Position systematique et phylogenetique du genre Pelagosaurus Bronn, 1841 (Crocodylia,Mesosuchia), du Toarcien d'Europe

The Toarcian crocodilian Pelagosaurus, usually considered as belonging to the family Teleosauridae, has a numberof apomorphic characters in common with the Metriorhynchidae, and is referred here to this family, as already suggested by J. Mercier (1933). The Metriorhynchidae were apparently descended from early Liassic Teleosauridae, and both families can be included in the same infraorder of the Mesosuchia, the Thalattosuchia FRAAS.     

Systematic revision and palaeobiogeography of Perisphinctes Waagen (Ammonoidea) from the Oxfordian of Kutch,India: Stratigraphic and evolutionary implications

Perisphinctes Waagen, 1869 is an important genus of the Oxfordian. In many areas the taxon has been excessively and subjectively split. Based on the material collected in Kutch (India), including the type specimens, we have grouped eight species previously described as distinct into one biological species, Perisphinctes indogermanus Waagen, 1875. It is characterized by strong sexual dimorphism. Macroconch shows high intraspecific variability. Microconch is previously described from Kutch in different generic names. Thirteen species of Dichotomosphinctes Buckman, 1926, Perisphinctes Waagen, 1869 and Lithacoceras Hyatt, 1900 are considered here as microconch which is lappeted. The precise age of P. indogermanus is disputed. A detailed stratigraphic analysis of several sections in this study suggests that the species ranges from early to middle Oxfordian. Perisphinctes indogermanus is distinct from other contemporary species of the world and abundant in the Indo-Madagascan Province. Kutch population of P. indogermanus has developed virgatotome style of ribbing in juvenile stage. During the middle Oxfordian marine transgression, the species along with many other ammonites of deeper habitat of the mainland basin reached the shallow shelf of eastern fringe of the Kutch Sea. Being peripherally isolated, it soon underwent an adaptive radiation that resulted in the origination of a new family Ataxioceratidae Buckman, 1921 whose members have neotenously retained the virgatotome ribbing in adult stage. The ataxioceratids later migrated to Europe and flourished during the Kimmeridgian.     

Nouvelles technologies: nanotechnologies,microfluidiques et puces

Le concept de nanotechnologies est né il y a 40 ans, avec M. Freynman qui avait imaginé, de manière prémonitoire, qu’une encyclopédie pourrait tenir dans une tête d’épingle. Les nanotechnologies, qui désignent la manipulation et la fabrication d’objets de taille nanométrique (milliardième de mètre), résultent du rapprochement de diverses disciplines: physique, biologie, médecine et électronique. S’y associe une approche de microfluidiques, c’est-à-dire d’étude et de contr?le du mouvement de liquides dans des dispositifs miniatures.     

Paysage vegetal et position stratigraphique du sommetdes lignites du Soissonnais dans la montagne de Reims (Ypresien,bassin de Paris)

The sporopollinic association in the uppermost Sparnacian facies of the “Montagne de Reims” is made of varioustaxons, which are typical of warm and moist climates.Some of these taxons belong to the littoral or mangrove flora; they need saline water. Others come from freshwater environments, swamp-forest and even from the inner land.Although the analized samples were picked up in the uppermost layers of the Sparnacian facies, some speciesof pollen and microplankton are of Cuisian affinity.     

Nouvelles observations sur les Miogypsinidés du Miocène inférieur et moyen de Provence et de Corse (France) et de Sardaigne septentrionale (Italie)

The detailed study of the Miocene strata of Bonifacio has revealed an atypical Miogypsinid assemblage. In addition to the three already cited genera, Miogypsinoides, Miogypsina and Miolepidocyclina from this region, Miogypsinodella is for the first time represented by two new species (Mdella corsicana nov. sp. et Mdella pillaria nov.sp.). The stratigraphical ranges of each genus in the Miogypsinidae are not verified here. However, Mdes bantamensis is still present in the Upper Burdigalian and the genus Miogypsinoides is also present in the Lower Langhian. Six species of Miogypsina coexist in the Upper Burdigalian (M. tani, M. globulina, M. intermedia, M. cf. sabahensis, M. cushmani, M. mediterranea) and two species are present in the Lower Langhian (M. antillea, M. digitata). This distribution is apparently an example of palaeoendemism resulting from the geographic isolation and the rotation of the Corso-Sardinian block and also from the palaeogeographical and palaeoecological favourable environment during that time.     

Les larves chétosphères de polychètes: position systematique et description de nouveaux types

A series of plankton net samples (200 μm mesh width) was collected in the New Caledonian lagoon. From observations by scanning electron microscopy, six larval forms of chaetosphaera are described for the first time. In spite of criticism concerning the use of morphology of setae, the features of transitional larval setae are the main criterion for distinguishing these forms. Nine criteria are used: (1) arrangement of fascicles with regard to the body—pen as a fan and transverse or tightened and parallel to the body; (2) arrangement of fascicles with regard to the dorsal side—entirely or partly sheltered; (3) number of morphological types of setae; (4) number of setae in the fascicles; (5) general morphology—capillary and straight or curved and spiny or as blade-shaped sword; (6) cross section of the setae; (7) arrangement of spines; (8) morphology of distal end; (9) colour. It appears likely that chaetosphaera larvae belong to species of the genera Scolelepis, Dispio or Australospio as defined by Blake & Kudenov and not to Laonice cirrata, as previously thought. In order to display this difference, the larvae of Laonice sp. are also illustrated. Diagnosis of chaetosphaera may be provisionally based on the following features: prostomium pointed; larvae curled to the ventral side; dorsal side without chromatophores; notopodial setal bundles open as a fan on each side and sheltering, at least in part, the dorsal side. Une série de prélèvements au filet à plancton (200 μm de vide de maille) est réalisée dans le lagon de Nouméa, Nouvelle Calédonie. Six formes de larves chetospheres d'Annélides Polychètes sont décrites par observation au microscope électronique à balayage. Les caractères diffèrentiels reposent principalernent sur la morphologie des soies provisoires. Neuf criteres sont utilisés: (1) disposition des faisceaux par rapport au corps—en éventail et transversale ou fermée et parallele au corps; (2) disposition des faisceaux sur la face dorsale—cette dernière peut être entièrement ou partiellement protégée; (3) nombre de types morphologiques de soies; (4) nombre de soies dans un faisceau; (5) morphologie générale—capillaire, droite, avec ou sans épines ou bien courbée et épineuse ou bien aplatie en forme de lame de sabre; (6) section transversale de la soie; (7) disposition des épines; (8) morphologie de la partie distale; (9) coloration. II resort de cette étude qu'il est maintenant nécessaire de rapporter les larves du type chéAtosphère—au moins certaines d'entre elles—à des espèces appartenant aux genres Scolelepis, Dispio ou Australospio tels qu'ils sont définis par Blake & Kudenov. Correlativement la correspondance entre les chétosphères et les larves de Laonice cirrata ne semble pas confirmée. La reconnaissance des larves chétosphères peut être provisoirement basée sur les caractères suivants: prostomium pointu, corps enroulé autour de la face ventrale, tégument dorsal sans chromatophores, faisceaux de soies notopodiales ouverts en éventail et protégeant au moins en partie la face dorsale.     

Les Oppeliidae (Ammonitina) de l'horizon à Collotiformis (Callovien supérieur, zone à Athleta) de la région dijonnaise (Côte-d'Or, France)

In the Dijon area, the top of the Athleta zone contains rich ammonite fauna dominated quantitatively by two families: Perisphinctidae and Oppeliidae. The Oppeliidae are diversified and make up a numerically larger proportion of the ammonite fauna than in the underlying strata (up to 57 %). The exceptional state of preservation of the ammonites has permitted a precise study to be made of ontogenesis and intraspecific variability. Four sub-families are found (Oppeliinae, Hecticoceratinae, Distichoceratinae and Taramelliceratinae), within which sexual dimorphs have been recognised. One small form, characterized by lappets and a body chamber with ellipticoidal-trending coiling, is interpreted as the microconch dimorph of the Paralcidia genus which was unknown until now. One specimen of Creniceras, the oldest collected in Côte-d'Or, can be interpreted as the microconch dimorph of Taramelliceras.

Résumé

Dans la région dijonnaise, le sommet de la zone à Athleta renferme une riche faune ammonitique, quantitativement dominée par deux familles : Perisphinctidae et Oppeliidae. Par rapport aux niveaux sous-jacents, la famille des Oppeliidae est diversifiée et représente une part numériquement plus importante de la faune ammonitique (jusqu'à 57 %). L'excellente conservation des ammonites a autorisé une étude précise de l'ontogenèse et de la variabilité intraspécifique au sein de la famille. Quatre sous-familles sont représentées (Oppeliinae, Hecticoceratinae, Distichoceratinae et Taramelliceratinae), au sein desquelles les dimorphes sexuels ont été reconnus. Une petite forme, caractérisée par des apophyses jugales et une chambre d'habitation à enroulement à tendance ellipticoïde, est interprétée comme le dimorphe microconque, inconnu jusqu'à présent, du genre Paralcidia. Un spécimen de Creniceras, le plus ancien récolté en Côte-d'Or, pourrait correspondre au dimorphe microconque des Taramelliceras.     

Révision taxonomique du genre d'ammonite téthysien Simoceras et création d'un nouveau genre Volanoceras (Ammonitina,Simoceratidae)

The type-species of the genus SimocerasZittel isS. biruncinatum (Qu.). This genus includes the species-group biruncinatum (Qu.) — admirandum (Zitt.). The new genus Volanoceras is created for the volanense (Opp.) species-group which is excluded from the genus Simoceras.     

Morphologie et ultrastructure du pollen des Siparunaceae (Laurales)

The pollen morphology of Siparuna, Bracteanthus and Glossocalyx, and the ultrastructure of S. decipiens and G. longicuspis     

Teneurs en éléments majeurs et traces de spirulines (Arthrospira platensis) originaires de France,du Tchad,du Togo,du Niger,du Mali,du Burkina-Faso et de République centrafricaine

Data on mineral elements in spirulinas being limited, we analyzed macrominerals and trace elements of samples from France and Africa. Spirulinas cultivated in France have a composition in macromineral elements similar to those of the literature. The entire contents of trace elements are low. Unlike marine cyanobacteria, they do not concentrate rare-earth elements. Spirulina harvested in Chad has high levels in macrominerals and trace elements, due to traditional drying and harvesting methods. Rare-earth element levels are attributed to this pollution and not to their concentration in spirulinas, because rare-earth element normalized profiles of spirulina are strictly parallel to those of ouadis mud and very different from those of ouadis water. Despite the sometimes high content of total As, normal water consumption in Chad presents no health problems. Spirulinas grown in Togo, Niger, Mali, Burkina-Faso and Central African Republic have chemical compositions similar to those of Chad spirulinas, but with a lower content of macromineral and trace elements, reflecting a lower mineral pollution. Rare-earth element normalized patterns dismiss an aeolian pollution and the pollution is rather of pedological origin. They show no toxicity problem except spirulinas from Burkina-Faso, whose Pb content is too high. The variability of composition of spirulinas can be largely attributed to the mineral pollution of the samples. Significant levels of rare-earth elements sometimes found in the literature reflect this pollution.     

Protoglobigérines et Oberhauserellidae (Foraminifères) du Bajocien-Bathonien du Jura méridional, France

A detailed investigation of the Bajocian-Bathonian protoglobigerinids and other globigerina-like foraminifera of the Southern Jura Mountains reveals an unsuspected diversity, with seven species of Conoglobigerinidae and two species of Oberhauserellidae. The discovery of two umbilical apertures in Oberhauserella as well as in some Conoglobigerina questions the generic taxonomy and raises the problem of comparisons with literature. For these reasons, five new species have been proposed: Oberhauserellaparocula and O. aff. parocula (with two apertures), “Conoglobigerina”trilocula and “C”.biapertura (with two apertures), C.solaperta and C.pupa. We demonstrate that Globuligerinabalakhmatovae (Morozova, 1961) (here emended) has a small globuligerine aperture as well as G. aff. dagestanica (Morozova, 1961). Despite the different taxonomic concepts, the Southern Jura Mountains associations, that are typical of the epicontinental platform, most closely match those of the Dagestan in the Caucasus. They clearly differ from those of the oceanic Tethys.     

Caractéristiques Ultrastructurales du Cortex et des Membranelles du CiliéEspejoia mucicola (Oligohymenophora, Hymenostomata, Tetrahymenina)

RESUME. L' étude détaillée du cortex et des organelles buccaux adoraux d' Espejoia montre que ce Cilié possède une organisation ultrastructurale comparable à celle des Tétrahyméniens. Tout en restant conforme au plan général d'organisation de ces derniers, des variations spécifiques décelées tant au niveau du cortex d'une part, que des membranelles, d'autre part, font ressortir des affinités trés marquées pour le genre Glaucoma et autres Ciliés voisins. En conséquence, en nous appuyant en outre sur les données récentes de la morphogenèse, nous confirmons la position d' E. mucicola parmi les Tetrahymenina, dans la famille des Glaucomidae.     

Position systematique de Castellanibelus nov. gen. et de trois especes de belemnites du cretace inferieur Français

Berriasibelus extinctorius (Raspail) and Castellanibelus orbignyanus (Duval-Jouve) haveoften been confounded with Duvalia conica (Blainville) founded in the same stratigraphic levels. We herewith illustrate the siphon of B. extinctorius and C. orbignyanus which has never been observed before. The siphon being situated at the opposite side of the groove, these two species can be attributed to the Duvaliidae family.     

Xanthones et C-glucosides flavoniques du genre Gentiana (sous-genre Gentianella)

Xanthones with 1,3,5,8 or 1,3,4,5,8-oxidation pattern, the C-glucosides mangiferin, isoorientin and swertisin, were isolated from the aerial parts of G. germanica and G. ramosa. The distribution of these compounds within the subgenus Gentianella is given. Phenolic patterns in Gentiana and in Swertia are compared.     

Biostratigraphie des Terebratulidae et des Zeilleriidaedu lias et du Dogger de la region toulonnaise (Var,France)

A lot of brachiopods have been sampled in stratigraphically well-defined beds of Liassic and Dogger periods in the region of Toulon (South of France). Now, numerous terebratulid and zeilleriid species are studied (in progress), the main biostratigraphic results of which are developed here in (fig. 1).     

Latest Toarcian-earliest Bajocian (Jurassic) Grammoceratinae (Hildoceratidae,Ammonitina) of the western Tethys: Their palaeobiogeographic and phylogenetic significance

Grammoceratinae (Hildoceratidae, Ammonitina) abound in the Toarcian strata of many western Tethyan localities, especially the Subbetic and Lusitanian basins (of southern Spain and central western Portugal, respectively). They decline through the Aalenian and disappear by the lowermost Bajocian. The genera Asthenoceras, Vacekia (subgenera Vacekia and Nadorites) and Fontannesia are traditionally considered as the last Grammoceratinae, with species of Osperleioceras occurring in the uppermost Toarcian. Grammoceratinae are common in the eastern Pacific, especially Oregon and Alaska where Asthenoceras is abundant. They also occur in the eastern Tethys (Thailand). Although studies of Toarcian to early Bajocian Subbetic and Lusitanian grammoceratins already exist, new material from these and other palaeogeographic areas (England, Portugal and Spain) is revised here. A new genus, Linaresites nov. gen. (for Fontannesia montillanensis Linares and Sandoval) and two new species (Vacekia striata Henriques, and Asthenoceras taverai Sandoval) are described. Another form, “Asthenoceras” sp. A is described and let in open nomenclature. Temporal analysis of Aalenian to early Bajocian Grammoceratinae demonstrates a progressively more evolute morphology through time, sometimes coupled with size reduction. Palaeogeographic evidence suggests that during the early Middle Jurassic, western Tethys and eastern Pacific were temporarily well connected, possibly through the Hispanic Corridor, as demonstrated by the similarity between Tethyan and eastern Pacific Grammoceratinae.     

Nouvelles recherches sur l’identité culturelle et stylistique de la grotte Chauvet et sur sa datation par la méthode du C

The discovery of Chauvet cave, at Vallon-Pont-d’Arc (Ardèche), in 1994, was an important event for our knowledge of palaeolithic parietal art as a whole. Its painted and engraved figures, thanks to their number (425 graphic units), and their excellent state of preservation, provide a documentary thesaurus comparable to that of the greatest sites known, and far beyond what had already been found in the group of Rhône valley caves (Ardèche and Gard). But its study – when one places it in its natural regional, cultural and thematic framework – makes it impossible to see it as an isolated entity of astonishing precocity. This needs to be reconsidered, and the affinities that our research has brought to light are clearly incompatible with the very early age which has been attributed to it. And if one extends this examination to the whole of the Franco-Cantabrian domain, the conclusion is inescapable: although Chauvet cave displays some unique characteristics (like every decorated cave), it belongs to an evolved phase of parietal art that is far removed from the motifs of its origins (known from art on blocks and on shelter walls dated by stratigraphy to the Aurignacian, in France and Cantabrian Spain). The majority of its works are therefore to be placed, quite normally, within the framework of the well-defined artistic creations of the Gravettian and Solutrean. Moreover, this phase of the Middle Upper Palaeolithic (26,000–18,000) coincides with a particularly intensive and diversified local human occupation, unknown in earlier periods and far less dense afterwards in the Magdalenian. A detailed critique of the treatment of the samples subjected to AMS radiocarbon dating makes it impossible to retain the very early age (36,000 cal BP) attributed by some authors to the painted and engraved figures of Chauvet cave.