Mauritanichthys rugosus N. Gen. Et N. Sp., Redfieldiidae(Actinopterygi,chondrostei), du Trias superieur continental marocain

The Morrocan continental upper Trias (Argana valley, Western Atlas) has yielded Mauritanichthys rugosus n. gen. et n. sp. This redfieldiid is very similar to Lasalichthys (upper Trias, Texas). That fact recalls that no deep and broad ocean separated Morroco from North America. This discovery shows, too, that the conditions of deposition were very similar in those two regions.     

Une piste avec traces de soies épaisses dans le Trias inférieur a moyen de Lodève (Hérault,France): Cynodontipus polythrix nov. gen., nov. sp. les Cynodontes en France

A new ichnological genus, Cynodontipus species-type C. polythrix) has been created to define the unusual tract of a large but still unknown hairy Vertebrate of the Early to Middle Trias, Southern France. Horizon: just below the Chirotherium white sandstones slabs at Fozières (Hérault).This new type of footprint indicates that, as early as the Middle Trias, some Vertebrates were covered with an abundant protection of hair. A short systematic comparison is attempted with the last big Therapsids of that age, mainly the Cynodonts.     

Une nouvelle sous-famille,les Poulpinae, et quatre nouvelles espèces de Saitoum radiolaires mésozoiques téthysiens

Studies of skeleton elements of several jurassic species of Saitoum allow to compare them with Poulpus from Trias. The sub-family Poulpinae is introduced, caracterised by three cephalic arcs and the collar position of the cephalic structure. Among the jurassic forms, 4 species are newly described: S. corniculum, S. elegans, S. levium and S. trichylum.     

Aratrisporites saharaensis sp. nov.: A characteristic lower carboniferous miospore species of North Africa

A new miospore species Aratrisporites saharaensis is described. Attributed to a genus previously known mainly from the Trias, it constitutes the first record of monolete camerate miospores from the Carboniferous.This taxon occurs abundantly in the Lower Carboniferousof northern region of the Sahara, North Africa. It has, in the past, been incorrectly attributed by several authors to Spelaeotriletes balteatus (Playford) Higgs 1975. Its stratigraphic range is late Tournaisian to early Namurian.     

Sur la présence deMeandrospira pusilla (Ho) (Foraminifère), dans le Trias inférieur de Kuh-e-Ali Bashi,Julf a,NW Iran

In the course of preliminary micropaleontologic and sedimentologic investigations of several sections in the Lower Trias of Julfa, NW Iran, the stratigraphically significantMeandrospira pusilla (Ho) (=Citaella iulia Premoli Silva) was shown to be present in the uppermost beds of the platy limestones of the Elika formation.     

Schädelknochen vonCeratodus Agassiz aus dem Stubensandstein (Trias,Mittl. Keuper 4) Württembergs und ihre Bedeutung

Notice is given of the first skull-bones ofCeratodus rectangulus Linck found in the Germanic Trias; they have been compared with those ofC. sturii Tell. and the recent genusEpiceratodus. The number of fossil teeth ofCeratodus is much larger, relatively, than that of the bones of the skull. This is explained by the assumption that these dipnoans were not embedded in their natural biotops.     

Biostratigraphie des thecidees (Brachiopodes) donnees recentes ou inedites

Numerous thecideid faunules have been discovered since the last years in the world. An especially stratigraphic or phylogenic interest is shown by some of these. For instance: thecideiform species from Upper Permian which are precious records on the group origin (genus FalaferGrant and AnsehiaTermier & Termier), or Upper Trias (genus HungarithecaDagis); the first triassic thecidean species, collected in Norian of Romania (Thecidella sp., Patr. & Paj.) and several species from Middle Oxfordian of Poland (genus NeothecidellaPaj., AgerinellaPatr. and RioultinaPaj.); the first species discovered in Berriasian from Crimea (Rioultina robustaSmirn.) and Algeria (Praelacazella sp., Rev. & Paj.). We can mention again some discoveries which concern different species from Afghanistan (Campanian), France (Maestrichtian), Pyrénées (Eocene) and West-Algeria (Miocene).These new data, sometimes unpublished, give precise paleoecologic (separate publication, Pajaud, 1974), phylogenic and stratigraphic informations.     

Réflexions critiques sur l'écologieet la systématique des Lingules actuelles et fossiles

New topics on ecology and systematics of recent and fossil Lingulids lead to an obvious revision of our knowledges on this zoological group. At first, the recent species need systematics and taxonomy on the bases of new described specific criteria (as, morphology of deltidial areas, muscle disposition); the results are briefly indicated. But, in fossil species, disorder and disparity of used characteristics are emphasized.The general conceiving on ecology of Lingulids are reviewed and discussed, especially on bathymetry and salinity; sediment and oxygenation conditions; taphocoenosis and lingulid «communities. On recent species, all these points are also studied, especially some ecological requirements (salinity, bathymetry, grain size), and mechanism of burrowing ability, burrow living positions in the sediments, as shell preservations after death and fossilization, to facilitate the paleobiotope interpretations. Recent animals are euryhalin, surviving at salinities from about 13 to 42‰; they could be considered as well adapted to waters with strong salinity fluctuations. They show preference to fine sand bottoms (lowest particle size about 40–60 μm). Their bathymetric distribution occurs between 0 and about 500 m (Lingula especially between 5–50 m; Glottidia 15–70 m). The isotherms 8–10°C seem to restrict their geographical and bathymetric distribution.Therefore, some post-palaeozoic lingulid bedsare studied or redescribed on the bases of the above discussed characteristics, and new interpretations on the environmental situation are given (Trias of Vosges Mountains; Oligocene from Japan; Eocene of London Basin). More caution must be used in study of fossil Lingulids that are not especially animals living in infralittoral bottoms with low salinity and deficient oxygenation, as generally accepted.     

Studies on Triassic Fossil Plants from Argentina: II. Michelilloa waltonii nov. gen. et spec. from the Ischigualasto Formation

A silicified stem from the Ischigualasto Formation (Trias) innorthern Argentina, is described and named Michelilloa waltoniinov. gen. et spec. It is compared with fossil stems of the generaCycadeoidea and Bucklandia, and with the living Cycadales. Acombination of characters (in particular the indumentum of longfilamentous hairs, multiseriate bordered pitting of the xylemtracheids, and the structure of the leaf gap and leaf tracebundle which are exactly similar to those of the cycad Dioonspinulosum) suggests that Michelilloa is an early representativeof the Cycadales.     

A bacteriological study of geothermal spring waters dating from the dogger and trias period in the Paris Basin

An enumeration of different physiological microbial types detected in the groundwaters of four geothermic sites dating from the Dogger and Trias periods that make up the Paris Basin reveals a predominance of anaerobes over aerobes and thermophiles over mesophiles. The main biological activity is performed via chemolithotrophic metabolism. The anaerobic chemolithotrophic thermophiles are well adapted to an aquifer environment and are capable of a metabolic activity in the aquifer. More important, such microflora can cause biocorro‐sion.     

An enigmatic early mesozoic dinosaur trackway from Zimbabwe

A trackway from Zimbabwe of probably the smallest dinosaur footprints recorded in Africa, is described and tentatively assigned to the Early Jurassic. The footprints are possibly those of a theropod and show strong negative (outward) rotation of the pes and are associated with manus prints. The shape of the footprints, unusual negative rotation, posterior curvature of digit IV and curious positioning of the manus prints in relation to the pes are enigmatic but somewhat reminiscent of Atreipus. Although a number of propositions are considered the most likely is that the animal was an immature dinosaur using a quadrupedal gait. A second trackway of slightly larger footprints of a bipedal theropod dinosaur is also recorded along with other diminutive tracks that suggest an early dinosaur assemblage, possibly dating from near the Trias‐sic‐Jurassic boundary.     

记裂齿鱼属(Perleidus)一新种

本文记述了在安徽和县发现的裂齿鱼属一新种——扬子裂齿鱼(Perleidus yangtzensis,sp.nov.)。根据其形态特征,与相近的种作了对比,认为和马达加斯加早三迭世的皮氏裂齿鱼(P.pivetcaui)最为接近。从而认为含鱼化石地层的时代为三迭纪或可能为早三迭世。     

Aestivation among ornithopod dinosaurs of the African Trias

Thulborn, Richard A. 1978 07 15: Aestivation among ornithopod dinosaurs of the African Trias. Lethaia . Vol. 11, pp. 185–198. Oslo. ISSN 0024–1164.
Dental and circumstantial evidence supports the theory that ornithopod dinosaurs of the African Red Beds responded to seasonal changes in their environment by resorting to aestivation (dry season dormancy). One group of ornithopods. the heterodontosaurids. apparently suppressed tooth replacement to permit efficient grinding of their plant food and probably replaced their entire cheek dentitions while aestivating. The sympatric fabrosaurid ornithopods had a simple open-and-shut jaw action and replaced their teeth continuously in standard reptilian fashion. Seasonal dormancy must have imposed major constraints on the lives of fabrosaurids and heterodontosaurids. and these constraints are summarized in the model of a circannual life cycle.     

The classification of the Proterosuchia

The earliest archosaurs (Upper Permian and Lower Trias) have been classified in many different ways. All classifications introduced during the period 1945-67 are compared and then themselves classified and evaluated. The typical characters of these archosaurs are listed. Most of them may be placed in a single suborder, the Proterosuchia, which is divided into two families, the Proterosuchidae and the Erythrosuchidae. The composition of each family is considered. Lists of genera in each family are given and of those generic names which should be regarded as nomina dubia. The placing of several genera in the synonymy of Erythrosuchus is rejected. The possible conspecificity of Chasmatosaurus vanhoepeni and C. alexanderi is considered. A simplified scheme for the evolution of the Proterosuchia is drawn up.     

二叠纪-三叠纪礁相房室海绵演化与灭绝

就礁相房室海绵而言,早二叠世的物种数最少,中二叠世的分异度最高,晚二叠世的其次,中三叠世的较少,卡尼斯的增多,诺利期的更多。礁相房室海绵的演化反映出二叠纪－三叠纪有3次灭绝事件,分别发生在中二叠世末期、长兴期末期、卡尼期末期。这3次灭绝事件的规模各不相同：中二叠世末期的灭绝事件规模较小,它使83．8％的中二叠世礁相房室海绵种灭绝;长兴期末期的灭绝规模最大,它使100％的长兴期种灭绝;卡尼期末的灭绝事件规模也较大,它使97．7％的卡尼期种灭绝。     

The classification of the Proterosuchia

The earliest archosaurs (Upper Permian and Lower Trias) have been classified in many different ways. All classifications introduced during the period 1945-67 are compared and then themselves classified and evaluated.
The typical characters of these archosaurs are listed. Most of them may be placed in a single suborder, the Proterosuchia, which is divided into two families, the Proterosuchidae and the Erythrosuchidae. The composition of each family is considered. Lists of genera in each family are given and of those generic names which should be regarded as nomina dubia. The placing of several genera in the synonymy of Erythrosuchus is rejected. The possible conspecificity of Chasmatosaurus vanhoepeni and C. alexanderi is considered.
A simplified scheme for the evolution of the Proterosuchia is drawn up.     

Les voiles microbiens. Leur contribution à la fossilisation des organismes au corps mou

Dans certains gisements fossilifères, la conservation des organismes au corps mou est imputable à la prolifération de voiles microbiens. II en est ainsi des shales du Grès à Voltzia (Trias inférieur) où des méduses, des annèlides et diverses pontes sont fossilisés dans des lamines grises, d'épaisseur inframillimétrique, dont la nature bactérienne est démontrée. En recouvrant rapidement les cadavres, les voiles microbiens les protégeaient contre les animaux saprophages et les actions mécaniques. En měme temps, ils créaient un milieu clos, appauvri en oxygène, qui inhibait la décomposition de la matière organique. □ Fossilisation, voiles microbiens, cyanobactéries, Buntsandstein.
Preservation of soft-bodied organisms in some fossiliferous localities is attributable to spreading of microbial veils. This is the case of the shales of the Grès à Voltzia (Lower Triassic), where fossil medusae, worms and clutches occur in grey, less than a millimeter thick laminae, the bacterial origin of which is demonstrated. Covering the bodies rapidly, the microbial veils protected them from scavengers and physical injuries. They created enclosed spaces, with poor oxygen content, inhibiting the decay of organic matter. □ Fossilization, microbial veils, cyanobacteria, Buntsandstein.     

Ontogeny and phylogeny in temnospondyls: a new method of analysis

A new method has been devised to compare the ontogeny and phylogeny of some of the better documented tetrapods from the Stephanian to the Trias. This approach is based on global parsimony analysis of several temnospondyl amphibians, in which some ontogenetic sequences have been highlighted. Forty-one homologous morphoanatomical character states have been separated into larval, juvenile and adult stages of each of six tetrapod species. The taxonomic congruence (TC) approach involves comparing trees based on larval, juvenile and adult character states. These so-called 'ontotrees' are not congruent, either in their topologies or in the distribution of the character states. The total evidence (TE) approach involves a combined analysis of all the character states observed in the various growth stages of the taxa, and is secondarily used in order to test this taxonomic incongruence. In this case, the TE result corroborates the TC analysis: the TE tree is robust and reveals a few homoplasies which cause the taxonomic incongruence. This is interpreted as either the result of heterochronic events in temnospondyl evolution, or as the product of inaccurate identification of larval and metamorphic fossil forms.