New mayflies (Insecta: Ephemerida = Ephemeroptera) from the Upper Permian locality of Isady, Northern European Russia

Two new species of the family Protereismatidae, Alexandrinia vitta sp. nov. and A. ipsa sp. nov., are described from the Upper Permian locality of Isady (Severodvinian Stage, Poldarsa Formation). The third new species Misthodotes dubius sp. nov., belongs to the family Misthodotidae.     

Tremadoc (earliest Ordovician) brachiopods from Purmamarca and the Sierra de Mojotoro, Cordillera Oriental of northwestern Argentina

The Late Tremadoc storm-dominated shoreface to inner platform deposits exposed west of the Purmamarca village (Coquena Formation) contain a considerably more diverse brachiopod fauna than previously reported. Coquinite horizons from the lower heterolitic succession have yielded monospecific associations of Nanorthis purmamarcaensis nov. sp. (formerly assigned to N. christianiae KJERULF), which is also reported from the Late Tremadoc rocks of the Cerro San Bernardo area. The fine-grained Upper Member of the Coquena Formation contains a more diverse fauna composed by Nanorthis brachymyaria nov. sp., Astraborthis quebradensis nov. sp. and the new plectorthid genus Lipanorthis (type species L. andinus nov. sp.). A different species of Lipanorthis (L. santalaurae nov. sp.) from the Mid Tremadoc Floresta Formation of the Sierra de Mojotoro is also described.     

New baleen whale genera (Cetacea, Mammalia) from the miocene of the northern caucasus and ciscaucasia: 1. Kurdalagonus gen. nov. from the middle-late Sarmatian of Adygea

A revision of previously known material and analysis of new records of Miocene baleen whales from the Sarmatian of Adygea (city of Maikop, Blinovo Formation) resulted in the establishment of a new genus, Kurdalagonus with three species: K. mchedlidzei sp. nov. (Middle Sarmatian, Nagiezh-Uashkh locality), K. adygeicus sp. nov. (Upper Sarmatian, Hydroelectric power station locality), and K. maicopicus (Spasskii, 1951) (=Cetotherium maicopicum Spasskii, 1951; Middle Sarmatian, Hydroelectric power station locality).     

Taxonomy of the fossil grylloblattid nymphs (Insecta: Grylloblattida)

Nymphs of fossil grylloblattid insects are revised. Newly described taxa are Lemmatonympha gracilissima gen. et sp. nov. and Kaltanympha vorcutensis sp. nov. from the Verkhne-Syr’yaginsk locality (Ufimian, Lek-Vorkuta Formation in the Vorkuta Coal Basin), genera Sylvalitoralis gen. nov. and Tshebardanympha gen. nov. from the Tshekarda locality (Kungurian, Koshelevka Formation, Middle Urals), Tataronymphakamensis gen. et sp. nov. from the Tikhie Gory locality (Lower Kazanian, linguloid beds of the Baitugan Formation, Tatarstan), and Kaltanympha ornata sp. nov. from the Kerbo locality (Upper Tatarian, lower part of the Degali Formation, Evenki Autonomous Region). Liomopterites (?) gracilis Sharov, 1961 from Lower Kazanian deposits of the Kuznetsk Formation in the Kuznetsk Basin is transferred to the genus Kaltanympha Sharov, 1961; Permonympha arcuata Sharov, 1957 from the same locality is synonymized under Permonympha gracile Sharov, 1957; the nymph described from the Karatau locality (Upper Jurassic, Karabastau Formation in southern Kazakhstan) as Blattogryllus karatavicus Rasnitsyn, 1976 is excluded from grylloblattids. Keys to extinct grylloblattid nymphs are provided.     

New radiolarian species of the order Nassellaria from the Coniacian-Santonian of the Perapedhi formation of southern Cyprus

Rich radiolarian associations are investigated. They include nine new species from the Upper Cretaceous (Coniacian-Santonian) metal-bearing beds of the Perapedhia Formation of southern Cyprus: Dorypyle concinna sp. nov., Gongylothorax mangaleniensis sp. nov., Heliocryptocapsa macroporus sp. nov., H. perapediensis sp. nov., Mita guttiformis sp. nov., Pseudoeucyrtis belogorskensis sp. nov., P. cypricus sp. nov., Rhopalosyringium mangaleniense sp. nov., and Sandovalella trihedra sp. nov.     

A new basal testudinoid turtle (Testudinoidea: “Lindholmemydidae”) from the Upper Paleocene of Mongolia

A new genus and species of a basal testudinoid turtle of the family “Lindholmemydidae,” Paramongolemys khosatzkyi gen. et sp. nov., is described based on shell material from the Naranbulak Formation (Upper Paleocene) of the Naran Bulak and Khaychin-Ula IE localities (Mongolia). Material of this species includes some specimens previously described as Mongolemys tatarinovi.     

Rectogerochammina eugubina nov. gen., nov. sp., a new agglutinated foraminifer from the Upper Cretaceous of Gubbio, Italy

We describe the new agglutinated foraminiferal genus and species Rectogerochammina eugubina nov. gen., nov. sp. from the Upper Cretaceous Scaglia Rossa Formation of the Umbria-Marche Basin in Italy. The genus differs from Gerochammina (Neagu, 1990) in the presence of a terminal uniserial part.     

Bryozoans from the Mitikha Formation (Lower Famennian, Upper Devonian) of the Kuznetsk Basin, Russia

Bryozoans from the Mitikha Formation (Lower Famennian, Upper Devonian) in the Kuznetsk depression are described for the first time. This bryozoan assemblage comprises both the well-known species Leioclema numerosum Moroz., L. ramosum Nekh., and Nicklesopora graciosa Troiz. and new taxa: L. kusmense sp. nov. and Megacanthopora glubokaensis sp. nov. The bryozoan assemblage contains some species common with the Famennian bryozoan assemblage of Kazakhstan.     

Macroscopic plant remains from the base of the Ust’-Pinega formation (Upper Vendian of the Arkhangelsk Region)

Plant macrofossil remains from the Lyamtsa and Arkhangelsk beds of the Ust’-Pinega Formation (Vendian) are reported for the first time. Three new taxa of vendotaenid algae showing cellular parenchymatous morphology are described: Archyfasma lamellata sp. nov., Favosiphycus wukii gen. et sp. nov., and Gandvikia caudata gen. et sp. nov. Phytostratigraphic characteristics allow the author to correlate the deposits under study with the base of the Mogilev Formation (Vendian of Podolia). A distinctive Lower Redkino vendotaenid flora is described for the first time. It is shown to precede the Upper Redkino Eoholynialen flora.     

New gomphaeschnids and progobiaeshnids from the Yixian Formation in Liaoning Province (China) illustrate the tremendous Upper Mesozoic diversity of the aeshnopteran dragonflies

One new genus and five new species of dragonflies (Odonata) are described and figured from the Yixian Formation of northeastern China, viz. two gomphaeschnids Sinojoria magna nov. sp. and S. cancellosa nov. sp., plus three progobiaeshnids Mongoliaeshna hadrens nov. sp., M. exiguusens nov. sp., and Decoraeshna preciosus nov. gen., nov. sp. These new discoveries confirm the apparently sudden great diversification in China of the clade Aeshnoptera during the Middle-Upper Jurassic, together with the Upper Mesozoic to modern lineages of dragonflies. At the same time, some ‘ancient’ groups of Odonata became extinct.     

Upper Silurian microplankton of the Leintwardine Group, Ludlow Series, in the type Ludlow area and adjacent regions

The acritarchs and prasinophyte algae from the Upper Bringewood, Lower Leintwardine, Upper Leintwardine and Lower Whitcliffe formations of the Ludlow type area and surrounding regions are described. The following new taxa are proposed: Cymatiosphaera pumila sp. nov., Melikeriopalla pustula sp. nov., Cheleutochroa beechenbankensis sp. nov., Cymbosphaeridium molyneuxii sp. nov., Flammulasphaera bella gen. et sp. nov., Percultisphaera incompta sp. nov., Salopidium aldridgei sp. nov. and Umbellasphaeridium? wicanderi sp. nov. A holotype is defined for Lophosphaeridium galeatum Hill and a further 34 new taxa are described under open nomenclature. Two biozones, identified by the first appearance of the zone taxon, are defined in the Sunnyhill section, Ludlow [Global Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) for the base of the Ludfordian Stage, Ludlow Series]. The base of the Leoniella vilis Biozone is identified at 4.52m below the top of the Upper Bringewood Formation at Beechenbank, Aymestrey. The base of the Triangulina sanpetrensis Biozone is identified at 15.49m above the base of the Lower Leintwardine Formation and Ludfordian Stage at the Sunnyhill section. These biozones allow correlation with sections in north–west Spain, Podolia and Gotland. The possibility of using Visbysphaera whitcliffense and U.? wicanderi as biozonal indicators is suggested.     

Permian ammonoids of the Kolyma-Omolon Region: Ogonerian association

The Ogonerian association of Early Permian ammonoids from the Upper part of the Munugudzhakian Formation (upper part of the Ogonerian Horizon) contains Uraloceras omolonense Bogoslovskaya et Boiko, U. kolymense Bogoslovskaya et Boiko, Neoshumardites munugudzhensis sp. nov., N.? nassichuki sp. nov., and Bulunites gracilis sp. nov. These taxa suggest the Sakmarian-Artinskian boundary beds examined are geochronologically older than the level with Neoshumardites triceps Ruzhencev in the South Ural Mountains.     

New radiolarian species from the Upper Cretaceous-Lower Paleogene of the eastern slope of the northern Ural Mountains

Five new radiolarian species, Dictyophimus? orbiculiporosus sp. nov., Spongomelissa imperceptusa sp. nov., Theocoronium puncticulatum sp. nov., Pterocyrtidium porrectum sp. nov., and Tripodiscinus corona sp. nov., from the Campanian-Danian diatomites of the Leplinskaya Formation of the northern Ural Mountains are described. They are useful for stratification and correlation of the Upper Cretaceous and Lower Paleogene beds of the Ural Region of Western Siberia.     

Two new ornithischian dinosaurs (Hypsilophodontia,Ornithopoda) from the Late Jurassic of Russia

Two new dinosaurs, Kulindapteryx ukureica gen. et sp. nov. (Jeholosauridae) and Daurosaurus olovus gen. et sp. nov. (Hypsilophodontidae) from the Ukureisk Formation (?Tithonian, Upper Jurassic) of the Kulinda locality in Transbaikalia (Russia) are described and assigned to Ornithopoda (Ornithischia). The origin and homology of the so-called obturator process of the ischium of Ornithopoda and Theropoda are discussed. The families Jeholosauridae and Hypsilophodontidae as well as Lesothosauridae are considered to belong to the infraorder Hypsilophodontia (Ornithopoda, Ornithischia). It is shown that hypsilophodontians had skin scales divided into bristles.     

Palynology of the Dockum group (Upper Triassic), Texas,U.S.A.

A palynofloral assemblage is described from the Upper Triassic Dockum Group of Texas. Forty palynomorph species are recorded and these are correlated with European Upper Triassic assemblages. The Dockum Group assemblage is considered to be of late Karnian age.Two new genera, Tulesporites gen. nov., type species T. briscoensis sp. nov., and Daughertyspora gen. nov., type species D. chinleanus (Daugherty) comb. nov. have been erected; new species are Converrucosisporites matsenii sp. nov., Pyramidosporites traversei sp. nov., Callialasporites triassicus sp. nov., Plicatipollenites minutotriletus sp. nov., Triadispora dockumensis sp. nov., Bhardwajispora jansonii sp. nov., Protodiploxypinus americus sp. nov., P. ujhelyi sp. nov., Klausipollenites gouldii sp. nov., Pityosporites old-hamensis sp. nov., Abietineaepollenites bujakii sp. nov., Falcisporites oviformis sp. nov. and F. tecovasensis sp. nov.     

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).     

The tiny horned dinosaur Gobiceratops minutus gen. et sp. nov. (Bagaceratopidae, Neoceratopsia) from the Upper Cretaceous of Mongolia

A new horned dinosaur, Gobiceratops minutus gen. et sp. nov. (Bagaceratopidae, Neoceratopsia), from the Upper Cretaceous Baruungoyot Formation of the Khermin Tsav locality (southern Mongolia) is described based on a 3.5-cm-long skull. The nasal included in the orbital border suggests relationship between the new taxon and Bagaceratops rozdestvenskyi. It is proposed that, unlike other neoceratopsian families, the family Bagaceratopidae is of Paleoasiatic origin.     

New beetles (Coleoptera) from the terminal Middle Permian of China

New beetles are described from the Middle Permian (Upper Capitanian) locality Yinping (Anhui Province, China): Linicupes yinpinensis gen. et sp. nov. (Permocupedidae), Taldycupes pingi sp. nov. (Taldycupedidae), Archosyne permiana gen. et sp. nov., Chaocoleus limnebius gen. et sp. nov. (Ademosynidae) and Asiocoleopsis hongi sp. nov. (Asiocoleidae); the type material of Dikerocoleus divisus Lin, 1982 from the same type locality is redescribed. Comparison with beetles from the Permian of European Russia shows that Yinping beetles are similar to Late Severodvinian beetles rather than to Early Severodvinian and Urzhumian ones.     

Fossil wood of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Laricioxylon erkovetskiense</Emphasis> sp. nov. (Pinaceae) from the Miocene of the Erkovetskii Brown Coal Field,Amur Region,Russia

A new species, Laricioxylon erkovetskiense sp. nov. (Pinaceae) identified on the basis of anatomical features of fossil wood from the Sazanka Formation (upper Middle Miocene–Upper Miocene) of the Erkovetskii Brown Coal Field (Amur Region) is described. The new species shares some characters with the extant larches Larix cajanderi and L. olgensis.     

Late Jurassic cockroaches (Insecta,Blattaria) from the Houtiyn-Hotgor locality in Mongolia

A low-diversity cockroach assemblage from the Upper Jurassic of the Houtiyn-Hotgor locality in Mongolia is described, comprising Solemnia alexandri gen. et sp. nov. (Caloblattinidae), Blattula choutinensis sp. nov. (Blattulidae) and a presumed Triassic relict Irreblatta relicta gen. et sp. nov. (incertae familiae). The carnivorous Raphidiomimidae supposedly originated directly from the Caloblattinidae.