforova 1933, and Eridopora parasitica, Waagen and Wentzel 1886) indicate a Middle Permian (Murgabian) age of the formation. Six additional taxa, three cystoporates Fistulipora sp. 1, Fistulipora sp. 2, and Fistuliporidae gen. et sp. indet., as well as three trepostomes Dyscritella sp., Trepostomata gen. et sp. indet. 1 and Trepostomata gen. et sp. indet. 2 could not be identified at the genus and species level. The investigated fauna refers to the Middle Permian of Thailand, Pakistan, Indonesia, and Japan.     

Lower Permian Bryozoa of the Jamal Formation from Bagh-e Vang (Shotori Mountains,northeast Iran)

Lower Permian Bryozoan fauna of Jamal Formation, exposed in Bagh-e Vang (Shotori Mountains, northeast Iran) includes six species. Three species – Streblotrypa (Streblascopora) marmionensis (Etheridge 1926), Rhabdomeson bispinosum (Crockford 1944) and Alternifenestella kungurensis (Stuckenberg 1898) – indicate the Lower Permian (Artinskian to Kungurian) age of the formation. Three additional taxa – Fistulipora sp. 1, Fistulipora sp. 2 and undetermined timanodictyid bryozoan ?Timanodictya sp. could not be identified at the species level. The investigated fauna refers to Uralian and Australian palaeobiogeographic provinces.     

Rhabdomesid and cystoporid bryozoans from the Permian of Deh-e Mohammad, Shotori Mountains (northeastern Iran)

Seven bryozoan species belonging to the Order Rhabdomesida and Order Cystoporida are described from the Permian deposits exposed near the small town of Deh-e Mohammad, Shotori Mountains (northeastern Iran): Rhabdomeson cf. consimile Bassler, Pamirella nitida Gorjunova, Clausotrypa conferta Bassler, Streblotrypa (Streblotrypa) elegans Sakagami, Streblotrypa (Streblascopora) supernodata nov. sp., Cystodictya sp., and Filiramoporina cf. kretaphilia Fry and Cuffey. The described fauna identifies the age of the Jamal Formation at the locality near Deh-e Mohammad as Lower Permian. It displays palaeobiogeographic connections to the Lower Permian of Pamir (Tajikistan), Indonesia, Thailand and Kansas (North America).     

First reported occurrence of wewokellid sponges (Calcarea, Heteractinida) from the Permian of central Iran

The new calcisponges Regispongia fluegeli n. sp., and Iranospongia circulara n. gen. n. sp., are described from central Iran. These are the first heteractinid sponges reported from the Permian of the region. These wewokellid sponges are large, irregularly cylindrical forms with a distinct axial spongocoel. The calcareous spicular skeletons of both taxa have been overgrown and are recrystallized. However, the preserved skeleton of Regispongia fluegeli does include large polyactines in the main endosomal layer and small octactines and possibly other polyactine spicules in both the relatively massive dermal layer and the distinct, delicately spiculed, gastral layer. Iranospongia is characterized by a discontinuous ring of vertical exhalant canals interior to the dense dermal layer, and by an interior skeleton net that includes common coarse vertical fibers. Individual spicules in Iranospongia are commonly obscured, but locally some remnants of possible polyactines occur in outer parts of the skeleton.     

New fish assemblages from the Middle Permian from the Guadalupe Mountains,West Texas,USA

Late Wordian/Capitanian (Guadalupian, Middle Permian) fish assemblages are described from the “McKittrick Canyon Limestone”, Lamar Limestone and Reef Trail Members of the Bell Canyon Formation in the Patterson Hills and the PI section (Hegler/Pinery Members) along Highway 62/180 in the Guadalupe Mountains, West Texas. The assemblages contain chondrichthyan teeth of Stethacanthulus meccaensis, Texasodus varidentatus, Cooleyella cf. amazonensis, C. cf. peculiaris, and the new genus and species Lamarodus triangulus; and buccopharyngeal denticles of undetermined symmoriiform; chondrichthyan scales of eight morphotypes; fragment of an actinopterygian jaw, isolated teeth; the scales of Alilepis sp., Varialepis sp. and undetermined elonichthyid and haplolepid fishes. Using microtomography, the vascularization system has been observed for the first time for the teeth of Texasodus varidentatus and a new taxon Lamarodus triangulus. The distribution of chondrichthyan taxa was analyzed for the known fish assemblages of the Early, Middle, and Late Permian of the world. The end-Guadalupian crisis in the evolution of chondrichthyan fishes involved substantially more taxonomic change than the Permian–Triassic mass extinction.     

New localities of Late Eocene vertebrate footprints from the Tarom Mountains,Northwestern Iran

We document Late Eocene vertebrate footprints from the Tarom Mountains of Iran that represent a significant addition to the record of proboscidean and perissodactyl footprints. These footprints are from sandstones and tuffaceous sandstones of strata equivalent to the Kond Formation that overlie middle Eocene sedimentary rocks and are overlain by Oligocene volcanics. The footprints are preserved at 16 tracksites from 10 distinct stratigraphic levels. The mammal footprints include the oldest known proboscidean tracks, assigned to Proboscipeda enigmatica Panin & Avram and to cf. Proboscipeda isp. Evident perissodactyl tracks are common, tridactyl footprints with distinct digit shapes and proportions assigned to the new ichnogenus and ichnospecies Moropopus elongatus. Footprints of small, hopping, rodent-like mammals are identified as Musaltipes taromi new ichnospecies. Other mammal footprints from the Tarom tracksites are indeterminate, and bird footprints are assigned to Avipeda isp. The Tarom tracksites document the oldest record of proboscidean footprints, and this indicates that proboscideans had reached the northern shore of Tethys by Late Eocene time. The abundance and distinctiveness of the Tarom perissodactyl tracks mirrors the abundance and diversity of moropomorph perissodactyls during the Middle-Late Eocene. The Tarom tracksites are the most extensive record of Eocene vertebrate footprints known from Iran.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:F430F9DB-728F-4162-9791-DC2A5CC5ED43     

Eocene Bird and Mammal Tracks from the Karaj Formation,Tarom Mountains,Northwestern Iran

A long continuous trackway of a shorebird (cf. Charadriipeda) and a suite of possible Pantodonta (?Corophydon) or Dinocerata tracks are reported from the Eocene Karaj Formation. Fossil footprints are still rare in Iran, described only from two Jurassic and three Tertiary sites. Thus the current record, the third in the Teritary, adds to a sparse record and increases the diversity of known track types.     

Toarcian and Aalenian (Jurassic) ammonites from the Shemshak Formation of the Jajarm area (eastern Alborz, Iran)

In the Jajarm area (eastern Alborz Mountains, NE Iran) the ?Upper Triassic — Lower Bajocian siliciclastic Shemshak Formation is up to 2000 m thick. Whereas the lower third of the formation is nearly exclusively non-marine, the upper two-thirds are fully marine. The middle part is characterized by several levels containing a relatively diverse and well preserved assemblage of ammonites of the Toarcian to Aalenian stages. Two sections of the ammonite-bearing strata, spaced 20 km, are presented and correlated by means of ammonite biostratigraphy. The ammonite fauna consists of 27 taxa, some of which are recorded for the first time from the Alborz Mountains. The ammonites are briefly described and their palaeobiogeographic context is reviewed. The ammonite fauna of the Shemshak Formation at Jajarm, as elsewhere in North and Central Iran, is exclusively Northwestern Tethyan in character and is closely related to the faunas of Northwestern and Central Europe.     

A new large chonetid (Brachiopoda) from the Middle Permian of the southern Kitakami Mountains, northeast Japan

A new chonetid genus and species, Kitakamichonetes multicapillatus gen. et sp. nov. (subfamily Chalimochonetinae, family Rugosochonetidae), from the Middle Permian (Wordian-Capitanian, Kanokura Formation) of the southern Kitakami Mountains (northeast Japan) is described.     

Green algae from the Lower Cretaceous carbonate of northern Shiraz (Zagros Mountains,SW Iran)

In northern Shiraz (SW Iran), Lower Cretaceous carbonate was studied in detail. In this study, nine species of dasycladacea algae were classified. There are different species of dasycladacea algae which belong to seven different genera: Actinoporella, Cylindroporella, Dissocladela, Heteroporella, Neomeris, Salpingoporella, Trinocladus; one species of udoteaceae belongs to Bouenia; one species of acetabulariaceae belongs to Clypeina and the microproblematicum Coptocampylodon was also seen. Among the green algae, dasycladaceae and acetabulariceae are the most frequent and udoteaceans are rare in Zagros Mountains. The genus of Trinocladus is a new record for Lower Cretaceous (Upper Albian) in SW Iran.     

Scorpionid Resting Trace from The Lower Permian of Southern New Mexico,USA

We describe an arthropod body impression associated with arthropod trackways of the ichnogenus Stiaria from the Lower Permian (upper Wolfcampian) Robledo Mountains Formation (Hueco Group) in the Prehistoric Trackways National Monument of southern New Mexico. The probable producer of these traces was a scorpion, and we name the likely scorpionid resting trace Alacranichnus braddyi, new ichnogenus and ichnospecies. There are no prior reports of scorpionid body impressions from terrestrial settings in the fossil record.     

New species of Dzhulfian (Late Permian) ammonoids from the Hambast Formation of Central Iran

New ammonoid species of the genus Araxoceras (A. abarquense sp. nov. and A. iranense sp. nov.) are described from the Early Dzhulfian (Early Wuchiapingian) beds of the Hambast Formation of Central Iran (Abade). The data on the distribution of Paraceltites (Paraceltites sp.) and Vedioceras (V. umbonovarum Ruzhencev), for the first time discovered in the Dzhulfian beds of Abade, and of Eoaraxoceras are provided. The correlation of the Late Permian assemblages of ammonoids of Iran and Transcaucasia is amended.     

Ichnology of Lower Jurassic beach deposits in the Shemshak Formation at Shahmirzad,southeastern Alborz Mountains,Iran

A 19 m thick package of well-sorted lowermost Jurassic (Hettangian-Lower Sinemurian?) sandstones within the Shemshak Formation of the southeastern Alborz Mountains displays features characteristic of foreshore to upper shoreface environments such as tabular bedding, low-angle lamination, trough cross-stratification, parting lineation, and oscillation ripples. In contrast to most other beach successions recorded in the literature the sandstones contain a trace fossil assemblage characterised by low abundance but comparatively high diversity. The assemblage, comprising 14 ichnotaxa, is dominated by Palaeophycus heberti, Rhizocorallium irregulare, Gyrochorte comosa, and Parahaentzschelinia surlyki. Contrary to predictions, which assume a dominance of suspension-feeders in such high-energy environments, the trace fossil assemblage represents a variety of ethological groups ranging from suspension-feeders to deposit-feeders, detritus-feeders, scavengers, and a possible trap constructor (Ctenopholeus), whereby deposit-feeders predominate. This anomaly is explained by a high amount of organic detritus in the sediment, indicated by abundant plant material, and a position of the beach in the vicinity of a river mouth.     

中国云南高黎贡山园蛛属4新种记述(蜘蛛目:园蛛科)

本文记述了采自中国云南高黎贡山的园蛛属Amneus 4新种:春林园蛛,新种Amneus chunlin sp.nov.,李氏园蛛,新种Araneusliae sp.nov.,丰盛园蛛,新种Amneua plenus sp.nov.和亚坪园蛛,新种Araneus yapingensis sp.nov..模式标本正模及部分副模保存于湖南师范大学(HNU),部分副模将保存于美国加州科学学院(CaAS).文中量度单位为mm.     

A gorgonopsian from the Wutonggou Formation (Changhsingian,Permian) of Turpan Basin,Xinjiang, China

Gorgonopsians were widely distributed during the Permian, and went extinct by the end of Permian. However, their fossil localities in the North Hemisphere are concentrated in the eastern European portion of Russia, except for one possible canine from the North China. A specimen from the Wutonggou Formation of Turpan Basin, Xinjiang, China, dated ～253.3 Ma, is identified as a gorgonopsian based on dental features. This discovery shows that the gorgonopsians survived in northern warm temperate zone about ～253.3 Ma, contemporaneous with the latest records of Russia and South Africa. This specimen may represent one of the latest records of gorgonopsians.     

Dasycladales from the Permian Jamal Formation of the Shotori Mountains,northeast Iran

Calcareous algae of the Permian Jamal Formation were studied in three sections of the Shotori Mountains, located in northeastern Iran. In this paper, four genera including Imperiella Elliott and Süssli, Nanjinoporella Mu and Elliott, Tabasoporella nov. gen., and Pseudotabasoporella nov. gen. are described from the Howz-e Dorah locality, which is exposed about 2 km northeast of the type section of Jamal Formation in Mount Jamal. Tabasoporella nov. gen. is characterized by metaspondyl arrangement of phloiophore and wine-glass-shaped laterals with a stalk grouped to tufts. The individual tufts are separated by a ring-like cavity appearing as triangular, oval, or trapezoid in longitudinally dissected section. The arrangement and shape of the laterals in Pseudotabasoporella nov. gen. is similar to Tabasoporella nov. gen., but there are no cavities between the tufts. All four genera are highly developed and limited to the Permian period. They disappear at the end of Permian and are not found in the Triassic sediments. Until today, two species of Imperiella are found in Iran and Afghanistan. I. iranica Elliott and Süssli was described only from the Ruteh Formation of Alborz Mountains in north Iran and I. afghanica was described from the Permian of Afghanistan. The Jamal Formation of the Shotori Mountains is the second locality where both species are discovered. Moreover, species I. crassiparietalis and I. gracilis are the two new species described here. The genus Nanjinoporella—with type species N. pagoda Mu and Elliott—was known from the Permian (Artinskian) Chishia Formation of Nanjing, China. We describe the new species Nanjinoporella iranica from the Permian Jamal Formation of the Shotori Mountains, northeast Iran.     

Lower Permian bivalves from central Patagonia, Argentina

The earliest Permian faunal successions of central Patagonia show compositional changes that probably reflected the environmental warming at the end of the Gondwana glaciations. Bivalves of Asselian to probably Early Tastubian age are described. A new genus,Sueroa, is proposed to reunite a previously known species and a new species,Sueroa andreisi n. sp. Another five new species:Parallelodon? quichaurensis n. sp.,Heteropecten cortignasi n. sp.,Etheripecten saraviae n. sp.,Streblopteria montgomeryi n. sp. andPraeundulomya moreli n. sp. are described. Two previously known species:Malimania patagoniensis (González) andEuchondria sabattiniae González are revised and new occurrences are reported. A further eleven species are described, but they are left in open nomenclature being because they are insufficiently known; these are:Phestia? n. sp.,Modiolus sp.,Palaeoneilo sp.,Stutchburia sp.,Schizodus sp.,Vacunella? sp.,Edmondia sp.,Myonia? n. sp.,Myonia? sp. andPachymyonia? n. sp.     

华北太行山北段高于庄组微古植物的新发现

长城群高于庄组主要分布于我国华北地区,地质年龄约在14－16亿年。主要描述了华北太行山北段灵邱县境内高于组白云岩中的层状和扁豆状透镜体燧石及穹隆式叠层石的黑色燧石中的颤藻、念珠藻和色球藻植物的8个新种和3个未定种,其中还有两个新修订属。这些新的促群再加上前人在高于庄组地层中已报道的汇成了近100个种生物组合,进一步证明高于庄组地地球上中元代微化石类群最丰富的产地之一。以下是该 新发现和新修订的分类类群：颤藻科（Oscillatoriaceae): Eophormkidium orculiformis sp. nov., E. sp., Siphonophycus caudataceous sp. nov., Palaeolyngbya complanata sp. nov., P. capitata sp. nvo., P. sp., Oscilaltoriopsis sp.;念珠藻科（Nosto-caceae):Veteronostiocale vaginata sp.nov.;色球藻科（Chroococcaceae):Maculosphaera giganta sp.nov.,Gloeotheceopsis grandis sp.nov.;分类位置未定的类群：Myxococcoides limpida sp.nov.。     

New multiarmed crinoids of the family Catillocrinidae from the Lower Permian of the Fore-Urals

New Catillocrinidae Allocatillocrinus rarus sp. nov., with a previously unknown tegmenal structure, Paracatillocrinus shamovi sp. nov., and P. shakhtauensis sp. nov., with an unusual relative position of the crown and stem are described from the Artinskian Stage (Lower Permian) of the western slope of the Middle and Southern Ural Mountains (Boets, Krasnoufimsk, and Shakh-Tau localities). The genus Allocatillocrinus has not previously been recorded from the Permian, while Paracatillocrinus has only previously been reported from the Upper Permian of Timor Island.     

Conodonts from the Permian Jisu Honguer (Zhesi) Formation of Inner Mongolia, China

The Jisu Honguer Formation (“Zhesi Formation”) is a North China marine carbonate unit of Permian age containing a mixed fauna of Tethyan, Boreal and endemic elements. The age of the Jisu Honguer Formation has been thought to range from Artinskian to Kazanian based on previous studies using mostly benthic macrofossils. A typical Mesogondolella aserrata conodont fauna is reported from the lower part of the upper member of the Jisu Honguer Formation in the Ulanqub District, Zhesi area, of northern China. The fauna indicates a Middle Permian (Guadalupian) age, most likely late Wordian to early Capitanian, for the strata yielding conodonts. The whole Jisu Honguer Formation could be assigned to the Wordian to early Capitanian age. The overlying Yihewusu Formation is probably of Capitanian age. There are no Wuchiapingian marine deposits in the Zhesi area. As characteristic of the open sea Guadalupian conodont faunas of the Tethys, smooth Mesogondolella dominate the fauna. The view that all Tethyan Guadalupian conodont faunas consist exclusively of serrated Mesogondolella cannot be confirmed. Three new species are described: Mesogondolella neoprolongata C. - y. Wang, Mesogondolella mandulaensis C. - y. Wang and Wardlawella jisuensis C. - y. Wang.