A new halfbeak species (Beloniformes,Hemiramphidae) from the Lower Sarmatian of the Krasnodar Region

A new halfbeak species (Beloniformes, Hemiramphidae), Hyporhamphus tatjanchenkoi sp. nov., is described from the Lower Sarmatian fish-bearing deposits cropping out along the Pshekha River (Northern Caucasus). Comparative osteological analysis of this new fossil and extant representatives of Hyporamphus seem to indicate that Hyporhamphus tatjanchenkoi sp. nov. is in some ways related to the Indo–Pacific species H. affinis (Günther) and H. gamberur (Rüppell).     

Trochidae (Gastropoda) from the Sarmatian Basin of the Eastern Paratethys

The gastropod family Trochidae from the Sarmatian deposits of the Eastern Paratethys is described in detail. Detailed faunal characteristics of 22 Sarmatian sections in Volyn–Podolia, Moldova, southern Ukraine, and Crimea, some of which have yielded the material of this study, are provided. Based on the study of an extensive collection of Trochidae, the family system is revised. The taxonomic composition of four Trochidae assemblages from Lower and Middle Sarmatian deposits is provided. These assemblages can be used for stratification of the Lower Sarmatian Kuzhorskie and Zbruchskie beds and Middle Sarmatian Novomoskovskie and Dnepropetrovskie–Vasilevskie beds. The results of the biogeographical study of Trochidae development in the Sarmatian basin of the Paratethys are provided. The data obtained on the evolution of Trochidae can be used for resolution of the paleoecological, biogeographical, and biostratigraphic questions.     

On early Sarmatian fishes from the Eastern Paratethys

Early Sarmatian bony fish assemblages from the Pshekha River (northern Caucasus) and the village of Naslavcea (northern Moldova) are compared. It is proposed that, in the Early Sarmatian, connection between the North Caucasian and Moldavian basins was hampered and the two fish localities were formed under different conditions. The impoverished taxonomic composition of Sarmatian fishes from the Eastern Paratethys is attributable to unfavorable chemical composition (increased alkalinity) rather than to low salinity.     

A new late neogene genus of roakers (Perciformes, Sciaenidae) from the Eastern Black Sea Region

The roaker species (Sciaenidae) Sciaena impropria Gabelaia, 1976 from the Lower Pliocene (?) of Abkhazia is assigned to a new genus, Carnevalella gen. nov. This genus essentially differs from other sciaenid fishes in the greater number of supraneurals and vertebrae, the posterior shift of the dorsal fin origin, and the fusion of the fourth hypural with the terminal centrum. An incomplete roaker skeleton found in the Upper Maeotian (Upper Miocene) of the Taman Peninsula (Krasnodar Region) is assigned to the same genus. The Maeotian roaker is described as a new species, C. (?) tmutarakanica sp. nov. Morphological peculiarity of the genus Carnevalella gen. nov. justifies its allocation to a new subfamily, Carnevalellinae subfam. nov.     

A new Early Miocene genus of the family Sciaenidae (Teleostei, Perciformes) from the eastern Paratethys

A new genus of sciaenid fish Caucasisciaena is erected to accommodate the Early Miocene eastern Paratethys species Perca ignota Smirnov, 1936, which, subsequently, was variously attributed to the modern genera, either Larimus or Otolithoides. The materials examined include 32 specimens from four Caucasian and Crimean localities of Sakaraulian age (Lower Burdigalian). The new genus is based on a unique combination of features, including: parasphenoid with a dorsal rounded bony flange; basisphenoid present; premaxilla with short ascending process forming obtuse angle with alveolar process and ascending/alveolar process ratio about 0.17; anterior premaxillary teeth enlarged; posttemporal with few robust spines along its posterior margin; presence of 25 vertebrae; presence of three tiny supraneurals; dorsal fin with 11 spines plus 22–24 soft rays; anal fin with two spines and 7–8 soft rays; second anal-fin spine long and massive; pectoral fin elongate; scales ctenoid on body and cycloid on head (except for one or two rows of ctenoid scales on the cheek). Paleoecological considerations suggest that Caucasisciaena probably was a predatory fish that inhabited the coastal waters of the eastern sector of the Paratethyan basin.     

A new fossil Aphanius species from the Upper Miocene of Armenia (Eastern Paratethys)

A new fossil fish species, Aphanius yerevanicus (Cyprinodontiformes, Cyprinodontidae), is described based on a well-preserved, articulated skeleton from the early Upper Miocene of Yerevan, Armenia (Eastern Paratethys). The fish-bearing sediments contain a fossil assemblage indicative of a euryhaline environment. The new species differs from previously described fossil Aphanius species by the possession of caudal ribs articulating with the first haemal spine, a remarkably low number of abdominal vertebrae, and the morphology of the tricuspid jaw teeth. Co-occurrence of A. yerevanicus with Prolebias mutilus Bogachev, 1936 at Yerevan suggests that sympatric occurrence of several members of the Cyprinodontiformes continued successfully throughout the Miocene in euryhaline environments where competition between these forms and other fishes was low because of the unstable salinity.     

Sarmatian (Late Middle Miocene) gastropod assemblages of the Central Paratethys

Summary A rather diverse gastropod fauna from Sarmatian deposits of the Austrian/Hungarian Eisenstadt-Sopron Basin was studied. The fauna derives from two layers of clay and silt within a siliciclastic section at St. Margarethen in Burgenland (Austria). These layers are interpreted as littoral mudflats which formed during the Sarmatian (Late Middle Miocene) along the western coast of the Central Paratethys. Strong shifts in the composition of the gastropod fauna, dominated by Potamididae (Cenogastropoda: Cerithioidea), within each layer indicate successions of limnic-fluvial to oligohaline, brackish-littoral, and marine-littoral environments. These shifts in facies are reflected by an alternational of thePotamides hartbergensis assemblage,Granulolabium bicinctum assemblage, and thePotamides disjunctus assemblage. The speciesJujubinus turriculus (Eichwald, 1850),Gibbula buchi (Dubois, 1831), andCylichnina elongata (Eichwald, 1830) are reported for the first time from the Sarmatian of the Paratethys.Mitrella agenta nov. sp. (Neogastropoda: Columbellidae) is introduced as a new species. These species might represent relics of the diverse Badenian fauna but could also prove a minor ingression of marine species from an adjacent bioprovince in the Late SarmatianMactra “Zone”.     

A new species of the genusamblyeleotris (pisces: Gobiidae) from Japan

A new shrimp-associated goby,Amblyeleotris melanocephala, is described on the basis of specimens from Okinoshima Island. Kochi Prefecture, and Okinawa Island, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. The species is distinguished from other members of the genus by the following combination of characters: head dark brown, a few yellow spots on pectoral fin base and opercular margin, 13 second dorsal and 13 anal fin soft rays, 20 pectoral fin rays, longitudinal scales 92–101, proportional length of interpelvic connecting membrane relative to longest pelvic fin ray (CM-value) 0.46–0.55, presence of a ventral frenum, midline of nape naked, sides scaled above midpoint between preopercle and opercle.     

A new taxocrinid genus (Crinoidea, Flexibilia) from the Upper Carboniferous of the Moscow Region

A new flexible crinoid, Neotaxocrinus arendti gen. et sp. nov., from the Upper Carboniferous (Pennsylvanian) deposits of the Moscow Region is described. The new genus is the latest of the reliable representatives of taxocrinid flexibles and is characterized by the reduction in the number of interradial plates to one large plate and by the absence of interbrachial plates of a higher order, which is usually characteristic of Early Paleozoic forms.     

A new genus of soft coral (Cnidaria,Octocorallia) from the Republic of Congo (Pointe-Noire Region)

A new genus of soft coral from the Republic of Congo is described, Complexum gen. n. Nine West African octocoral species previously described in the genus Alcyonium by Tixier-Durivault (1955) are referred to this new genus, and a new species is described and figured, Complexum pusillum sp. n. The new species is characterized by having encrusting growth form and abundant spiny clubs in the surface of the polyparium. It colonizes shallow calcareous rocky banks (5 to 20 m depth) existing in coastal water of the region of Pointe-Noire. Based on molecular phylogeny this new genus is well separated from Alcyonium species.     

A new species of the mazocraeid genus Cribromazocraes Mamaev, 1981, from the freshwater clupeid Hilsa ilisha (Ham.) from the Kanpur District,India

Cribromazocraes llewellyni n. sp. is described from a freshwater clupeid Hilsa ilisha (Ham.) from the Kanpur District, India. It is characterised by the presence of unbranched intestinal caeca, the number and arrangement of the genital spines, the shape of the clamp sclerites and the presence of marginal hooklets. This is the first record of the genus Cribromazocraes Mamaev, 1981 from India.     

A new Bennettitalean genus from the Middle Jurassic of the Mikhailovskii Rudnik locality (Kursk Region,Russia)

Bennettitalean leaves with unusual morphology were found in the Middle Jurassic (Bathonian) deposits of Mikhailovskii Rudnik locality (Kursk Region, European Russia). This morphotype derived on the basis of Pterophyllum-like pinnate leaves by coherent coalescence of segments, through which superficial similarity of leaves of the new genus to Nilssoniopteris Nath., possessing entire leaf blade, is achieved. Each of coalescent segments was completely isolated from neighboring segments by massive cuticular wall. This character distinguishes leaves of the new genus from coherent leaves, known in other gymnosperms. The unique preservation type characteristic of plant remains of the Mikhailovskii Rudnik locality, allowed us to study some details of anatomical structure of leaf segments in the new genus. In particular, it was established, that palisade mesophyll in segments was poorly developed, and metaxylem in vascular bundles comprises tracheids with scalariform to circular bordered pits.     

Late miocene ostracodes (Ostracoda,Crustacea) from the Enikal Strait (Eastern Paratethys) as indicators of salinity changes

The species composition of ostracodes from the upper Maeotian and lower Pontian deposits of the Kerch-Taman Depression (Enikal Strait, Eastern Paratethys) is reported. The sedimentological and paleoenvironmental study shows that mass ostracode occurrences were controlled by hydrological changes in the Late Miocene brackish-water basins under consideration.     

Hybanthopsis, a new genus of Violaceae from Eastern Brazil

A new genus of Violaceae is described from Brazil.Hybanthopsis Paula-Souza, with a single species (H. bahiensis Paula-Souza), is endemic to caatingas of Bahia, Brazil, and is morphologically most similar toHybanthus, from which it differs by the fruit morphology and especially its peculiar seeds.

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Um novo gênero brasileiro de Violaceae é descrito.Hybanthopsis Paula-Souza, com uma única espécie (H. bahiensis Paula-Souza), é endêmico de caatingas do Estado da Bahia, e é morfologicamente mais similar aHybanthus, do qual difere pela morfologia do fruto e especialmente por suas sementes peculiares.

     

A new species of the clingfish genus Apletodon (Teleostei: Gobiesocidae) from the Cape Verde Islands, Eastern Central Atlantic

The clingfish Apletodon barbatus sp. nov. is described on the basis of 22 specimens and color photos from Santiago and Sal Islands, Cape Verde Islands, eastern central Atlantic Ocean. The species is very small, apparently not exceeding 18 mm total length; it is characterized by having a conspicuous maxillary barbel in males, 4–5 incisors in the upper jaw, numerous brown spots on the head and body in males, and a double white spot near the anus. The new species is compared with other species of the genus; a key to the males of the 5 known species of the eastern Atlantic genus Apletodon is presented. A checklist is provided for the species of Apletodon and their synonyms. Several new records are included in the present paper: Apletodon dentatus and A. incognitus are recorded from the Canary Islands, and A. wirtzi is recorded from Cameroon.     

Last evidence of Lates (Perciformes,Latinae) in the latest Miocene of the Eastern Paratethys

An articulated series of centra from latest Miocene deposits of Ukraine is described and identified as a species of Lates. The specimen comes from a locality with an estimated age of 6.04–4.7 Ma, representing the northernmost reach of the Paratethys during the Pontian. The specimen almost certainly represents a distinct species, but because it is incomplete we do not formally name it. The specimen can be differentiated from other species of Lates by features of the centra, including the relative size of the primary lateral fossa of the second centrum, the broadened neural spine of the third centrum, and the relative position of the upper and primary lateral pits on both the fifth and sixth centra. The Ukrainian specimen documents the presence of Lates in the northern Paratethys in the latest Miocene. After this time, species of Lates persisted in freshwaters in the Mediterranean area (Israel and Africa), but are no longer found in the marine waters of the region. We suggest that latines were extirpated from the Mediterranean and Paratethys by the rapidity of the changes in salinity that occurred in the Tethys Mediterranean basin and Paratethys as a result of the Messinian Salinity Crisis.     

A new species of clupeid fish,Ilisha sirishai from Visakhapatnam,India

A new species of clupeid fish, Ilisha sirishai is described from Visakhapatnam, the Bay of Bengal, and compared with its close relatives I. sladeni and I. melastoma.