Revision of the family Epideigmatidae (Insecta: Grylloblattida)

The family Epideigmatidae is revised. New members of this family from the Lower Permian of Russia: Vilvaptera permyakovae, gen. et sp. nov. (Vilva locality, Artinskian Stage, Perm Region) and Tshekardeigma rasnitsyni, gen. et sp. nov. (Chekarda locality, Kungurian Stage, Perm Region) are described. Paraphenopterum unicolor Storozhenko, 1992 (Soyana locality, Kazanian Stage, Arkhangelsk Region) is redescribed. The family Stenoneuritidae is regarded as a synonym of Epideigmatidae; the genera Fayoliella Meunier, 1908 (Upper Carboniferous of France), Fabreciella Carpenter, 1934 (Upper Carboniferous of the USA), and Turbopterum Kukalová, 1964 (Lower Permian of the Czech Republic) are transferred to Epideigmatidae. Fabreciella allegheniensis Carpenter, 1934 is synonimized under F. pennsylvanica Carpenter, 1934.     

Early carboniferous bryozoans from the Kodinka section, Middle Urals

An assemblage of Viséan-Serpukhovian bryozoans from the vicinity of the village of Kodinka (Sverdlovsk Region, Middle Urals) is studied for the first time. This assemblage is represented by two new species, Primorella kodinkensis sp. nov. and Heloclema uralicum sp. nov.; already known species Heloclema magnificum Gor. and Nikiforopora concentrica (Nikif.); and three morphotypes Fistulamina sp., Penniretepora sp., and Polyporella sp. Some specific features in the distribution of bryozoans of the Middle Urals at the beginning of the Carboniferous are discussed.     

New scorpionflies (Insecta: Mecoptera: Permochoristidae) from the Ufimian of Cisuralia

Two new species of Protopanorpa Carpenter (Mecoptera: Permochoristidae), P. longicubitalis sp. nov. and P. similis sp. nov. from the Ufimian Solikamsk Horizon of the Perm Region (Tyulkino locality) are described. Scorpionflies of Tyulkino are compared with scorpionflies of the Kungurian Chekarda locality (Perm Region) and the Early Kazanian Soyana locality (Arkhangelsk Region).     

First records of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ulocrinus</Emphasis> miller et gurley (Crinoidea,Cromyocrinidae) from the upper carboniferous beds of the Moscow syneclise and Oka-Tsna Swell

Three new species of the genus Ulocrinus, which is recorded for the first time in the Upper Carboniferous of the Moscow Region, are described. These are U. neverovoensis sp. nov. and U. karchevskyi sp. nov. from the Kasimovian Stage and U. grishini sp. nov. from the Gzhelian Stage. Intraspecific variability and structural variations in arms are considered. The uniserial arm structure is established for the first time in juvenile Ulocrinus. The sequence and causes of the acquisition of biserial arms in cromyocrinids are discussed.     

Fauna of bumblebees (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Bombus Latreille) in the mainland part of Arkhangelsk Region,NW Russia

The focus of this study is to present bumblebee fauna of Arkhangelsk Region (north-western Russia). This research is based on the museum collections and materials collected by the authors. Collecting localities and data of faunistic records are given in the species list. We include 34 species in the fauna of bumblebees of Arkhangelsk Region. The regional fauna is dominated by Transpalaearctic species. Bumblebee fauna in the study region has low specificity. The recent distribution of bumblebee species in the study region is a result of post-glacial immigration.     

A carboniferous chondrichthyan assemblage from residues within a Triassic karst system at Cromhall quarry,Gloucestershire, England

Abstract. Sixteen different Lower Carboniferous (Tournaisian Courceyan to Chadian age, Mississippian) chondrichthyan teeth types have been extracted from Triassic erosional/aeolian fills in shallow karst systems found in the limestone quarry at Cromhall, Gloucestershire, England. These Carboniferous teeth have been found within a much larger assemblage of disarticulated bones and teeth belonging to small late Triassic terrestrial reptiles, for which Cromhall quarry is famous. The Carboniferous teeth are derived fossils, released during subaerial dissolution of the surrounding limestones. Owing to low specimen numbers and uncertainty of intraspecific character, 10 types of teeth are left in open nomenclature, although it is likely they represent new taxa. They belong to Jalodus, Ctenacanthiformes, Protacrodus, Orodus, Chomatodus, Petalodontidae, Euchondrocephali?, Helodus and Psephodus. A new genus and species, Cromhallia parvunda, of indeterminate phylogenetic relationships, is also erected. The assemblage includes also an identified suite comprising Thrinacodus ferox, Bransonella cf. nebraskensis and Stethacanthus cf. altonensis. The identification of all fish teeth found in the Cromhall assemblages as derived fossils from the Carboniferous removes any ambiguity regarding the fully terrestrial nature of the late Triassic fauna preserved in the residue‐bearing karst systems.     

Adaptive latitudinal variation of the duration and thermal requirements for development in the ground beetle Amara communis (Panz.) (Coleoptera, Carabidae)

The data are obtained on development time at six constant temperatures (12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22°C) and thermal requirements for preimaginal development in a ground beetle Amara communis from Arkhangelsk (64°34′N) and St. Petersburg (59°53′N). The larval and pupal development times were found to be significantly shorter in the Arkhangelsk than in the St. Petersburg population under all temperatures. As a result, total preimaginal development appeared to be shorter by 6.2–6.6% in the Arkhangelsk population. The regression lines of the larval, pupal and total (egg-to-adult) development rate on temperature for the Arkhangelsk population run above and steeper than the respective lines for the St. Petersburg population. Both populations share the similar values of the thermal thresholds (7.2–8.2°C). This explains faster preimaginal development in the northern population under all temperatures above the threshold. Thus, the slope of the regression lines increases, i.e., the sum of degree-days decreases, whereas the thermal threshold for development exhibited no distinctive changes from south to north in this species. Adults from Arkhangelsk reared in the experiments appeared heavier on the average in comparison with those from St. Petersburg, especially at 18–22°C. Temperature did not significantly affect adult weight, except the fact that the beetles were slightly heavier at 20 and 22°C. Consequently, the well-known “temperature-size rule” is violated in this species. Relative growth rate in larvae of A. communis increased considerably with temperature rise from 14 to 22°C. It was significantly higher in the beetles from Arkhangelsk at 18–22°C. There were no differences in larval growth rate between the two populations at 14 and 16°C.     

New data on the distribution of the Upper Carboniferous (Pennsylvanian) flexible crinoid Cibolocrinus (Crinoidea,Flexibilia)

Two new species of flexible crinoids of the genus Cibolocrinus (Crinoidea, Flexibilia) from the Upper Carboniferous of the Moscow Region are described: C. kutasovi (Moscovian Stage, Podolskian Regional Substage) and C. gerassimovi (Gzhelian Stage, Dobryatinian Regional Substage). The first species, C. kutasovi, belongs to a group with low cone shaped cups that first appeared in the Moscow Basin and then spread to the Midcontinent of North America. In one specimen of C. gerassimovi the smallest infrabasal plate is situated in the A ray, which is not typical for flexible crinoids. A poorly preserved crown of Cibolocrinus sp. from the Upper Carboniferous (Gzhelian Stage) of the Darvaz Ridge (western Pamir, central Tajikistan) is also described. The described specimens of Cibolocrinus from the Moscow Region and the Darvaz Ridge are the first reliable specimens of this genus described from Europe and Asia.     

A new microsporangiate organ from the Lower Carboniferous of the Novgorod Region,Russia

A new species of the genus Telangiopsis, T. nonnae O. Orlova et Zavialova, was described on the basis of a microsporangiate organ from the Lower Carboniferous deposits of the Novgorod Region. The morphology of branching fertile axes, synangia, and sporangia was thoroughly studied. The three-dimensional system of fertile axes branches monopodially; ultimate axes bear numerous connivent bunches of synangia, which consist of three to six basally fused elongated ovate sporangia. The morphology and ultrastructure of prepollen grains were studied, which were extracted from the rock matrix surrounding the sporangia. The two-layered exine includes a well-developed endexine and an alveolate ectexine, with one-three rows of large thin-walled alveolae. The new species was compared with other Early Carboniferous microsporangiate organs.     

Fossil Plants and Their Assemblages from the Early Carboniferous in Guangdong

This paper deals with the Lower Carboniferous fossil plants, 19 genera and 41 species including 10 new species, such as Sublepidodeneron wcwgtanense, Lepidodendron sophoroides, Adiantites lianpingensis, A. matouensis, Archaeopteridium shaoguanense, Rhacopteris angusta, Rhodeites lanceolata, Neuropteris shaoguanensis, Potoniea turbinata and P. racemicarpa. According to the distributive regularity of those fossils in stratigraphic section of Early Carboniferous from Guangdong area, the authors propose to divide the flora into three assemblages from lower to upper, namely, 1, Sublepidodendron mirabile assemblage; 2. Cardiopteridium spetsbergense-Adiantites gothanii assemblage; 3. Archaeopteridium-Sphenopteris obtusiloba assemblage, which separately represent the dispositions of Dahu Formation (the 1st assemblage), the lower part of Ceshui Formation (the 2nd assemblage) and upper part of Ceshui Formation or middle part of Zhongxin Formation (the 3rd assemblage).     

Fossil wood of Eristophyton sp. from the Carboniferous deposits of northern Russia (Arkhangelsk region)

Permineralised wood of Eristophyton sp. is first described from the Carboniferous deposits of the Arkhangelsk region, northern Russia. The specimens used in the study show scalariform thickening of the metaxylem tracheids both on radial and tangential walls. Eristophyton sp. indicates well preserved elements of secondary xylem: uni-, rarely biseriate xylem rays up to 15–16 cells high; uni-, multiseriate tracheid pitting only on radial walls; 1–8 contiguous cross-field pits and their inclined narrow apertures. A brief review and comparison with known anatomically preserved plants from the Lower Carboniferous of different localities of Scotland, France, USA and Poland is discussed.     

河北唐山西域山晚寒武世长山组的树形笔石

本文对东秦岭南部湖北郧西地区早石炭世四射珊瑚进行了研究,系统描述了11科中的24属和39种,其中包含2新属和21新种。本区早石炭世四射珊瑚拟划分为4个组合带:范家坪组上部Palaeosmilia-Lithostrotion组合带,下部Yuanophyllum组合带。袁家沟组上部Shennongia majus组合带,下部Zaphrentoides组合带。范家坪组是新建的组名。文中也讨论了Cystophrentis的分布时限,及其与Shennongia的亲缘关系。此外,Neoclisiophyllum在本区与岩关期的Shennongia共生,出现的时间早于华南各地。     

The fish assemblage from the Pennsylvanian Buckhorn Asphalt Quarry Lagerstätte (Oklahoma,USA)

A diverse assemblage of fishes (isolated teeth and scales) is reported from the Middle to Upper Pennsylvanian Buckhorn Asphalt Quarry Lagerstätte in Oklahoma, USA. The assemblage includes chondrichthyans such as the bransonelliform Bransonella lingulata, the xenacanthiform Xenacanthus, the symmoriiform Stethacanthus, ctenacanthiforms, an polyacrodontid euselachian, anachronistid neoselachians (Cooleyella amazonensis and C. sp.) and an iniopterygian paraselachian cf. Sibyrhynchidae. Moreover, the assemblage encompasses remains of acanthodians and various actinopterygians and a single specimen of an osteolepiform sarcopterygian. Most of the taxa are cosmopolitan during the Late Palaeozoic. The occurrence of bransonelliform and xenacanthiform species at the same locality is very rare in the Carboniferous. The assemblage yields the first Carboniferous occurrences of a polyacrodontid hybodontoid and an actinopterygian belonging to the Acropholidae. Bransonella lingulata from the Desmoinesian/Moscovian of the Buckhorn Asphalt Quarry in Oklahoma represents the youngest occurrence of this species.     

B chromosome polymorphism of blackflies (Diptera, Simuliidae) from the north-western region of Russia

We have studied karyofonds of natural populations and B-chromosome morphology of 8 species of blackflies from the North-Western region of Russia: Odagmia ornata Mg., Hellichiella crassa Rubz., Simulium morsitans Edw., Simulium argyreatum Mg., Shoenbaueria pusilla Fries., Cnetha fontinalis Radzv., Stegopterna duo-decimata Rubz., and Archesimulium tuberosum Lundstr. For this purpose we made slides of squashed blackflies larvae with salivary gland polytene chromosomes stained by aceto-orcein, in addition to similarly stained slides with mitotic chromosomes from gonads and ganglia. Morphology of polytene B-chromosomes of Shoenbaueria pusilla Fries., Cnetha fontinalis Radzv., Stegopterna duodecimata Rubz., and Archesimulium tuberosum Lundstr. has been first described. B-chromosome polymorphism was found in all species, but the number of B chromosomes was conserved within each differences in polytene individual. Stable and distinct interspecific differences in the morphology of polytene B-chromosomes were demonstrated, and these characters are advisable to use to distinguish the species. We have investigated for the first time karyofonds of Od. ornata populations from Arkhangelsk Region (Solovetskie Islands) and Leningrad Region (railway station Sablino), and those of S. argyreatum populations from Murmansk Region (Kandalaksha environs) and Karelia (railway station Chupa). A long term study of Od. ornata and S. argyrestum population from North-Western Russia revealed interspecific and interpopulation dynamics of the occurrence of specimens with B-chromosomes. Some populations showed an increased percentage of individuals with B-chromosomes. It is suggested that B-chromosomes may play a role in adaptation of polulations to severe environmental conditions.     

Paleofloristic assemblage from the Paleogene Río Guillermo Formation,Argentina: preliminary results of phylogenetic relationships of Nothofagus in South America

Hünicken's paleobotanical collection is one of the most important in South America because it was the first one to be related to a documented stratigraphic profile. This floristic assemblage (Oligocene) recovered from Río Guillermo Formation, at Estancia Tres Marías, Río Guillermo Valley, Santa Cruz, Argentina, is described by the first time in this paper. Five species of genus Nothofagus (N. subferruginea, N. serrulata, N. crenulata, N. elongata and N. variabilis) together with Myrcia bagualense are components of the assemblage. The presence of Acaena brandmayri is confirmed for the first time for the area. Paleoenviromental and paleoclimate implications are also discussed. Characteristic species from a temperate-cold climate such as the genus Nothofagus are present in the material studied. A phylogenetic study of the fossil species herein described and the extant South American species of Nothofagus is presented. The preliminary results support the hypothesis that fossil species of Nothogafus are closely related to the modern species.     

Palaeophragmodictya spinosa sp. nov., a bilateral benthic organism from the Vendian of the Southeastern White Sea Region

A fossil organism, Palaeophragmodictya Gehling et Rigby, 1996, previously classified within sponges, is found for the first time in the Vendian of the Arkhangelsk Region. Based on the new finds, Palaeophragmodictya is interpreted as an attachment disc of a problematic animal with combined coelenterate and sponge morphology. Typical and unique preservational forms from the same bedding plane are described. Three-dimensional fossils are preserved as flat impressions at random horizontal levels. Bilateral symmetry discovered in the ontogeny of Palaeophragmodictya spinosa sp. nov. supports the hypothesis of initial bilaterality of Cnidaria.     

Mississippian (early Carboniferous) radiolarian biostratigraphy of northern Thailand (Chiang Dao area)

Well-preserved Carboniferous radiolarian faunas were obtained from ribbon-bedded siliceous sediments (radiolarites) north of Chiang Dao city, Chiang Mai province, northern Thailand. These sediments are rich in identifiable radiolarian faunas, including more than 44 species and sub-species belonging to 15 genera. Among them, Albaillellaria and Latentifistularia are dominant, but few Entactinaria are present. Five Early Carboniferous radiolarian assemblage zones are recognised and compared to those of Germany, France and North America. They are, in ascending order: the Albaillella paradoxa gr. assemblage; the Albaillella indensis gr. assemblage: the Albaillella cartalla-Albaillella furcata furcata assemblage which includes the Palaeolithocyclia rota subassemblage; and the A. furcata rockensis-Latentifistula impella gr. assemblage. The age assignment of each assemblage is well-controlled by co-occurring conodonts, which are abundant during this time interval in the area. The Thai radiolarian assemblage zones are rather similar to those of Germany and North America, indicating that the albaillellarian form has a global distribution and can be readily used as a world key indicative fauna. These results also provide an additional data set indicating that distal oceanic deposits are present in northern Thailand from the Devonian to the Late Triassic, which provides evidence for a long-lived oceanic realm between the Indochina and Shan-Thai continental terranes (nearly 200 My).     

Feeding traces of proarticulata—the Vendian metazoa

Three types of low-topography impressions are described from the Late Vendian, which are interpreted as the feeding traces of representatives of the phylum Proarticulata Fedonkin, 1985, which became extinct in the Precambrian. The producers of two types of trace were found. Impressions are usually large and arranged in groups; therefore their correct interpretation only became possible following large-scale excavation work that was carried out for the first time in the Late Vendian deposits of the Arkhangelsk Region in 1996–2001. The single trace (or trace platform) represents a copy of the whole ventral side of the body made by sandstone or only the part of it. Usually trace platforms are arranged in chains and orientated in one distinct direction. In spite of some superficial similarity, the fossils are neither body remains nor traces of post-mortem compression. The hypothesis of trace formation proposed suggests that the feeding strategy of Proarticulata was different from any feeding behavior known in large Phanerozoic animals. All types of imprints are identified as belonging to the genus Epibaion Ivantsov, 2002. It is proposed that the Australian fossil Phyllozoon Jenkins et Gehling, 1978 is also a feeding trace of Proarticulata.     

Fossil wood of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sequoioxylon burejense</Emphasis> sp. nov. (Taxodiaceae) from the Upper Cretaceous of the Zeya-Bureya Basin (Russian Far East)

A new species Sequoioxylon burejense Blokhina et M. Afonin (Taxodiaceae), identified on the basis of anatomical features of fossil wood from the Middle Maastrichtian (Upper Cretaceous) of the Zeya-Bureya Basin, Amur Region, Russian Far East, is described. The new species is characterized by mixed anatomical features of the modern representatives of the tribe Sequoieae. Cretaceous wood of Taxodiaceae was found in the Amur Region for the first time.