New jewel beetles (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) and similar beetles from the Cretaceous and Early Paleogene of Asia

A new genus and two new species of jewel beetles are described, Andakhudukia ponomarenkoi gen. et sp. nov. from the Lower Cretaceous of Mongolia and Metabuprestium ustkivdense sp. nov. from the lowermost Paleogene of the Amur Region. In addition, four new monotypic genera that share some features with jewel beetles are described: Cretoelaterium kazanovense gen. et sp. nov. from the Lower Cretaceous of Eastern Transbaikalia and Cretopoena gratshevi gen. et sp. nov. from the Lower Cretaceous of Mongolia have been referred to the families Elateridae and Eucnemidae; Cretofalselaterium baiankhongoricum gen. et sp. nov. from the Lower Cretaceous of Mongolia and Cretogermen turonicum gen. et sp. nov. from the Upper Cretaceous of Kazakhstan have been erected for isolated elytra and placed in Coleoptera incertae sedis.     

Valdosaurus, a hypsilophodontid dinosaur from the Lower Cretaceous of Europe and Africa

Material of the hypsilophodontid dinosaur Valdosauruscanaliculatus (Ornithischia: Ornithopoda) is described from the Lower Cretaceous (Barremian) of southern England and a new species is recognized from the Lower Cretaceous (Aptian) of Niger, West Africa. This occurrence of Valdosaurus in Europe and Africa provides evidence of a land connection between these continents across Tethys sometime in the early Cretaceous.     

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).     

New Early Cretaceous hymenopterous insects (Insecta: Hymenoptera) from Sierra del Montsec (Spain)

Four new species of Hymenoptera are described from the Early Cretaceous (Lower Barremian) lithographic limestones of the Sierra del Montsec (Lérida Province, NE Spain):Prosyntexis montsecensis n. sp. (Sepulcidae),Manlaya lacabrua n. sp. (Gasteruptiidae),Meiagaster cretaceus n. gen., n. sp. (Bethylonymidae),Angarosphex lithographicus n. sp. (Sphecidae). The Spanish assemblage extends our knowledge of the distribution of the Lower Cretaceous hymenopteran fauna and will throw light on its character in a probably dry environment with seasonal rainfall.     

A new species of comb-clawed beetle (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Alleculinae) from the Lower Cretaceous of Yixian (China,Liaoning Province)

A new genus and species of comb-clawed beetles, Calcarocistela kirejtshuki gen. et sp. nov., from the Lower Cretaceous of Yixian (China) is described. The new genus is assigned to the tribe Gonoderini of the subfamily Alleculinae (family Tenebrionidae) based on the following characters: five visible abdominal ventrites, nonwidened tarsomeres without a membranous ventral lobes, and serrate antennae. The new genus differs from other members of the tribe Gonoderini in the long spurs of metatibia reaching a half of the first metatarsomere and the lamellate prosternal process. Calcarocistela kirejtshuki is the first member of Alleculinae from the Lower Cretaceous.     

New species of scarabaeoid beetles from the family Glaresidae (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea) from the Cretaceous of Transbaikalia

A new species from the family Glaresidae, Cretoglaresis ovalis, sp. nov., is described from the Lower Cretaceous site Baisa in Transbaikalia. Improved diagnosis of the genus Cretoglaresis Nikolajev, 2007 is given.     

Deux nouveaux représentants du genre Ascidiella(Clavatoraceae,Charophyta)

Two new species of the genus AscidiellaGrambast are described: A. inflata et A. irregularis. They come from the Lower Cretaceous of the Iberian peninsula.     

Elosuchus,a new genus of crocodile from the Cretaceous of the North of Africa

‘Thoracosaurus’ cherifiensis Lavocat, 1955, a longirostrine from the late Lower Cretaceous of Morocco and Algeria, is attributed to Elosuchus, n. g., with another species, E. felixi n. sp., from In Abangarit (Niger), of the same age. Stolokrosuchus from the Lower Cretaceous of Niger is also referred to the new family Elosuchidae. Synapomorphies and grades are indicated for the families of ‘mesosuchian’ longirostrine crocodiles, but no synapomorphy has been found to unite the families, except perhaps for the Thalattosuchia.     

New jewel beetles (Coleoptera, Buprestidae) from Cretaceous deposits of Russia

A new genus and two new species of jewel beetles, Cretalbiana sukatshevae gen. et sp. nov. and C. major sp. nov., are described from the Middle Albian (Lower Cretaceous) of Khetana, Khabarovsk Region, Russia.     

The beetle-like Palaeozoic and Mesozoic roachoids of the so-called “umenocoleoid” lineage (Dictyoptera: Ponopterixidae fam. nov.)

The position of Palaeozoic and Mesozoic roachoids and their relationships to crown-group Dictyoptera is an unresolved problem of insect systematics since Hennig's time. This contribution presents new data based on the wing venation of the Early Cretaceous group Cratovitismioidea (so-called “Umenocoleoidea”) supplemented with the discovery of the first Late Palaeozoic representative. As Umenocoleus, type genus of the Umenocoleidae, is considered as a Coleopterida, the roachoids currently included in the Umenocoleidae are transferred to the new family Ponopterixidae, in the new superfamily Cratovitismioidea. Permoponopterix lodevensis, a new ponopterixid genus and species, is described as the oldest representative of this superfamily, from the Middle Permian of the South of France. A new species Ponopterix burkhardi is described from the Lower Cretaceous of Crato Formation in Brazil. Convergent adaptations of tegmina in Coleopterida, Protelytroptera and Cratovitismioidea are discussed.     

The first record of crawling water beetles (Coleoptera, Haliplidae) in the Lower Cretaceous of Mongolia

A new species of crawling water beetles (Coleoptera, Haliplidae), Haliplus (subgenus unclear) cretaceus sp. nov., is described from the Lower Cretaceous of Mongolia, Bon-Tsagan (Bööntsagaan) locality.     

Gastropods of the family Aporrhaidae from the Lower Cretaceous of Ulyanovsk, Volga Region

Three new species of the genus Trilemma (family Aporrhaidae), T. polivnense Blagovetshenskiy, sp. nov., T. kremenkense Blagovetshenskiy, sp. nov., and T. tenuicarinatum Blagovetshenskiy, sp. nov., from the Lower Cretaceous of the Volga Region near Ulyanovsk are described. The data on the stratigraphic range of these species are provided.     

New sepulcids (Hymenoptera: Sepulcidae) from the Lower Cretaceous of Asia. I. Parapamphiliinae and Xyelulinae

Three new species of sepulcids (Hymenoptera: Sepulcidae) are described from the Lower Cretaceous of Khasurty, Transbaikalia: Pamparaphilius khasurtensis sp. nov., Micramphilius mirabilipennis sp. nov., and Onokhoius venustus sp. nov. The new species reveal the previously unknown structure of the hindwings in the subfamily Xyelulinae and the genus Micramphilius. A new method of preparation for stone fossils is also described.     

A new troodontid theropod dinosaur from the lower Cretaceous of Utah

Background

The theropod dinosaur family Troodontidae is known from the Upper Jurassic, Lower Cretaceous, and Upper Cretaceous of Asia and from the Upper Jurassic and Upper Cretaceous of North America. Before now no undisputed troodontids from North America have been reported from the Early Cretaceous.

Methodology/Principal Findings

Herein we describe a theropod maxilla from the Lower Cretaceous Cedar Mountain Formation of Utah and perform a phylogenetic analysis to determine its phylogenetic position. The specimen is distinctive enough to assign to a new genus and species, Geminiraptor suarezarum. Phylogenetic analysis places G. suarezarum within Troodontidae in an unresolved polytomy with Mei, Byronosaurus, Sinornithoides, Sinusonasus, and Troodon + (Saurornithoides + Zanabazar). Geminiraptor suarezarum uniquely exhibits extreme pneumatic inflation of the maxilla internal to the antorbital fossa such that the anterior maxilla has a triangular cross-section. Unlike troodontids more closely related to Troodon, G. suarezarum exhibits bony septa between the dental alveoli and a promaxillary foramen that is visible in lateral view.

Conclusions/Significance

This is the first report of a North American troodontid from the Lower Cretaceous. It therefore contributes to a fuller understanding of troodontid biogeography through time. It also adds to the known dinosaurian fauna of the Cedar Mountain Formation.     

The Basal Nodosaurid Ankylosaur Europelta carbonensis n. gen., n. sp. from the Lower Cretaceous (Lower Albian) Escucha Formation of Northeastern Spain

Nodosaurids are poorly known from the Lower Cretaceous of Europe. Two associated ankylosaur skeletons excavated from the lower Albian carbonaceous member of the Escucha Formation near Ariño in northeastern Teruel, Spain reveal nearly all the diagnostic recognized character that define nodosaurid ankylosaurs. These new specimens comprise a new genus and species of nodosaurid ankylosaur and represent the single most complete taxon of ankylosaur from the Cretaceous of Europe. These two specimens were examined and compared to all other known ankylosaurs. Comparisons of these specimens document that Europelta carbonensis n. gen., n. sp. is a nodosaur and is the sister taxon to the Late Cretaceous nodosaurids Anoplosaurus, Hungarosaurus, and Struthiosaurus, defining a monophyletic clade of European nodosaurids– the Struthiosaurinae.     

New archaeocynipids (Hymenoptera,Cynipoidea, Archaeocynipidae) from the Lower Cretaceous of Transbaikalia

A new genus and three new species of parasitic hymenopterans of the family Archaeocynipidae are described from the Lower Cretaceous of Transbaikalia: Khasips alisectus gen. et sp. nov., K. sculptus sp. nov., and K. kovalevi sp. nov. The placement of archaeocynipids in the system of Cynipoidea is discussed.     

New and little known orthopteroid insects (Polyneoptera) from fossil resins: Communication 1

New taxa of uncertain position within the infraclass Polyneoptera (Gryllomantidae fam. nov.: Gryllomantis gen. nov., Lower Cretaceous; Mantoblattidae fam. nov.: Mantoblatta mira gen. et sp. nov., Upper Cretaceous) and within the order Dictyoptera (Pseudojantaropterix gen. nov., Lower Cretaceous) are described. The superfamily Umenocoleoidea of uncertain position within the latter order is discussed on the basis of new information on Jantarimantidae and some other Cretaceous Dictyoptera.     

Lowermost occurrence of ostracod Cypridea species in East Asia and implications for the non-marine Jurassic/Cretaceous boundary

Cypridea Bosquet, 1852 is a non-marine ostracod genus of the Superfamily Cypridoidea, and the extinct Family Cyprideidae, which achieved high diversity in the Early Cretaceous. This genus plays an important role in the subdivision and correlation of strata, as well as in paleogeographic and paleoclimatic studies. Cypridea species are remarkably abundant and diverse, and are extensively distributed across East Asia. However, the lowermost occurrence of Cypridea species (LOOC) in East Asia is still being debated, varying from the Upper Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous. Here, we aim to conduct a preliminary investigation of the Cypridea-bearing strata of East Asia (China, Mongolia, Korea and Japan), and attempt to update the strata correlation, based on new progress of the ostracod correlations, as well as the progress of other research methods on the relative Jurassic/Cretaceous (J/K) strata of these areas. Results show that the LOOCs in most basins of East Asia are documented in Lower Cretaceous (～Berriasian) strata. However, Cypridea species are extremely rare near the J/K boundary interval but flourish until Valanginian–Hauterivian in most basins of East Asia. Therefore, we propose that the LOOC in each corresponding basin of East Asia can be used as an auxiliary marker of the non-marine J/K boundary. Cypridea species may have travelled first from Africa (Kimmeridgian) to Europe (J/K period), and then East Asia (Early Cretaceous), which resulted in the LOOC in East Asia later than in the other continents.     

Stratigraphic distribution of shallow-water benthic foraminifera from the Lower Cretaceous Taft formation,Central Iran (Yazd Block), with evidence for the importance of hiatuses

In this contribution, two stratigraphic sections are described through the Lower Cretaceous shallow-water platform sediments (Taft formation) from the northern Tethys, which are located in the Yazd Block, Central Iran. Benthic foraminifera are used to propose a biostratigraphy for these successions. They are grouped around several assemblage zones, and several genera and species are reported from the Yazd Block basin for the first time (e.g., Arenobulimina cochleata, A. meltae, Belorusiella sp., Bolivinopsis cf. labeosa, Decussoloculina barbui, Martinotiella jucunda, Myncina bulgarica, Novalesia cornucopia, Sabaudia briacensis, Simplorbitolina manasi). Their presence can provide a better understanding for the paleogeographic reconstruction of the Tethyan seaways. Furthermore, they represent candidates as potential index fossils in the Lower Cretaceous stratigraphy of the Yazd Block. The new biostratigraphic data allow to date the Lower Cretaceous successions between the probable Valanginian and the late Aptian. Based on the absence of early Barremian indicators and also late Aptian markers, two hiatuses are recognized through the Taft formation. This formation also displays a diachrony in ages at its base and top, which suggests the effect of long-term subsidence in the Yazd Block during the Early Cretaceous, following the Cimmerian phase of orogeny.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Weitschataster intermedius</Emphasis> gen. et sp. nov., a goniasterid starfish (Echinodermata: Asteroidea) from the Upper Cretaceous of Germany

Weitschataster intermedius gen. et sp. nov., is described from the Upper Campanian (Upper Cretaceous) of Hannover (Lower Saxony, N Germany). The new species is characterized by its conspicuous rimmed pedicellariae scars covering almost the complete actinal surface and by small body size. W. intermedius represents a transitional state between W. decipiens comb. nov. from the Lower Campanian and the well-known W. undulatus comb. nov. from the Lower Maastrichtian of NW Europe. Among Spencer’s types of W. undulatus, one paratype is recognized as belonging to the genus Parametopaster.