Redescription and systematic position of Diandongia pista from the Chengjiang Lagerstätte

Diandongia pista Rong is the thickest-shelled and strongly mineralized of all the brachiopods that have been recorded from the Chengjiang Fauna. It is also one of the most common species in the biota. Previous accounts have concentrated largely on the exceptionally preserved soft-bodied anatomy of this species. Here its detailed internal and external shell morphologies are described for the first time, based on BSEM and SEM observations. Its general shell morphology, pseudointerareas, and pustulose ornamentation are most similar to those of the Botsfordiidae, where many species have a Diandongia-like rhombic pattern of pustules in the juvenile apical region only. On the other hand, other aspects of the muscle pattern and the partly smooth adult ornamentation of D. pista is more suggestive of species within the Neobolidae, like Edreja. The mantle canal system in sub-adults of D. pista is comparable to that of the Eoobolidae and Obolidae, whereas the adult vascular system branches peripherally in dichotomy. D. pista may be the earliest representatives possessing some plesiomorphic characters of the Botsfordiidae.     

RHYNCHONELLIFORMEAN BRACHIOPODS WITH SOFT-TISSUE PRESERVATION FROM THE EARLY CAMBRIAN CHENGJIANG LAGERSTÄTTE OF SOUTH CHINA

Abstract:  Cosmopolitan kutorginates, the most abundant Early Cambrian rhynchonelliformean brachiopods, became extinct at the end of the Middle Cambrian. Consequently, any information concerning the anatomy of this peculiar lineage of brachiopods has great phylogenetic significance with regard to their extant relatives for analogies with the stem-group clade. Such data have been supplied from fossils of which the soft parts have been preserved in exceptional detail. A new brachiopod, Kutorgina chengjiangensis sp. nov., from the Early Cambrian Chengjiang Lagerstätte of southern China, is described here. It is the first articulated brachiopod species collected from this deposit. The specimens preserve a set of soft-body parts, i.e. lophophore, digestive tract and pedicle, all previously poorly known in almost all Palaeozoic calcareous brachiopod taxa. The lophophore attains an early spirolophe stage, clearly homologous to that in the coeval lingulids. The digestive tract consists of a mouth, oesophagus, swollen stomach, intestine and a terminal anus. The pedicle protruding between the valves is stout and elongate, with annulated lamellae on the surface, and contains a putative cœlomic cavity. K. chengjiangensis displays the characteristics of the stem group of calcareous brachiopods, and illustrates anatomical similarities between Cambrian phosphatic- and calcareous-shelled brachiopods, thus corroborating that the Brachiopoda are a monophyletic group.     

EARLY SILURIAN SULCIPENTAMERUS AND RELATED PENTAMERID BRACHIOPODS FROM SOUTH CHINA

Abstract:  Sixteen species from the Lower Silurian (mostly Aeronian and rarely Telychian) of South China have been assigned previously to the brachiopod family Pentameridae, mainly to the genus Pentamerus . Study of intrapopulation variation suggests that 13 species from the upper Aeronian Lojoping Formation of the Yichang area, western Hubei Province, can be synonymized with Sulcipentamerus dorsoplanus , the most abundant pentamerid species of South China but confined to the Yichang area. The conspicuously high and obtuse ventral umbo, strong ventribiconvexity and a sulcate anterior commissure warrant genus status for Sulcipentamerus , independent of Pentamerus . True Pentamerus is rare in South China, known only from upper Aeronian rocks of Guizhou Province. Multivariate analyses indicate that Aeronian pentameride brachiopods of South China are characterized by a high level of provincialism, distinct from those of Laurentia. Also, the Aeronian pentamerides of South China or Laurentia have a low degree of similarity to those of Baltica, Siberia, Avalonia, Kazakhstan and other palaeotropically located plates or terranes. Besides South China and Laurentia, the pentamerides of other palaeotropical regions constituted a relatively tight cluster. This suggests that the palaeogeographical positions of South China and Laurentia only allowed limited or periodic faunal exchange of these generally large-shelled brachiopods adapted to living in relatively shallow, warm waters.     

黑龙江伊春早寒武世西伯利亚型动物群

记述黑龙江伊春地区早寒武世含多门类小壳化石的三叶虫为主的动物群,并依据东北北部及其紧邻俄罗斯境内的寒武纪地层及动物群特征,论证了东北北部地区的沉积－生物－构造古地理属于西伯利亚构造域,华北与西伯利亚两大构造域的对接主带应在二连浩特－西拉木伦－长春－延吉－符拉迪沃期斯克一线。     

葫芦虫化石在寒武纪关山生物群中的发现及其意义

报道产自昆明高楼房的寒武纪早期关山生物群中的葫芦虫化石,这是该类动物在全球的第三例化石记录。葫芦虫化石在关山生物群的发现对了解该类动物以及寒武纪动物群生态和演化等均有着重要意义。     

河北完县中、晚寒武世无铰纲腕足类

研究了河北完县清醒剖面中寒武统张夏组至上寒武统凤山组酸解法所获得的无铰纲腕足类化石5500多件,详细描述了乳孔贝科2新属、16新种、3未定种,圆货贝科1新属、2新种.自张夏组至凤山组建立了8个无铰纲腕足类化石组合.对乳孔贝亚科的幼壳形态进行了分类,并研究幼壳的演化趋向.     

我国西南地区早寒武世小壳化石Sinosachites

采自四川峨嵋和云南会泽的磷酸盐化的Sinosachites骨片显示出中央沟和侧沟结构,并区别出三种不同类型的骨片(palmate,cultrate and siculate)。这一发现证实,产于澳大利亚的Thambetolepis(Jell,1981)是Sinosachites的晚出同义名。基于上述结构,该产地一些原定为Sachites和Halkieria的标本亦应归入Sinosachites。在Sinosachites属中确认出两个种,即产于华南的Sinosachites flabelliformis He和产于澳大利亚的Sinosachites delicatus(Jell)。在前一种中,左右型对称骨片的存在证实该动物两侧对称。骨片的基部通常保存为磷质内核,表明它比骨片壁更容易磷酸盐化,在组织学上它与骨片壁不同。骨片的基部可能原为有机质或部分矿化。在Sinosachites中,无帽状和束状骨片可能表明在coeloscleritophorans中halkieriids是一个介于wiwaxids和siphogonuchitids之间的类群。     

湖南花垣中寒武世晚期至晚寒武世早期牙形石动物群

本文描述了湖南花垣排碧剖面中寒武世晚期至晚寒武世早期牙形石动物群的２个新属８个新种。论述了在中国南部首次建立的湖南花垣中－上寒武统牙形石带与华北和东北南部相应牙形石带的对比依据,概述了中国寒武纪牙石研究的简史和现状。     

浙西早寒武世梅树村期棒状化石

该文记述了浙江省西部江山县新塘坞地区灯影组(梅树村期)中新发现的矿化骨骼化石——浙江棒(新属)Zhejiangorhabdion gen.nov.。该化石的形态与以往化石类群均不相同,为个体微小的棒状,表面具较复杂的纹饰,不同个体间的纹饰都有一定变化,推测是动物体内不同部位的骨棒所具有的特征,代表了一个新的化石类群。新属的发现丰富了梅树村期动物群的内容,对了解具骨骼动物群体在这一时期的演化具有一定的意义。     

四川峨眉寒武纪早期的CHANCELLORIIDS

四川峨眉麦地坪剖面下寒武统麦地坪组上段ｃｈａｎｃｅｌｌｏｒｉｉｄｓ类骨片化石丰富,皆以磷质内核方式保存,其中首次发现具有两个中央射管的ｃｈａｎｃｅｌｌｏｒｉｉｄｓ骨片。对Ｃｈａｎｃｅｌｌｏｒｉａｉｒｒｅｇｕｌａｒｉｕｓ Ｑｉａｎ,ｓｐ．,Ａｌｌｏｎｎｉａ ｓｐ．进行了详细描述,在内核标本表面,骨片的基面上首次发现了保存极好的网状微细构造,对这一微细构造解决尚有困难,但有可能为骨片原始壳体结构的内端     

安徽淮南早寒武世蠕虫化石的发现

Ｐａｌａｅｏｓｃｏｌｅｘｈｕａｉｎａｎｅｎｓｉｓｓｐ．ｎｏｖ．是我国华北地区寒武纪地层中首次发现的蠕虫化石，也是我国寒武纪地层中所发现的蠕虫化石的最高层位。     

陕南镇巴早寒武世似软舌螺化石一新种--Torellella bisulcata sp.nov.

对采自陕西镇巴小洋剖面下寒武统西蒿坪段的似软舌螺类(hayolithelminths)化石进行了研究,描述了一新种Torellella bisulcata sp．nov．,其主要特征为：磷质管状壳体,横切面透镜状,壳管的两个宽面凸度不等,一面为弧状,另一面扁平;壳管直或微弯曲,在壳管的两个窄的侧面各具一纵向浅凹沟,壳面光滑或饰有微弱的横向纹线。简要地讨论了似软舌螺类化石的生物亲缘关系,认为迄今为止,其仍为分类位置不明的化石类别。西蒿坪段中下部产有三叶虫颊刺和颈刺,表明此段沉积地层属于下寒武统筇竹寺阶而非梅树村阶。     

安徽东至寒武纪早期三叶虫动物群

描述了采自皖南东至庞汪剖面和潘冲剖面黄柏岭组和大陈岭组中的三叶虫,共计9种8属和1亚属,其中Chuchiaspis dongzhiensissp.nov.是1新种;认为TingyuaniaSunetChang,1937是DinesusEtheridge,1896的晚出异名。     

AN ATLANTIC MIDDLE CAMBRIAN FAUNA FROM NORTH GREENLAND

A late Middle Cambrian fauna from Nyeboe Land, North Greenland, is described. It is demonstrated that the fauna, dominated by agnostid trilobites, belongs to the Atlantic province. The samples indicate the presence of the zones of Ptychagnostus punctuosus and Jincella brachymetopa. The distribution of the Middle Cambrian faunas is briefly discussed.     

陕西镇巴早寒武世海绵骨针化石

作者对采自陕西省镇巴县下寒武统西蒿坪段和水井沱组下部碳酸盐岩地层的海绵骨针化石进行了研究。三叶虫及小壳化石的生物地层学资料表明西蒿坪段和水井沱组下段属于筇竹寺阶。化石经室内醋酸浸泡处理后获得,骨针化石保存较好、类型多样,其中属于六射海绵纲的骨针3类,普通海绵纲的骨针6类,分类未定的骨针1类(Nabaviellasp.);并详细地对各类骨针化石进行了描述。虽然普通海绵骨针类型多样,但六射海绵的骨针丰度远高于普通海绵。简要地探讨了海绵骨针的保存方式,对比和分析了西蒿坪段和水井沱组海绵骨针化石组成的差异。结合同时代产自皖南荷塘组和云南澄江动物群中特异保存的海绵软躯体化石资料,认为虽然海绵动物起源于新元古代末期,但躯体海绵化石和骨针化石都显示海绵动物的大辐射事件发生在早寒武世筇竹寺期。     

贵州早、中寒武世斗篷海绵科(Choiidae)的发现

本文描述了贵州遵义下寒武统牛蹄塘组生物群和台江中寒武世凯里生物群中保存完整的斗篷海绵科(Choiidae)中斗篷海绵(Choia)和小斗篷海绵(Choiaella)化石标本,共计2属2种2未定种：Choia zunyiensis sp.nov.,Choia sp.,Choiaella avata sp.nov.和Choiaella sp.。Choia分布很广．在我国下寒武统澄江生物群及北美中寒武统的四大生物群中均有产出。Choiaella原仅产于我国澄江生物群,凯里生物群中Choiaella的发现使其时代上延至中寒武世。贵州早、中寒武世斗篷海绵科的发现及研究为海绵动物的早期演化及古地理学等方面的研究提供了重要的新材料。     

贵州寒武纪海绵动物化石组合特征

贵州寒武纪海绵化石丰富。分布广泛,主要产于早寒武世梅树村期的戈仲伍组或牛蹄塘组底部、筇竹寺期的牛蹄塘组和早、中寒武世凯里组。梅树村期的海绵属种单调,主要为六射海绵类麦粒海绵（Triticispongia sp．）及一些海绵骨针,代表寒武纪海绵首次爆发或辐射的前奏和先驱。牛蹄塘组海绵多达13个属,是寒武纪海绵辐射的重要窗口,以普通海绵略占优势,Leptomitus为优势属。凯里组的海绵共计7属,以普通海绵为主。贵州寒武纪海绵动物群的发展具有明显的阶段性和组成的差异性,其演变过程受到环境的制约。贵州早期海绵动物的发现和研究不仅改变了寒武纪生物多样性的认识,而且还为探讨海绵动物本身的起源、辐射提供了重要材料。     

AN EARLY CAMBRIAN ORGANOPHOSPHATIC BRACHIOPOD WITH CALCITIC GRANULES

Abstract:  The linguliform brachiopod Eoobolus from the Early Cambrian Mural Formation (Jasper National Park, Canadian Rocky Mountains) exhibits various calcitic features in its otherwise apatitic shell. It is argued here that the decomposition of the organic matter within the shell led to a microenvironment similar to those resulting in the phosphatization of soft tissues. This diagenetic regime encouraged the initial precipitation of apatite cements followed by calcite cements. By fully coating primary structures early apatite cements separate primary structures from the later precipitation of calcite cement. Round calcareous grains, about 3  µ m in size, that occur in the centre of apatite botryoids must therefore represent original components of the shell. The equivalent pits of such calcareous granules are seen in the larval shells of many Palaeozoic linguliform brachiopods. This suggests that mixed organophosphatic-calcareous shells were relatively common at that time but that they have been overlooked owing to the obliteration of original calcareous structures by traditional acid preparation methods for the extraction of phosphatic fossils. The Eoobolus shell structure is intermediate between purely organophosphatic and calcitic shells. Although one such genus is not sufficient to reconstruct the ancestral composition of the brachiopod shell, it provides a means of recognizing other transitional forms that are needed to understand fully the shift in shell mineralogy.     

云南早寒武世澄江动物群稀有节肢动物新材料

描述3块新的标本,分别是节肢动物Pisinnocaris sp．,Tanglangia longicaudata Luo et Hu,1999和Pygmaclypeatus daziensis Zhang,Han et Shu,2000。新的标本进一步增进我们对其形态结构特征的了解。通过与相关属种的比较,简要讨论其系统位置问题。     

论中国早寒武世原牙形类和牙形状化石——分类评述和地层意义

原牙形类和牙形状化石是早寒武世微小骨骼化石中非常特征的一个类群。自二十世纪70年代以来,这些齿状的微型磷质骨片化石在中国下寒武统含小壳化石地层中被大量发现,据统计已描述有25属52种。通过文中的评述和讨论,证实其中的一些属种是次异名或属于无效的分类名称,还有一些在归属上尚存在疑问。通过对原牙形类和牙形状化石定义的讨论,将先前指定为原牙形类的13个属进行了分类评述。表明其中的5个属是次异名,还有2个属是未知的节肢动物。其它的12个牙形状化石属中也有5个属是次异名,它们不仅显示了有多种动物亲缘的牙形状形态,而且大多属于绝灭生物,只有Beshtashella和Paraformitchella(=Beshtashella)被指定为软体动物。文中还简要地讨论了大多数属的时空分布,包括3个阶段的原牙形类地层分布,这不仅具有划分对比地层的意义,而且还反映了原牙形类的演化趋势。