A propos des fossiles du Pliocène d'Aguilas(Sud d'Almeria,Espagne) découverte de Cirripèdes operculés (Crustacés) et discussion sur l'étho-écologie des formes épizoaires

A benthic taphocoenose from the Pliocene I of Aguilas (provinces of Murcia-Almeria, Southern Spain) conseals four Cirripedia (family of BalanidaeLeach): Balanus (Balanus) perforatus angustusGmelin, B. (B.) amphitriteDarwin, B. (Megabalanus) tintinnabulum tintinnabulumLinné and Creusia (Withersia) phryxaPajaud.The study of the last one is especially interestingfrom an ecological point of view. Indeed, all species, well-known in the Creusia-Pyrgoma group are more or less dependent on Anthozoa since Miocene, the cuplike basis of their shell buried on corallites. But not corallites were gathered in the deposits of Aguilas and the morphology of Creusia phryxa leads us to believe a fixation of the shell on a flaccid substratum. From which we may suppose that the host of this Cirriped was perhaps an Actiniaria.     

Analyse biostratigraphique et paléontologique de l'Albien marin d'Estremadura (Portugal)

The marine Albain from Estremadura is splited up into four Orbitolinidae zones, adjusted to biostratigraphic scales from mesogean province: zone with Orbitolina (Mesorbitolina) minuta (lower to middle Albian); zone with Neorbitolinopsis conulus (base of upper Albian); zone with Orbitolina (Orbitolina) concava (top of upper Albian) and zone with Orbitolina (Orbitolina) duranddelgai (Vraconian). The vertical extension of the main fossils is replaced in the framework of these zones. The most interesting species for biostratigraphy, paleoecology or taxinomy are summarily described.     

Activité cytokinine de dérivés acylés,alkylés,acyl-alkylés de l'adénine et d'isost`eres azotés de la γ,γ-diméthylallyladénine

The cytokinin activities of various 6-acylaminopurines, 6-alkylaminopurines, 6-acylamino-9-benzyl-purines as well as a series of isosteric-nitrogen derivatives of N⁶-(γ, γ-dimethylallyl)adenine (I⁶Ade) have been tested using the tobacco pith and the pea bud bioassays. The interactions between active, slightly active and inactive compounds have been studied with the last assay. Acylation decreases the biological activity; e.g., N⁶-benzoyl and N⁶-furoyladenines are less active than Na⁶-benzyladenine and kinetin. Substitution at the 9-position reduces (tobacco-pith assay) or suppresses (pea-bud assay) the phytohormonal activity of otherwise active 6-acylaminopurines. In isosteric derivatives, maximum activity occurs when the side chain has the same length as in 1⁶Ade. After the analysis of interactions between more or less active compounds, it is suggested that the differences in cytokinin activity could be related to unequal affinities for a hypothetical receptor site.     

Purification de l'alcool deshydrogénase de tomate par chromatographie d'affinité

Tomato alcohol dehydrogenase has been purified 99-fold by affinity chromatography on Blue Sepharose CL-6B with 37% yield. The enzyme so obtained is homogenous in polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. By adding 20% glycerol to the extraction and purification buffers, an enzyme is obtained which is stable for several months at 4°. The molecular weight values determined by gel filtration (Sephadex G 200) and polyacrylamide gradient gel electrophoresis on one hand and by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulfate on the other, show that the enzyme exists in dimeric form.     

Structure cristalline d'une deuxième forme de mélézitose monohydrate. Effet de l'environnement sur la géométrie d'un oligosaccharide

Melezitose [O-α-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→3)-β-d-fructofuranosyl α-d-glucopyranoside] monohydrate crystallizes in two polymorphic forms (I and II). The structure of form II, studied by X-ray crystallography, shows an orthorhombic cell having a 7.135 (4), b 15.362 (8), c 19.134 (8) Å, space group P2₁2₁2₁, and Z 4. The structure, solved by direct methods, was refined to a final value of R 0.045. The molecule of form II seems to be more constrained by its crystalline environment than that of form I. These constraints imply not only little variations in glycosidic bonds, but also a change of conformation for the furanose ring, and a perceptible deformation of the sucrose pyranose ring. This study gives an example of estimation of oligosaccharide molecular-flexibility.     

Ostéologie et affinités de Trematochampsa taqueti (Crocodylia,Mesosuchia) du Sénonien inférieur d'In Beceten (République du Niger)

Among the abundant remains of Mesosuchia that have been yielded by the early Senonian locality of In Beceten (Niger), the most numerous belong to the species Trematochampsa taquetiBuffetaut, 1974. The osteology of this species is described here. This medium-sized crocodilian, with a moderately elongated skull, is characterized, among other features, by its antorbital fenestra, its surangular-quadratojugal articulation, its slightly displaced post-orbital pillar, its teeth with wrinkled enamel, and its amphicoelous vertebrae. In its general outlook, this animal is rather reminiscent of the Goniopholidae, from the Upper Jurassic and the Cretaceous of Laurasia, but it is more primitive than them, and resemblances are probably due to convergence phenomena. The family Trematochampsidae is probably essentially Gondwanian, and could persist until the Senonian thanks to a certain isolation from Laurasia, where more progressive Crocodylia became predominant much earlier than in Africa and South America.     

Nanisme écologique de deux espèces d'échinides irréguliers dans l'Hauterivien de la région de Castellane (Alpes-de-Haute-Provence)

Three species of irregular see-urchins form the settlement of a marly level (lower Hauterivian) of the Castellane area. Two of them are strongly smaller than the norm. Their stunting is prouved by ontogenic, mecanical, sedimentological and ecological arguments. The ecological grounds of stunting are discussed.     

Figures sédimentaireset traces d'origine biologique du Trias moyen de la bordure orientale du Massif Central signification sédimentologique et paléoécologique

The sandstones with foot-prints of reptiles and saltcasts from the Middle Triassic of the eastern border of the Massif Central (France) show a striking reptilian ichnofauna. The numerous sedimentary figures and trace fossils which are described here allow to deduce the following characteristics of the depositional environment: shallow water, lower flow regime, periodical increase of salinity. The reptiles used to pass through that environment where numerous stretches of water alternated with emerged, plant overgrown areas.     

Biogéographied'un groupe d'Échinides cénozoiques (Echinolampas et ses sous-genres Conolampas et Hypsoclypus)

Echinolampas is a subtropical genus living in rather shallow water; one may regards it as a climatic marker. The theory of continental drift affords a rather good explanation for its distribution in space during Cenozoic era. It appears in Old Wolrd during Paleocene and it occurs in Central America during Middle Eocene; that implies it had to cross the already broad Atlantic Ocean; but at that time this ocean is not as broad at it is now. Migration along the shelf area which rimmed North Atlantic might have been impossible, owing to disruption of land connection between Europe and North America. Probably the migration occured in low latitudes and pelagic larvae were transported by one of the two equatorial currents. Diversity of the genus has much decreased during Late Eocene. The cause may be chiefly due to climatic deterioration, resulting from marine communication between North Atlantic and Arctic Ocean. Echinolampas occurs for the first time in Australia during Oligocene. One may suggest the possibility of a link between this late evidence and the quite remote position till then of Australian continent. During Miocene, the relative decrease in Echinolampas diversity in the Mediterranean Basin occurs as a result of the welding between Asia and Africa.     

Les faunes d'ammonites du Carixien inférieur et moyen du gisement des Cottards (Cher)

The study of the traditional Cottard layer forthe first time allows the exact succession of lower and middle Carixian ammonites to be established.The most striking fact is the evolution of the Tropidoceras-Acanthopleuroceras lineage, a regular modification of the ribbing density and L¹ structure, an iterative variation of section and tuberculization.Precisions are given on Polymorphites and Beaniceras and three new species are described: Polymorphites evolutus, Beaniceras cottardiense, Acanthopleuroceras alisiense.     

Action de l'ecdystérone sur l'apolysis et l'ecdysis de divers crustacés isopodes

Ecdysterone acts differently according to the period of the moulting cycle when it is applied. In period C it induces apolysis, while at the beginning of apolysis it delays ecdysis. Experiments show that the exoskeleton cannot be rejected in the presence of ecdysterone. The possibility of stopping exuviation or ecdysis with ecdysterone seems to prove that this phenomenon is controlled by a particular factor called the factor of exuviation or the ecdysis factor. Ecdysterone would control only the release of this specific factor but would not prevent its action.     

Nouvelles interprétationsdes restes d'Équidés (Mammalia,Perissodactyla) de Nihowan (Pléistocène inférieur de la Chine du Nord): Equus teilhardi nov. sp.

The fauna yielded by the Nihowan lower pleistocene lacustrine deposits includes two species of Equus beside one Hipparion. Equus sanmeniensis was described in 1930 by Teilhard de Chardin and Piveteau; this species is characterized by its large size and the presence of cups on all incisors. Equus teilhardi nov. sp. is smaller and its lower incisors are devoid of cups. It is the first time that such an absence is noted among eurasiatic Equus; till now only some californian, south-american and african species were known to have lowers incisors without cups. The finding of several Equids in the same deposits and the significance of the lack of cups are briefly discussed.     

Obtention de lignées permanentes d'hémocytes de blatte. Caractéristiques physiologiques et ultrastructurales

Two new cell lines were established from larval and adult cockroach haemolymph. The cells show typical characteristics of plasmatocytes, but under different conditions of cultivation, they modulate from small dividing cells (prohaemocytes) to large storing cells (granulocytes, adipohaemocytes etc.). Consequently, the very confusing haemocyte nomenclature must be reconsidered taking into account the cell physiology. Biochemical analysis of the metabolized culture medium established bacteriolytic activity and chitinase secretion (two enzymes). Moreover, in the same medium we found a macromolecular factor inducing spermatogenesis in cultured germinal cysts of the Cynthia silkworm. All these characteristics of in vitro haemocytes are discussed to explain the involvement of blood cells in insect physiology and especially in immunity, gametogenesis, and ecdysis.     

Ammonites diartianus d'Orbigny, 1850,Vascoceratidae du cénomanien supérieur de saint-calais (Sarthe)

Ammonites diartianus d'Orbigny is a Vascocerasoof late Cenomanian (Sciponoceras gracile Zone) age, occuring in both Sarthe (France) and southern England. It is the earliest vascoceratid known from France, and its recognition is of great significance, lending support to recent suggestions that the classic Vascoceras gamai - mundaeChoffat group are of Upper Cenomanian age.     

Les Cricetidae (Rodentia,Mammalia)de la Milloque (bassin d'Aquitaine): Horizon repère de l'Oligocène supérieur

A screen washed and hand sorted sample of six tons sediments from La Milloque (Lot-et-Garonne) has yielded to the author several thousand micromammal's teeth. Among the Rodents, four extinct species of Cricetids have been recognized: Eucricetodon praecursor (Schaub, 1925); Adelomyarion viretiHugueney, 1969; Pseudocricetodon cf. thaleri (Hugueney, 1969); Melissiodon quercyiSchaub, 1920. The fossil remain's study affords many paleontological informations more particularly for E. praecursor, a previously poorly known species. About the upper Oligocene biochronology the four species' evolution degrees prove the statute of reference locality attributed to La Milloque, «mammalian timemark just below the reference locality of Coderet (Allier). Moreover it's pointed out that the locality of Rickenbach (Switzerland) is slightly older than La Milloque, whereas an intermediate age between La Milloque and Coderet can be suggested for the locality of Dicupentale (Tarn-et-Garonne).     

Sur le caractère probablement artificiel d'un C-benzyl flavonoïde obtenu à partir d'un hydrolysat de feuilles d'Hymenosporum flavum

Besides quercetin, kaempferol and isorhamnetin, at least three other flavonoids can be obtained from the leaves of Hymenosporum flavum after acid hydrolysis. One of these, a kaempferol derivative: p-hydroxyphenyl,(3,4′,5,7 -tetrahydroxy)-8-flavonyl, methylmethane or 8-α-methyl-C-(p-hydroxybenzyl)kaempferol has been identified by study of its spectral properties. It is probably an artifact formed during hydrochloric acid treatment of the leaves.     

Présence du genre PaléocèneAdapisorex (Lipotyphla,Mammalia) dans les Sables d'Orp-le-Grand (Heersien) a Maret en Brabant (Belgique)

According to the classical stratigraphical conceptions, the Belgian Heersian was classified in the Landenian, and assigned to the basal Lower Eocene. It is composed of marine Sands of Orp-le-Grand, which contain a riche selacian fauna, also of Gelinden Marls covering and interpenetrating the Sands.Among the vertebrate remains recently discovered at Maret en Brabant in the marl facieswithin the Sands was a small tooth which represents the first mammalian remain from the Heersian, and attests the occurence of the insectivorous genus Adapisorex, hitherto known from the paleocene localities of Cernay-les-Reims and Walbeck. The specimen from Maret en Brabant reopens the question of the age of the Belgian Heersian and supports its classification within the Paleocene, according to paleobotanical data and indications obtained from the selacian fauna.