Monograph of the solenofilomorphidae (Turbellaria: Acoela)

Morphological studies of eleven new species in the family permitted reconstruction of progressive evolutionary lines, and this strongly implies progressive evolutionary lines for other acoela. Solenofilomorpha funilis n. sp., Myopea crassula n. g. n. sp., M. latafaucium n. sp., Fusantrum rhammiphorum n. g. n. sp. and Endocincta punctata n. g. n. sp. are described from the coast of South Carolina, U.S.A., and S. guaymensis n. sp. is described from the Gulf of California. Five additional unnamed species from the U. S. Pacific Coast, Sweden and Tunisia are briefly described. Two species groupings were based on correlation between two different arrangements of pharynx muscles and trio arrangements of antrum muscles and further correlations with lesser characters. The membership of the two groupings in a single family make it clear that evolution proceeded by addition of structures to a less complex common ancestor. Functional and behavioral considerations support the evolutionary path drawn from morphology. Distinctive statocyst structure, ciliary interconnections and sperm morphology shared by acoels show them to have a common ancestry, but clearly different pharynges and male structures cannot be consistent with evolution by reductions. A common ancestor of low complexity has probably given rise to several partly parallel evolutionary lines which together form the structurally diverse Acoela. The history of acoel systematics is also briefly summarized.     

New Eocene dinoflagellate cysts from the southern edge of the Junggar Basin,Xinjiang, China

The Anjihaihe Formation in the southern edge of the Junggar Basin was previously considered a series of freshwater lacustrine depositions. However, abundant marine dinoflagellate cysts were recently recovered from the middle to upper part of the middle member of the formation. Two new genera, six new species and one new subspecies among the abundant dinoflagellate cysts are described and illustrated, i.e. Circulodinium? laeve sp. nov., Kaiwaradinium abbreviatum sp. nov., Spiniferites adnatus subsp. latispinus subsp. nov., Oligosphaeropsis accreta gen. et. sp. nov., Oligosphaeropsis complex gen. et. sp. nov., Oligosphaeropsis megaprocessa gen. et. sp. nov. and Tianshandinium biconicum gen. et. sp. nov. They are rare to common constituents of the dinoflagellate assemblage in the Anjihaihe Formation and may prove useful for regional biostratigraphic correlation and palaeoenvironment re-establishment.     

Fossil water striders in Cretaceous French amber (Heteroptera: Gerromorpha: Mesoveliidae and Veliidae)

Fossil gerromorphan bugs from the Cretaceous (Albian–Cenomanian boundary) amber of Charentes, SW France, are reviewed. A larva described by Perrichot et al. (2005) as incertae familiae within the Gerromorpha is now placed in the Mesoveliidae. Three new genera and species are also described and illustrated: Emilianovelia audax Solórzano Kraemer & Perrichot, gen. et sp.n. , and Malenavelia videris Solórzano Kraemer & Perrichot, gen. et sp.n. , which are placed in the Mesoveliidae: Mesoveliinae; and Arcantivelia petraudi Solórzano Kraemer & Perrichot, gen. et sp.n. , which is the first Mesozoic member of the Veliinae. The relationships between these fossils and their palaeoecology are discussed. The new discoveries confirm the antiquity of the semi‐aquatic gerromorphans, particularly the clade (Veliidae + Gerridae). The habitat is described as aquatic and likely marine‐influenced, yet adaptation to a fully marine habitat in these gerromorphans remains difficult to establish. This published work has been registered in ZooBank, http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:F8C034B8-7BD0-4C03-B8FC-CD81D75C7001 .     

First Report on Marine Microturbellarians from Hawaii

Karling, T. G. (Section of Invertebrate Zoology, Swedish Museum of Natural History, Stockholm, Sweden), Valeria Mack-Fira, and Jürgen Dörjes. First report on marine microturbellarians from Hawaii. Zool. Scripta 1 (6): 251–270, 1972.–The material presented here consists of: Cilionema hawaiiensis gen. et sp. n., Microvahine corallicola gen. et sp. n., Archiloa subtilis sp. n., Minona bistylifera sp. n., Duplominona kaneohei sp. n., Archimonocelis heljrichi sp. n., Ulelga variodentata sp. n., Notocelis gullmarensis maculata ssp. n., Cylindrcstoma monotrochum (Graff), Plagiostomum acoluthum Marcus, Gyratrix hermaphroditus Ehrenberg and Austrorhynchus pectatus Karling. The anatomy of the species is described and their taxonomy discussed. Views are given on the comparative anatomy of the bursal organs. The ecology and the biogeography of the species are briefly discussed.     

Anatomy and Systematics of Some Polycystididae (Turbellaria, Kalyptorhynchia) from the Pacific and S. Atlantic

Paraustrorhynchus gen.n., P. pacificus sp.n. (California), Antiboreorhynchus novzelae sp.n. (New Zealand) and Gyratrix proaviformis sp.n. (Oregon) are described as new taxa. Additional notes are given on Gyratrix hermaphroditus Ehrbg. (new localities on the N. American Pacific coast), Scanorhynchus forcipatus Karling (new locality in California), Paraustrorhynchus elixus (Marcus) comb.n. and Alcha evelinae Marcus (new localities in California). The taxonomy of the genera and species is discussed. Viewpoints are presented on evolutionary trends and homologous atrial organs in the family Polycystididae.     

New Paleocene large cassiduline foraminifera (Cassidinidae fam. nov., Miscellanacea) from Egypt and its phylogeny

Larger foraminifera of the Late Paleocene–Early Eocene lower slope to toe-of-slope deposits of the southern Galala, Egypt, are described. Sulcocassidina nakkadyi n. gen. et sp. (base) and Vacuolicassidella dakhlensis n. gen. et sp. (top) represent a phylogenetic line related to the family Cassidinidae (new family), superfamily Miscellanacea (new superfamily) in the latest Paleocene (shallow benthic zone 4) of the southern Galala, Egypt. In addition, Oscucassidella cassis n. gen. et sp., Pellatispiroides youssefi n. gen. et sp. and Chordcassidella ainshamsiana n. gen. et sp. are described and illustrated. Genus: Pomerolina n. gen. (Type species: Alveolina meandrina Carter, 1861, is newly erected and it belongs to Cassidinidae. In this family, the chambers are initially arranged streptospirally, whereas in later stages they are planispirally enrolled. Lateral chamberlets (retral process) are separated from the laminae by a passage and a marginal crest is added during growth.     

The oldest known clerid fossils from the Middle Jurassic of China,with a review of Cleridae systematics (Coleoptera)

Three fossil beetles recorded from Inner Mongolia, China (Callovian, Middle Jurassic, approximately 165 Ma) are assigned to Cleridae and constitute the earliest known representatives of this family. Two of the fossils are described as Protoclerus korynetoides gen. et sp.n. and the third as Wangweiella calloviana gen. et sp.n. Ninety‐six morphological characters of the larvae and adults of 17 extant clerid representatives and seven cleroid families as outgroups were analysed under maximum parsimony with, and without, fossil species included in the matrix. The results indicate that Protoclerus gen.n. is a separate lineage within the family, whereas Wangweiella gen.n. is sister to the rest of Epiclininae. The resulting trees are compared with the most recent morphological and molecular phylogenies of Cleridae. The trees presented appear congruent with the latest molecular phylogenies. The evolution of Cleridae, as well as their biogeography and systematics, are briefly reviewed. A complete list of clerid fossil species described to date is provided. This published work has been registered in ZooBank, http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:32240D3D-2A7A-41F6-B485-A66F2265CB8A .     

Neoselachians (Chondrichthyes,Elasmobranchii) from the Lower and lower Upper Cretaceous of north‐eastern Spain

Extensive sampling of several Barremian and Albian–Cenomanian levels across the Aguilón, Oliete and Aliaga subbasins of the Iberian Basin, north‐east Spain, yielded abundant material of new or so far poorly known neoselachians. The faunas consist of 16 different species, five of which represent new species and two new genera: Cantioscyllium brachyplicatum sp. nov. , Platypterix venustulus gen. et sp. nov. , Ptychotrygon pustulata sp. nov. , Ptychotrygon striata sp. nov. and Iberotrygon plagiolophus gen. et sp. nov. In addition, teeth of Heterodontus cf. H. carerens, Lamniformes indet., Pteroscyllium sp., Scyliorhinidae indet., Rhinobatos sp., Spathobatis sp., Belemnobatis sp., Ptychotrygon geyeri, Ptychotrygon sp. and Celtipristis herreroi are described. The new family Ptychotrygonidae is defined. The localities comprise palaeoenvironments ranging from lacustrine and shallow lake to open marine settings. Neoselachians are almost completely absent from continental settings in the Barremian, as a result of prevailing freshwater conditions, but became more abundant in marine strata. The Albian–Cenomanian selachian assemblage is the most profuse and diverse of the three assemblages studied. It is dominated by small, benthic and near‐coastal taxa, for instance Cantioscyllium and Ptychotrygon, and contains several new species, including an endemic batoid, Iberotrygon plagiolophus gen. et sp. nov. © 2009 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2009, 155 , 316–347.     

New tanystropheids (Reptilia: Archosauromorpha) from the Triassic of Europe

A new prolacertilian species and genus, Augustaburiania vatagini gen. et sp. nov. (Reptilia: Archosauromorpha), from the Lower Triassic of the Don River Basin is described. It is the first representative of the Tanystropheidae in the Eastern Europe and the world oldest member of this family. Another new genus (Protanystropheus gen. nov.) from Central and Western Europe is also established. The diversity, systematics, phylogeny, evolution, and stratigraphic and geographical distribution of prolacertilians are discussed. The ecological role of prolacertilians in Early Triassic communities and adaptation to marine environments are analyzed.     

New fossils from China elucidating the phylogeny of Praesiricidae (Insecta: Hymenoptera)

A new subfamily of Praesiricidae (Pamphilioidea), Decorisiricinae subfam.n. , is erected based on three new genera: Decorisiricius gen.n. , Limbisiricius gen.n. and Brevisiricius gen.n. Two new species – Decorisiricius patulus gen. et sp.n. and D. longus sp.n. – from the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation and three species –Limbisiricius aequalis gen. et sp.n. , Limbisiricius complanatus sp.n. and Brevisiricius partialis gen. et sp.n. – from the Middle Jurassic Jiulongshan Formation, are described. Based on these well‐preserved new fossil specimens and previously published data, the nonmonophyly of Praesiricidae is confirmed and the phylogenetic relationships of species of Praesiricidae are analysed for the first time. Two main clades within Praesiricidae are recognized from the cladistic analysis: Decorisiricinae subfam.n. forms a monophyletic lineage, with the remaining members of Praesiricidae plus Megalodontes (Megalodontesidae) forming its sister group. The two subfamilies Archoxyelydinae and Praesiricinae are discarded with no strong supported synapomorphic characters based on phylogenetic research. A key to all genera of Praesiricidae is provided. This published work has been registered in ZooBank, http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:38D703ED‐127A‐4DB0‐8153‐8D78AF4AC212 .     

Report on the Polycystididae (Rhabdocoela, Kalyptorhynchia) from Australia, with the Description of Twelve New Species and Six New Genera

Twelve new species of Polycystididae Graff, 1905 are described from the Australian east coast. Nine of them could not be placed in any of the existing genera, and therefore six new genera are erected. Alchoides n. gen. differs from all other polycystidid genera by the presence of a bundle of glands that opens into the distal part of the male atrium (accessory vesicle type V). Two species are included in the genus, A. alchoides n. sp. and A. dittmannae n. sp., which differ from each other in the shape of the stylet. Ametochus gehrkei n. gen n. sp. can be distinguished from other polycystidids by the presence of a prostate vesicle type III associated with a prostate stylet type III, combined with the presence of an accessory stylet type III, while a prostate stylet type II is lacking. Typical for Arrawarria inexpectata n. gen n. sp. is the combined presence of an armed cirrus with a prostate vesicle type II connected to a prostate stylet type II. Two species are assigned to the new genus Duplexostylus n. gen.: D. rowei n. sp. and D. winsori n. sp. These two species have two unique features: a prostate vesicle type IV directly connected to a prostate stylet type III and an asymmetrical septum that surrounds the proximal part of the male atrium. They can be distinguished from each other by differences in the detailed construction of their stylets. Two new species are placed in the new genus Stradorhynchus n. gen.: S. caecus n. sp. and S. terminalis n. sp. They have unpaired gonads and a prostate vesicle type IV connected to a prostate stylet type IV, which combination of characters makes them unique within the Polycystididae. The two species differ from each other in the shape and size of the stylet. Triaustrorhynchus armatus n. gen., n. sp. is the first species of the Polycystididae to have three types of stylet in the male atrium: a prostate stylet type II, a prostate stylet type III and an accessory stylet type III. Three new species could be placed in existing genera: Cincturorhynchus monaculeus n. sp., Paraustrorhynchus caligatus n. sp. and Polycystis australis n. sp. All three differ from their congeners in the form and dimensions of their stylets. All newly described species are discussed, giving their similarities and differences with resembling species. Austrorhynchus hawaiiensis Karling, 1977 is reported for the first time in Australia, and the Australian population is compared with populations from other regions. The presence of Gyratrix hermaphroditus Ehrenberg, 1831, one new species of Paulodora Marcus, 1948 and a new genus of Typhlopolycystidinae Evdonin, 1977 is mentioned.     

A new genus of rodent from Wallacea (Rodentia: Muridae: Murinae: Rattini), and its implication for biogeography and Indo‐Pacific Rattini systematics

We describe Halmaheramys bokimekot Fabre, Pagès, Musser, Fitriana, Semiadi & Helgen gen. et sp. nov. , a new genus and species of murine rodent from the North Moluccas, and study its phylogenetic placement using both molecular and morphological data. We generated a densely sampled mitochondrial and nuclear DNA data set that included most genera of Indo‐Pacific Murinae, and used probabilistic methodologies to infer their phylogenetic relationships. To reconstruct their biogeographical history, we first dated the topology and then used a Lagrange analysis to infer ancestral geographic areas. Finally, we combined the ancestral area reconstructions with temporal information to compare patterns of murine colonization among Indo‐Pacific archipelagos. We provide a new and comprehensive molecular phylogenetic reconstruction for Indo‐Pacific Murinae, with a focus on the Rattus division. Using previous results and those presented in this study, we define a new Indo‐Pacific group within the Rattus division, composed of Bullimus, Bunomys, Paruromys, Halmaheramys, Sundamys, and Taeromys. Our phylogenetic reconstructions revealed a relatively recent diversification from the Middle Miocene to Plio‐Pleistocene associated with several major dispersal events. We identified two independent Indo‐Pacific dispersal events from both western and eastern Indo‐Pacific archipelagos to the isolated island of Halmahera, which led to the speciations of H. bokimekot gen. et sp. nov. and Rattus morotaiensis Kellogg, 1945. We propose that a Middle Miocene collision between the Halmahera and Sangihe arcs may have been responsible for the arrival of the ancestor of Halmaheramys to eastern Wallacea. Halmaheramys bokimekot gen. et sp. nov. is described in detail, and its systematics and biogeography are documented and illustrated. © 2013 The Linnean Society of London     

New deep-sea Nematoda (Enoplida,Thoracostomopsidae, Oncholaimidae,Enchelidiidae) from a manganese nodule area of the eastern South Pacific*

Five new nematode species are described from a mangancsc nodule area of the abyssal eastern South Pacific: Enoploides tyrannis sp. n., Paramesacanthion abyssorum sp. n., P. forcepssp. n. (all three Thoracostomopsidae), Phylloncholaimus immanis gen. et sp. n. (Oncholaimidac), and Eurystomina absoluta sp. n. (Enchelidiidae). They are characterized by large size (body length 5000–23000 μm), short tails (c = 17–33), and strongly cuticularizcd, barrel-shaped buccal cavities with large teeth. With the exception of one male of E. tyrannis from the surface of a manganese nodule, all other specimens were found in the sediment. The new species are sporadic in distribution and represented by few individuals.     

New and little known phalangopsinae (Orthoptera,Gryllidae): 7. Neotropical taxa of the tribes Paragryllini and Luzarini

Three new genera, one new subgenus, and 13 new species (Strogulomorpha separata sp. n., S. davidi sp. n., S. proxima sp. n., Luzarida lata sp. n., Luzara venado sp. n., L. sapani sp. n., Ucayacla pulchella gen. et sp. n., Peruzara atalaya gen. et sp. n., P. loreto sp. n., Amazonacla imitata gen. et sp. n., A. primitiva sp. n., Leptopsis (Leptopsis) ucayali sp. n., and L. (Aberracla subgen. n.) morona sp. n.) are described. The composition of the tribes Paragryllini and Luzarini and of the genera Luzarida Heb. and Luzara Walk is discussed. The new synonymies Luzarida Hebard, 1928 = Ecuazarida Nischk et Otte, 2000, syn. n.; Lerneca Walker, 1869 = Doposia Otte et Perez-Gelabert, 2009, syn. n.; Nemoricantor Desutter-Grandcolas et Hubbell, 1993 = Kumalorina Otte et Perez-Gelabert, 2009, syn. n. are given. The systematic position of some previously described species is corrected.     

Discheramocephalini,a new pantropical tribe of featherwing beetles (Coleoptera: Ptiliidae): description of new taxa and phylogenetic analysis

Abstract Two new genera and eight new species of featherwing beetles (Coleoptera: Ptiliidae) possessing a remarkable horizontal perforation of the mesoventral keel are described: Skidmorella vietnamensis sp.n. (Vietnam), S. memorabilis sp.n. (Indonesia), S. serrata sp.n. (Vietnam), Fenestellidium capensis gen. et sp.n. (South Africa, type species), F. kakamegaensis sp.n. (Kenya), Cissidium okuensis sp.n. (Cameroon), Dacrysoma usambarensis gen. et sp.n. (Tanzania, type species) and D. felis sp.n. (Madagascar). A phylogenetic analysis of 24 taxa and 37 parsimony‐informative characters supports the hypothesis of a single origin of the mesoventral perforation, thus uniting Discheramocephalus, Skidmorella, Africoptilium, Fenestellidium, Cissidium and Dacrysoma into a pantropically distributed clade, for which a new tribe Discheramocephalini (type genus Discheramocephalus) is proposed. Identification keys to Discheramocephalini genera and, in some cases, to species are provided. Each new species is illustrated with scanning electron microscopy images.     

Diving ducks from the Middle Miocene of western Mongolia

Medium-sized diving ducks from the Middle Miocene of the Sharga locality (western Mongolia) are described. Sharganetta mongolica gen. et sp. nov. and Nogusunna conflictoides gen. et sp. nov. are evolutionary more advanced than the thoroughly studied Early Miocene genus Mionetta, but more primitive than Anatinae and Oxyurinae. The humeral morphology gives evidence of an aberrant position of the two new genera. Another taxon, Protomelanitta gracilis gen. et sp. nov. presumably belongs to basal Mergini.     

Diverse oxyporine rove beetles from the Early Cretaceous of China (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae)

Two new genera and species, Protoxyporus grandis gen. et sp.n. and Cretoxyporus extraneus gen. et sp.n. , are described and figured on the basis of two well‐preserved impression fossils from the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation of China. The two genera display a combination of traits that are diagnostic of the extant staphylinid subfamily Oxyporinae: large and prominent mandibles, distinctly separated mesocoxae, abdominal tergites III–VII each with a pair of basolateral ridges, and abdominal intersegmental membranes with ‘brick‐wall’ pattern. Protoxyporus differs from extant Oxyporus in retaining the following plesiomorphic features: an elongate intercoxal process (or longitudinal carina) between metacoxae, relatively narrowly separated mesocoxae, less developed metaventral anterior process, and long infraorbital ridges. Cretoxyporus is morphologically very similar to Oxyporus, but retains distinct elongate infraorbital ridges. The discovery of two new oxyporine genera suggests that the early oxyporines were more diverse and their evolutionary history more complicated than previously documented. This published work has been registered in ZooBank, http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:11503976‐D577‐45D2‐ACCB‐8226782EF817 .     

New records,species, genera,and a new family of gastropods from hydrothermal vents and hydrocarbon seeps*

More than 100 species of gastropods from vent and seep localities around the world are reviewed, based on literature information and new material. The following new taxa are described (localities with parentheses, systematic position within brackets): Cantrainea macleani sp.n. (Louisiana Slope) [Turbinidae]; Fucaria striata gen. et sp.n. (Juan de Fuca Ridge area), Vetuloniaphalcata sp.n. (North Fiji Basin) [both Trochidae]; Protolira valvatoides gen. et sp.n. (Mid-Atlantic Ridge) [Skeneidae]; Ventsia tricarinata gen. et sp.n. (Lau Basin), Bruceiella globulus gen. et sp.n. (Lau Basin) [both tentatively in Skeneidae]; Melanodrymia brightae sp.n. (Juan de Fuca Ridge area), Pachydermia sculpta sp.n. (Lau Basin), Planorbidella gen.n., P. depressa sp.n. (Lau Basin), Ctenopelta porifera gen. et sp.n. (EPR 13°N)[Peltospiridae]; Helicrenion reticulatum gen. et sp.n. (Lau Basin), Lepfogyra inflata sp.n. (Lau Basin) [families unknown]; Desbruyeresia spinosa gen. et sp.n. (Lau Basin), D. cancellata sp.n.(Lau Basin), D. melanioides sp.n. (Lau Basin), Provanna buccinoides sp.n. (Lau Basin) [Provannidae]; Hyalogyra vitrinelloides sp.n. (Lau Basin), Hyalogyrina grasslei s p a (Guaymas Basin)[Hyalogyrinidae fam. n.], Xylodiscula major sp.n. (North Fiji Basin) [Xylodisculidae]. The external morphology of the soft parts [for Ifremeria and Alviniconcha (Provannidae) also the anatomy] is described for most of the taxa involved. Some features in the biology and distribution of the gastropod fauna are discussed. About half the fauna consists of species belonging to families or superfamilies endemic to this environment. One-fifth of the remaining species belong to taxa normally associated with biogenic substrates in the deep sea. Alviniconcha hessleri has previously been shown to harbour chemosynthetic bacteria in the gill; Ifremeria nautilei is here confirmed to do the same. Ctenopelta porifera, and Hirtopelta hirta are suspected to have such bacteria because of reduction of the alimentary system.     

Two Palaeozoic Hydrothermal Vent Communities from the Southern Ural Mountains, Russia

The Sibay and Yaman Kasy massive sulphide deposits contain macrofossil assemblages that represent some of the oldest known hydrothermal vent communities. The deposits are hosted respectively by Middle Devonian and Silurian arc-related volcanic rocks in the Ural Mountains of Russia, and formed under the same environmental constraints as modern vent sulphides. The Sibay palaeocommunity comprises, in order of decreasing abundance, tubes of an indeterminate ?annelid and the vestimentiferan Tevidestus serrriformis Shpanskaya, Maslennikov and Little and articulated specimens of the modiomorphid bivalve Sibaya ivanovi gen. et sp. nov. The Yaman Kasy palaeocommunity comprises, in order of decreasing abundance, tubes of the ?polychaete Eoalvinellodes annulatus gen. et sp. nov. and the vestimentiferan Yamankasia rifeia Shpanskaya, Maslennikov and Little, and specimens of the ?kirengellid tergomyan Themoconus shadlunae gen. et sp. nov., the lingulate brachiopod Pyrodiscus lorrainae gen. et sp. nov., an indeterminate vetigastropod, and the ambonychiid bivalve Mytilarca sp. Some of these taxa have affinities to endemic taxa at modern hydrothermal vent sites and some belong to taxa that are typical of Palaeozoic non-vent marine palaeocommunities. Therefore, there has been movement of taxonomic groups in and out of the vent ecosystem through the Phanerozoic.     

Diverse middle Ordovician palaeoscolecidan worms from the Builth‐Llandrindod Inlier of central Wales

Abstract: Palaeoscolecidan worms are rare, Early Palaeozoic fossils with uncertain affinities within the Ecdysozoa. They are locally abundant in the Cambrian and scattered in the Early Ordovician, but very sparse thereafter. Forty‐four specimens have been collected from the Middle Ordovician of the Builth‐Llandrindod Inlier of Mid Wales and include well‐preserved material assigned to seven new genera, with four additional species in open nomenclature. An additional specimen from the Arenig Pontyfenni Formation of South Wales is also described in open nomenclature. The total demonstrates much greater palaeoscolecid diversity than hitherto suspected for this time. The specimens are preserved as cuticle fragments in shales and siltstones, often of submillimetre size but in many cases with excellent preservation. The level of detail preserved in some is equal to that found in Cambrian phosphatized faunas. The new approach to collecting, and the recognition that this material can yield taxonomically useful information, opens new avenues for palaeoscolecidan research in siliciclastic environments. The new taxa are the following: Radnorscolex bwlchi gen. et sp. nov., Aggerscolex murchisoni gen. et sp. nov., Bullascolex inserere gen. et sp. nov., Wernia eximia gen. et sp. nov., Ulexiscolex ormrodi gen. et sp. nov., Pluoscolex linearis gen. et sp. nov. and Loriciscolex cuspidus gen. et sp. nov. The high diversity, and the taxonomic separation from known groups described primarily from Cambrian carbonates, implies that palaeoscolecidans either diversified significantly during the Ordovician or were taxonomically segregated between carbonate and siliciclastic settings. Palaeobiological findings also include confirmation that some palaeoscolecid basal cuticles were solid and others reticulate, plates (and platelets) could form by lateral accretion, plates were in part primarily phosphatic and in part organic and that in at least some groups, platelet secretion occurred external to plate secretion.