NEW MULTITUBERCULATE MAMMALS FROM THE HAUTERIVIAN/BARREMIAN TRANSITION OF EUROPE (IBERIAN PENINSULA)

Abstract: New multituberculate mammals from the Hauterivian/Barremian transition of Europe are described. They were found in the late Hauterivian‐early Barremian fossiliferous locality of La Cantalera (Josa, Teruel, Spain), one of the Early Cretaceous sites in the Aragonese branch of the Iberian Ranges, in northeastern Iberia. The fossils have been assigned to at least three taxa on the basis of nine isolated teeth: a new pinheirodontid taxon, Cantalera abadi gen. et sp. nov.; a representative of the eobaatarid Eobaatar; a taxon described as Plagiaulacidae or Eobaataridae gen. et sp. indet.; and other as Plagiaulacida indet. These fossils have increased the resolution of European Early Cretaceous multituberculate mammalian biostratigraphy and palaeobiogeography: the oldest representative of Eobaatar is described here; a taxon is assigned to ?Plagiaulacidae, in which case it would be the first of this family in the Iberian Peninsula; and the discovery of a new late Hauterivian pinheirodontid taxon demonstrates greater biodiversity and a wider distribution for these multituberculates than was previously known. The mutituberculate fauna of La Cantalera consists of endemic taxa (Pinheirodontidae), which were restricted to what is now Western Europe, and others (Eobaataridae) which have also been described in Asia. Consistent with the Iberian record of late Barremian gobiconodontid mammals, the presence of Eobaatar in Iberia with representatives from the late Hauterivian to late Barremian, as well as in the Aptian or Albian of Mongolia, indicates that faunal exchanges between Europe and Asia could have existed for most of the Early Cretaceous, either sporadically or constantly.     

New snakeflies (Insecta: Raphidioptera) from the Lower Cretaceous of the UK,Spain and Brazil

Abstract: Several new taxa of snakeflies (Raphidioptera) are described from the Lower Cretaceous deposits of the Wealden, UK (Barremian), Montsec, Spain (Barremian) and the Crato Formation, Brazil (Aptian). Mesoraphidia ednae sp. nov. and M. hilli sp. nov. are described from the Wealden; Nanoraphidia lithographica sp. nov. and Iberoraphidia dividua gen. et sp. nov. are described from Montsec, and Baissoptera lisae sp. nov. is described from the Crato Formation. The geographical range of Nanoraphidia has potentially been extended.     

Fossil Woods From Williams Point Beds, Livingston Island, Antarctica: A Late Cretaceous Southern High Latitude Flora

The wood flora from Williams Point, Livingston Island, contains 12 wood types of gymnosperm and angiosperm origin. Recent collections of material have increased the biodiversity of a postulated species-rich vegetation. The gymnosperm wood can be readily assigned to four form-genera: Araucarioxylon Kraus, Araucariopitys Jeffrey, Podocarpoxylon Gothan and Sahnioxylon Bose and Sah. This indicates a diversity of coniferous araucarian and podocarp trees alongside woods of uncertain affinity ( Sahnioxylon ; Bennettitales). Two angiosperm morphotypes are assigned to the organ genera Hedycaryoxylon Su¨ss (Monimiaceae) and Weinmannioxylon Petriella (Cunoniaceae). The remaining four taxa of angiosperm wood cannot be confidently placed in extant families as they exhibit features that suggest relationships with the Magnoliidae, Hamamelidae and Rosidae. This paper presents the first comprehensive taxonomic revision of the wood flora from Livingston Island and discusses the palaeoecology that prevailed at a latitude of about 60 degrees south during the Late Cretaceous. Newly described taxa are Araucarioxylon chapmanae sp. nov., Araucariopitys antarcticus sp. nov., Podocarpoxylon chapmanae sp. nov., P. verticalis sp. nov., P. communis sp. nov., Weinmannioxylon ackamoides sp. nov., Antarctoxylon livingstonensis gen. et sp. nov., A. multiseriatum gen. et sp. nov., A. heteroporosum gen. et sp. nov. and A. uniperforatum gen et sp. nov.     

Sedge and rush-feeding psyllids of the subfamily Liviinae (Insecta: Hemiptera: Psylloidea): a review

The jumping plant-lice or psyllids belonging to the subfamily Liviinae are reviewed. Nineteen species are recognized in a single genus Lima Latreille. Three new species, craivfordi sp. nov., lobata sp. nov. and manitobensis sp. nov., are described. The identities of the existing species have been widely confused and full lists of synonymies are given where appropriate. It is re-emphasized that the type species of Livia, Psylla juncorum Latreille, is a synonym of Chermes junci Schrank, a point made by Laing (1951) but ignored by subsequent authors. The latter name has priority. A taxonomic key for the identification of the species is given and each species is described, diagnosed and illustrated. Supporting information is given on geographical distribution, host-plant association and general biology. Evolutionary relationships within Livia are discussed.     

A VARVITE ICHNOCOENOSIS FROM THE DWYKA SERIES OF NATAL

Arthropod trails and resting impressions are described from an horizon in the Dwyka Series of northern Natal. The sediments have been deposited in freshwater periglacial lakes and are of late Carboniferous or early Permian age. All the trails and resting impressions appear to have been made by crustacean arthropods, and it is suggested that syncarids or peracarids were probably responsible. Numerous fish traces are also present in this ichnocoenosis but these are still being studied by several workers and are not described below. The trace fossils described herein are Umfolozia sinuosa gen. et sp. nov., Diplichnites govenderi sp. nov., Diplichnites sp., Protichnites sp. A, Protichnites sp. B, Gyrochorte sp., Isopodichnus sp., Kingella natalensis gen. et sp. nov., and Gluckstadtella cooperi gen. et sp. nov.     

A new sauropod dinosaur from the Lower Cretaceous Ilek Formation,Western Siberia,Russia

Sibirotitan astrosacralis nov. gen., nov. sp., is described based on isolated but possibly associated cervical and dorsal vertebrae, sacrum, and previously published pedal elements from the Lower Cretaceous (Barremian?) Ilek Formation at Shestakovo 1 locality (Kemerovo Province, Western Siberia, Russia). Some isolated sauropod teeth from the Shestakovo 1 locality are referred to the same taxon. The phylogenetic parsimony analyses place Sibirotitan astrosacralis nov. gen., nov. sp., as a non-titanosaurian somphospondyl titanosauriform. The new taxon exhibits four titanosauriform and one somphospondylan synapomorphies, and one autapomorphy – a hyposphene ridge that extends between the neural canal and the postzygapophyses. It differs from all other Somphospondyli by having only five sacral vertebrae. The new taxon shares with Euhelopus and Epachtosaurus sacral ribs that converge towards the middle of the sacrum in dorsal view. Sibirotitan astrosacralis nov. gen., nov. sp., is only the second sauropod taxon from Russia and one of the oldest titanosauriform described so far in Asia.     

Opisthobranch gastropods from the Lower Cretaceous of the Ulyanovsk Volga Region: 1. Genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tornatellaea</Emphasis> Conrad

Five new species of the genus Tornatellaea from the Lower Cretaceous of the Volga Region near Ulyanovsk, T. kabanovi sp. nov. (Hauterivian), T. densistriata sp. nov., T. gracilis sp. nov., T. volgensis sp. nov. (Barremian), and T. sinzovi sp. nov. (Aptian), are described. The data on geographical and stratigraphical distribution of new taxa are provided.     

On Occurrence and Significance about the Fossil Plants from the Yuntaiguan Formation Located between Hunan and Hubei

This paper deals with the fossil plants from the Yuntaiguan formation located between Hunan and Hubei province. There are six genera and ten species (containing a new genus and five new species) to be discussed here, such as Protolepidodendron scha-ryanum Krejci, Barrandeina dusliana (Krejci) Stur, B. contigua sp. nov., B. lixianensis sp. nov., B. multistriata sp. nov., B. laxa sp. nov., Drepanophycus spinaeformis Goepp., “Protopteridium”? minutum Halle, Psilophyti4es sp. and Longostachys latisporophyllus gen. et sp. nov., etc. The appearance of this fossil flora concerned here can be correlated to the Protolepidodendron scharyanum-Barrandeina dusliana Assemblage. Among these fossil plants from Yuntaiguan formation, both the Protolepidodendron scharyanum and Barrandeina dusliana are also the index fossils, the prior was wide spread during the Middle Devonian in whole world and the other was only found at the late Middle Devonian in Europe. In the Yuntaiguan formation the genus Barrandeina containing no less than five species and, the other taxa were also found from the Middle or the late Middle Devonian. So that this formation should be referred to the late Middle Devonian in age and this conclusion corresponds with the result of spore-pollen analysis in the Xiushuigou formation, Xiongzi county, which is similar to the Yuntaiguan formation and has been referred to the Middle Devonian. In this paper, only four species of Barrandeina and one species of Longostachys have been described, those of the former have not been found before in China. The authors think; this will be significant on studying fossil plants and in comparison with the age of the strata.     

蒙古南戈壁泥盆纪(埃姆斯期-艾菲尔期)牙形刺

在蒙古南戈壁地区丘隆组(Chuluun Formation)和查干卡勒噶组(Tsagaankhaalga Formation)发现的牙形刺证明丘隆组的时代为晚埃姆斯期,查干卡勒噶组的时代为早艾菲尔期,与以前大化石所确定的时代一致。但艾菲尔阶的底界暂时还无法准确确定,蒙古南戈壁地区艾菲尔阶牙形刺动物群与同期北美的牙形刺动物群相似．但也包含一些地方性分子,蒙古海相艾菲尔期的沉积可能不完整。本文描述了2个命名新种．Caudicriodus delicatus sp. nov. , C. paraculicellus sp. nov. ,一个未命名新种,Caudicriodus sp. nov. A和一个新亚种,Cuadicriodus angustus cauda subsp, nov.。     

吐鲁番-哈密盆地早二叠世晚期植物群

首次记述了吐鲁番－哈密盆地的早二叠世晚期植物１１属１３种（包括４新种和４未定种），这是一个以科达类及其相关属为主的安加拉植物群。典型的安加拉植物Ｖｏｊｎｏｖｓｋｙａ属的发现，不但在时代的判定上，而且在植物地理区划上都具重要意义。文中还对这一植物群的特征和时代问题作了简要讨论。     

New Protocytherines (Ostracods) from the Lower Cretaceous sequences of the Crimean Peninsula

One new genus of Ostracoda, Protobrachycythere nov. gen. (Protocytherinae, Lyubimova), and two new species, P. taurica nov. sp. and P. aptica nov. sp., are described from the Barremian and Aptian of the Crimea. Based on the ontogeny of the hinge, Protobrachycythere is considered as an ancestor of the Brachycythere Alexander, 1933 (Brachycytherinae Puri, 1954). The higher taxonomy of the Subfamily Brachycytherinae is reviewed. It is suggested to assign Brachycytherinae to the Family Brachycytheridae Puri.     

PATTERNS OF EVOLUTION AND EXTINCTION IN THE LAST HARPETID TRILOBITES DURING THE LATE DEVONIAN (FRASNIAN)

Abstract: Late Devonian (Frasnian) harpetid trilobites have hitherto only been described from the western side of the Protethys Ocean, in what is now Europe and North Africa, as well as from Gondwana‐derived northwestern Kazakhstan (Mugodjar). However, late Frasnian strata in the Canning Basin, Western Australia, that were deposited on the eastern side of this ocean, contain a rich harpetid fauna. Described herein are two new harpetids: Eskoharpes gen. nov. and Globoharpes gen. nov., within which are placed six species: E. palanasus sp. nov., E. wandjina sp. nov., E. boltoni sp. nov., E. guthae sp. nov., G. teicherti sp. nov. and G. friendi sp. nov. The ontogenetic development of E. palanasus, E. wandjina and G. teicherti are described, including the first unequivocal harpetid protaspis. Globoharpes exhibits evidence of sexual dimorphism in the development of a pronounced preglabellar boss in some specimens. This structure is thought to have functioned as a brood pouch. Such structures have previously only been described in Cambrian and Ordovician trilobites, and never before in harpetids. It is suggested that the characteristic harpetid fringe functioned as a secondary respiratory structure. The Eskoharpes lineage shows evolutionary trends that mirror changes seen in ontogenetic development of the youngest species, suggesting the operation of peramorphic processes. This is the first record of heterochrony in harpetids and the first documented example of peramorphosis in Devonian trilobites. These harpetids demonstrate a stepped pattern of extinction during the late Frasnian, probably related to the effects of the two Kellwasser biocrises that have been well documented in European Frasnian sections. Highly vaulted species of Eskoharpes and the strongly vaulted Globoharpes became extinct at the Lower Kellwasser Event. The flatter species of Eskoharpes became extinct at the base of the Upper Kellwasser Event shortly prior to the Frasnian/Famennian boundary. The extinction of these harpetids, along with contemporaneous forms from Europe, which are also discussed herein, marks the end of the trilobite order Harpetida worldwide.     

Late paleocene flora of the northern Alaska Peninsula: the role of transberingian plant migrations and climatic change

For the first time, the Late Sagwon Flora is described from the upper beds of the Prince Creek Formation (Upper Paleocene) at the Sagavanirktok River (northern Alaska Peninsula). The flora is dominated by the angiosperm Tiliaephyllum brooksense Moiseeva et Herman sp. nov. and conifer Metasequoia occidentalis (Newb.) Chaney. The Late Sagwon Flora is most similar to the Danian or Danian-Selandian flora from the middle part of the Upper Tsagayan Subformation (Amur Region) and lower part of the Wuyun Formation (Heilongjiang Province, China). This similarity allows us to hypothesize that the genus Tiliaephyllum, which dominated in the Late Tsagayan Flora, migrated via the Bering Land Bridge from southern paleolatitudes of the Far East to high latitudes of the Arctic Pacific, due to the progressively warming climate of the Paleocene. Additional new angiosperm species are described from the Late Sagwon Flora: Archeampelos mullii Moiseeva et Herman sp. nov., Tiliaephyllum brooksense Moiseeva et Herman sp. nov., and Dicotylophyllum sagwonicum Moiseeva et Herman sp. nov.     

ANGIOSPERM WOOD FROM THE UPPER CRETACEOUS OF CENTRAL CALIFORNIA: PART II

Three species of fossil wood representing two genera are described. The specimens are from a collection of woods from the Upper Cretaceous Panoche formation of central California. Tetracentronites panochetris sp. nov. resembles angiosperm wood in ray structure and vascular pitting but lacks vessels. Plataninium platanoides sp. nov. is similar to the wood of Platanus, and the evidence presented points to a direct relationship. The resemblance between Plataninium cali-fornicum sp. nov. and the woods of certain Icacinaceae is discussed, but evidence of relationship is inconclusive.     

Late Cretaceous Arman Flora of the Magadan District: Composition, age, and new plant species

The Arman Flora comes from volcanic-sedimentary deposits of the Arman Formation in the Arman River basin and from volcanic and volcanic-sedimentary rocks of the Nel??kandzha-Khasyn Interfluve. It comprises about 80 fossil plant species. The Arman Flora is dated as Turonian and Coniacian because of its similarity to the reliably dated Penzhina and Kaivayam floras of the northwestern Kamchatka Peninsula and Tylpegyrgynai Flora of the Pekul??nei Ridge. This is corroborated by isotopic (U-Pb and ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar) age determination for the plant-bearing layers. New conifer and angiosperm species of the Arman Flora are described: Pagiophyllum parvum sp. nov., Araliaephyllum armanensis sp. nov., Terechovia philippovae sp. nov., and Parvileguminophyllum samylinae sp. nov.     

Calcified Angiosperm Roots from the Upper Eocene of Southern England

Calcified angiosperm hydrophyte roots, Lacunoradix headonensisgen. et sp.nov., are described from the Upper Eocene, LowerHeadon Beds of Hordle Cliff, Hampshire. These are the firststructurally preserved angiosperm roots to be found in positionof growth in the British Tertiary. The botanical and geologicalevidence indicates that they grew in a shallow freshwater lake. Lacunoradix headonensis, angiosperm, anatomy, palaeobotany, calcified roots, Upper Eocene     

Cretaceous floras containing angiosperm flowers and fruits from eastern North America

A recent innovation in paleobotanical studies of the Cretaceous has been the use of bulk sediment disaggregation and sieving techniques. This approach has identified numerous Cretaceous floras that contain well-preserved plant fossil debris (“mesofloras”), and many of these have yielded abundant fossil angiosperm flowers, as well as angiosperm fruits, seeds and dispersed stamens. On the Atlantic Coastal Plain of eastern North America recent research has identified a new series of fossil floras of Campanian age from central Georgia. These form part of a rich sequence of mesofloras that range in age from early Aptian (or perhaps late Barremian) to Campanian. Detailed studies of fossil flowers from these floras have clarified the systematic relationships of Cretaceous angiosperms and identified source plants of several characteristic dispersed angiosperm pollen grains. Taxa referable to extant angiosperm families appear suddenly in the Albian and Cenomanian, and the number of extant angiosperm families that can be recognized increases rapidly through the Late Cretaceous. Based on the record of Cretaceous fossil flowers, “modernization” of angiosperm lineages occurred much earlier than had been inferred previously from studies of dispersed fossil pollen. Major extinct monophyletic “higher” taxa of Cretaceous angiosperms have not yet been recognized.     

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.