Araucariaceae (Pinopsida): Aspects in palaeobiogeography and palaeobiodiversity in the Mesozoic

The paper examines recent information on the history of the ‘southern hemisphere’ conifer family Araucariaceae and gives supplementary notes to previously published monographs. Important data from the Mesozoic fossil record are presented and summarized to describe the ancient diversity and distribution of Araucariaceae. Information on the origin of the family and oldest fossil records of the present-day genera are assembled. Existing models on phylogenetic relationships within the family inferred from molecular data are compared with relationships between the genera determined from morphological data. Reasons for disappearance of representatives of this conifer family in the latest Cretaceous in North America and Europe are briefly discussed.     

中国中生代的鸟类:介绍及综述

最近十来年 ,中国辽宁发现的早白垩世的鸟类化石超过了世界上其它任何一个地区。中国的中生代鸟类化石代表了始祖鸟化石之后鸟类历史上第一次显著的分异。它们不仅包括了带有明显恐龙祖先特征的长尾的鸟类 ,而且还包括了许多进步或特化的种类 ,如早白垩世最大的鸟类 ,最原始的反鸟类 ,以及保存最好的、飞行结构和现生鸟类几乎一样的今鸟类。这些早期鸟类在诸如飞行、大小和食性等所反映的演化、形态和生态学特征等方面出现了重大的分异。具有长尾骨骼的原始基干鸟类热河鸟和驰龙类具有的相似性 ,进一步支持了鸟类起源于恐龙的学说。中国发现的早白垩世的鸟类以及树栖的恐龙化石还为鸟类飞行的树栖起源假说提供了十分重要的证据。“恐龙下树”的假说结合了鸟类起源于恐龙的学说和鸟类飞行的树栖起源学说 ,因此也得到了化石证据的支持。由于多种恐龙带有羽毛 ,因此羽毛不一定代表了恒温。恒温的鸟类可能到了早白垩世的进步鸟类中才开始出现     

A review of the current fossil evidence of Lepidoptera in the Mesozoic

The problems associated with the identification of lepidopterous fossils (Insecta) are discussed. The origins and evolution of scales in the Amphiesmenoptera (Lepidoptera + Trichoptera) is considered. An illustrated review of the 19 Mesozoic insects described as lepidopterous is given and their identity discussed. Ample evidence of diversity of Lepidoptera in the Cretaceous, evidence (two specimens) of their presence in the Jurassic and some evidence of their presence in the Triassic is given.     

Age and growth of the Australian sharpnose shark,Rhizoprionodon taylori,from north Queensland,Australia

Synopsis Age and growth were studied inRhizoprionodon taylori using specimens caught in Cleveland Bay, North Queensland, Australia. Von Bertalanffy growth parameters were estimated using three different techniques: vertebral ageing, back calculation and length frequency. Vertebrae from 138 specimens were sectioned and narrow circuli counted to estimate age. Marginal increment analysis verified that circuli were produced annually in late summer, probably as a result of stress during the mating season. The oldest female was 7 and male 6 years old. Von Bertalanffy growth parameters estimated from vertebral ageing data for males were t_O = 0.410 yr, K = 1.337, L = 652.2 mm, and for females t_O = 0.455 yr, K = 1.013 and L = 732.5 mm. Growth parameters determined by length frequency and back calculation techniques concurred with those from vertebral ageing. Growth of the 0+ age class was very rapid, averaging 140% of the size at birth in the first year. Males and females matured after only one year, the lowest age at maturity reported in the family Carcharhinidae. Annual growth increments decreased rapidly after maturity, and little growth occurred after three years.     

原端齿鲨在中国的发现

原端齿鲨 (Protacrodus) 以往只见于德国和美国的上泥盆统中,这次从苏北油田钻孔岩样中发现的一枚牙齿具有该属之主要形态特征,经比较,确定其为—新种——Protacrodus orientalis sp. nov. 此新种在齿冠各齿头的嵴突数、齿冠的高宽比以及齿根表面血管神经通孔的排列形式等方面均有别于欧美的已定种.     

A new elusive otodontid shark (Lamniformes: Otodontidae) from the lower Miocene,and comments on the taxonomy of otodontid genera,including the ‘megatoothed’ clade

We describe a new large otodontid lamniform shark, Megalolamna paradoxodon gen. nov. et sp. nov., chronostratigraphically restricted to the early Miocene (Aquitanian–Burdigalian). This new species is based on isolated teeth found from five globally distributed localities: the Jewett Sand in southern California, USA; the Pungo River Formation of North Carolina, USA; the Chilcatay Formation of Peru; the Oi Formation in Mie Prefecture, Japan; and the O’oshimojo Formation in Nagano Prefecture, Japan. Extrapolations based on available published data on modern macrophagous lamniforms suggest that the largest specimen of M. paradoxodon gen. nov. et sp. nov. possibly came from an individual that measured at least 3.7 m in total length. All specimens came from deposits in the mid-latitudinal zones representing shallow-water, shelf-type, coastal environments. Its dentition likely exhibited monognathic heterodonty suited for capturing and cutting relatively large prey (e.g. medium-sized fishes). We recommend the genus Otodus to include sharks of the ‘megatoothed’ (e.g. megalodon) lineage in order to avoid Otodus paraphyly. We also propose the following phylogenetic hypothesis: [Kenolamna?+?[Cretalamna?+?[Megalolamna + Otodus]]].

ZooBank LSID for the genus Megalolamna is: urn: lsid:zoobank.org:act:B4791DEF-4D96-4FEB-9B7B-0EF816B96079

ZooBank LSID for the species Megalolamna paradoxodon is: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:7D3D7442-53C6-43A2-9E8D-6339729565B6     

The biology of the golden hammerhead,Sphyrna tudes,off Trinidad

Synopsis The golden hammerhead is a poorly known species of shark that inhabits the northeastern coast of South America from Venezuela to Uruguay. It is found in coastal waters at depths of 9–40 m over muddy bottoms. It is a small species which attains a maximum size of 122 cm and 9 kg. The most distinctive characteristic of this species is its striking bright orange or yellow color. Juveniles less than 80 cm TL are bright yellow or orange; adults are pale yellow. The color is apparently due to pigments present in their diets; juveniles feed primarily on shrimp, while adults feed on fish and catfish eggs. Two pigments have been isolated and their characterization is presently being ascertained. Males mature at about 80 cm TL; females mature at about 98 cm TL. Ovulation and mating occur in August. Gestation appears to last about ten months. Parturition occurs in shallow waters from late May to June. Broods consist of five to twelve young, which measure about 30 cm at birth. The ovarian cycle runs concurrently with the gestation cycle, so it is likely that females are fertilized shortly after parturition, and that the species reproduces yearly.     

Molecular phylogenetic convergence within Elasmobranchii revealed by cytochrome oxidase subunits

The phylogenetic relationships within the subclass of Elasmobranchii are under question within the academic community and their systematic classification based on morphological, or physiological characteristics has not yet been fully justified. Modern cladistic studies suggested that batoids are derived sharks, a taxonomic status known as the Hypnosqualean hypothesis. The main purpose of this study was to address this issue using a data set of aligned, directly sequenced, mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunits I and II. Maximum Likelihood, Maximum Parsimony, Minimum Evolution and Bayesian inference were implemented for tree reconstructions. The results provided evidence that supported the rejection of the above hypothesis, in accordance with other recent molecular phylogenetic studies. More specifically Rajiformes species were presented as separate lineages from sharks. Prionace species on the other hand was grouped within Carcharhinoformes, which was clustered as sister group to Lamniformes. COI and COII regions supported, monophylies of Squaliformes and paraphylies of Carchariniformes.     

Hominid footprints at Laetoli: facts and interpretations

The history of discovery and interpretation of primate footprints at the site of Laetoli in northern Tanzania is reviewed. An analysis of the geological context of these tracks is provided. The hominid tracks in Tuff 7 at Site G in the Garusi River Valley demonstrate bipedality at a mid-Pliocene datum. Comparison of these tracks and the Hadar hominid foot fossils by Tuttle has led him to conclude that Australopithecus afarensis did not make the Tanzanian prints and that a more derived form of hominid is therefore indicated at Laetoli. An alternative interpretation has been offered by Stern and Susman who posit a conforming "transitional morphology" in both the Tanzanian prints and the Ethiopian bones. The present examines both hypotheses and shows that neither is likely to be entirely correct. To illustrate this point, a reconstruction of the foot skeleton of a female A. afarensis is undertaken, and the results are compared to the Laetoli tracks. We conclude that A. afarensis represents the best candidate for the maker of the Laetoli hominid trails.     

禄丰古猿化石地点的植物叶化石

1987年,在云南禄丰古猿化石地点D剖面第4层(薄层黑色炭质粘土与灰色细砂互层)发现植物叶部印痕化石,经鉴定属壳斗科绝灭的雷龙潭槲叶(Dryophyllum relongtanense Colani),该种植物常参与组成亚热带至暖温带的常绿阔叶林或常绿与落叶阔叶混交林。