A New Method for Description of Smooth Ostracod Shells,Using Permian and Triassic Ostracods from Eastern Europe

Paleontological Journal - Smooth ostracods have a limited set of diagnostic features due to the lack of sculpture on the surface of the shell. The main species characteristics include the shell...     

Evolution of the Permian and Triassic tetrapod communities of Eastern Europe

The Permo-Triassic terrestrial and freshwater tetrapod communities of Eastern Europe are reconstructed as food-webs. The Late Permian theriodont-dinocephalian community (Ocher, Mezen, Isheyevo) changes to a latest Permian theriodont-pareiasaur community (North Dvina, Vyazniki). After a major extinction, the Triassic thecodontian-dicynodont communities appear, a lystrosaurid one in the Early Triassic (Lower and ?Upper Vetluga), and a kannemeyerid one in the later Early Triassic (?Yarenga) and the Mid Triassic (Donguz, Bukobay). Similar stages are represented in the evolution of aquatic communities: the Late Permian temnospondyl community (Ocher, Isheyevo), the latest Permian chroniosuchian one (North Dvina, Vyazniki), the Lower and Middle Triassic new temnospondyl one (from Vetluga to Bukobay). The faunal changes in Eastern Europe are mirrored in other parts of the world, although there are some endemic Russian forms.     

Permian and Triassic Therocephals (Eutherapsida) of Eastern Europe

Cranial morphology of Permian and Triassic Therocephalia of Eastern Europe is revised. The Therocephalia are regarded as an order of the subclass Eutherapsida of the class Theromorpha. Phylogenetic relationships are reconsidered and a tentative taxonomic scheme of the order is proposed. Biomorph evolution of East European Therocephalia from the Middle Permian to the Middle Triassic are discussed.     

The first ctenosauriscid (Reptilia: Archosauromorpha) from the Lower Triassic Of Eastern Europe

A new Early Triassic thecodont from the Donskaya Luka locality is described. A new species and genus of Rauisuchidae, Bystrowisuchus flerovi gen. et sp. nov., the first East European and earliest known member of the family Ctenosauriscidae is established. The taxonomy and phylogeny of Rauisuchidae and their stratigraphical and geographical distribution in connection with new finds are discussed.     

New tanystropheids (Reptilia: Archosauromorpha) from the Triassic of Europe

A new prolacertilian species and genus, Augustaburiania vatagini gen. et sp. nov. (Reptilia: Archosauromorpha), from the Lower Triassic of the Don River Basin is described. It is the first representative of the Tanystropheidae in the Eastern Europe and the world oldest member of this family. Another new genus (Protanystropheus gen. nov.) from Central and Western Europe is also established. The diversity, systematics, phylogeny, evolution, and stratigraphic and geographical distribution of prolacertilians are discussed. The ecological role of prolacertilians in Early Triassic communities and adaptation to marine environments are analyzed.     

New basal procolophonid reptile from the Katberg formation (Lower Triassic) of the South African Karoo

A new procolophonid reptile, Kitchingnathus untabeni n. gen. et n. sp., is described from the uppermost strata of the Lystrosaurus Assemblage Zone of the Karoo Basin, South Africa. The new taxon co-occurs with the well-known Procolophon trigoniceps. The most distinctive feature of the new taxon is the presence of numerous small bicuspid molariforms in both the maxilla and the dentary. A phylogenetic analysis indicates that Kitchingnathus occupies a basal position among procolophonids. Character optimisation suggests that bicuspid teeth were acquired independently by the new taxon, and originated twice in procolophonid evolution.     

New species of spiriferids (Brachiopoda) from the Devonian and Carboniferous of Eastern Europe

In a revision of previously published materials, two new spiriferid species from the Late Tournaisian, Unispirifer subtornacensis sp. nov. and Mesochorispira ussuilensis sp. nov., and Atylephorus nalivkini sp. nov. from the Lytva Horizon of the Upper Devonian of Bashkiria are described. Based on the original collection, a new Serpukhovian subspecies, Podtsheremia duplicicosta triplicicosta, from the southern Ural Mountains and a new Late Carboniferous species, Purdonella kalashnikovi, from the polar Ural Mountains and adjacent islands are established.     

A late-surviving basal theropod dinosaur from the latest Triassic of North America

The oldest theropod dinosaurs are known from the Carnian of Argentina and Brazil. However, the evolutionary diversification of this group after its initial radiation but prior to the Triassic-Jurassic boundary is still poorly understood because of a sparse fossil record near that boundary. Here, we report on a new basal theropod, Daemonosaurus chauliodus gen. et sp. nov., from the latest Triassic 'siltstone member' of the Chinle Formation of the Coelophysis Quarry at Ghost Ranch, New Mexico. Based on a comprehensive phylogenetic analysis, Daemonosaurus is more closely related to coeval neotheropods (e.g. Coelophysis bauri) than to Herrerasauridae and Eoraptor. The skeletal structure of Daemonosaurus and the recently discovered Tawa bridge a morphological gap between Eoraptor and Herrerasauridae on one hand and neotheropods on the other, providing additional support for the theropod affinities of both Eoraptor and Herrerasauridae and demonstrating that lineages from the initial radiation of Dinosauria persisted until the end of the Triassic. Various features of the skull of Daemonosaurus, including the procumbent dentary and premaxillary teeth and greatly enlarged premaxillary and anterior maxillary teeth, clearly set this taxon apart from coeval neotheropods and demonstrate unexpected disparity in cranial shape among theropod dinosaurs just prior to the end of the Triassic.     

Cranial anatomy and phylogenetic position of Suminia getmanovi, a basal anomodont (Amniota: Therapsida) from the Late Permian of Eastern Europe

Suminia getmanovi , a recently discovered basal anomodont from the Late Permian of Russia, is characterized by robust, 'leaf-shaped' teeth, and a masticatory architecture that is similar to that of the highly diverse and cosmopolitan group of Permo-Triassic herbivores, Dicynodontia (Anomodontia). Based on new material, the skull is reconstructed in three dimensions and described in detail. A cladistic analysis of the basal anomodonts, Patranomodon, Galeops, Otsheria, Ulemica , and Suminia , using 37 cranial characters, resulted in a single most parsimonious tree, in which Suminia is united with the Russian taxa, Ulemica and Otsheria. This clade, diagnosed by four unambiguous characters, is designated as Venyukovioidea. The South African anomodont, Galeops , appears as the sister taxon to Dicynodontia. Patranomodon is the most basal anomodont. The cladistic analysis suggests that a 'dicynodont-type' masticatory architecture, with an expanded adductor musculature and sliding jaw articulation, may have originated prior to the advent of the (Venyukovioidea + ( Galeops + Dicynodontia)) clade.     

Distribution of amphibians along an elevation gradient in the Eastern Himalaya,india

Distribution of biodiversity along the elevation gradient have been a subject of curiosity and a much argued topic in macroecology. Despite considerable attention, there is a lack of consensus on the pattern and the causal factors across regions and taxa. We studied amphibian distribution along the elevational gradient in Sikkim, Eastern Himalaya, part of a globally significant biodiversity hotspot. We conducted intensive field studies covering 300–4600 m elevation using Visual Encounter Survey and Night Stream Survey methods. We examined the effects of both spatial factors (area and mid-domain effect) and environmental variables (temperature, precipitation, moisture, potential evapotranspiration and actual evapotranspiration) on the distribution of amphibians along the elevational gradient. We recorded 25 species and 1368 individuals of amphibians after 1236 man-hours of visual encounter survey and 27 km night stream survey. Species richness of total amphibians and their sub groups (endemic, non-endemic, large-range and small-range) followed unimodal pattern showing a peak at middle elevation but with slight shift towards higher elevation for endemic species. Various environmental variables, especially actual evapotranspiration and mean annual precipitation, explained the elevational distribution trend of amphibians in the Eastern Himalaya. Spatial factors played no significant role in shaping the pattern of amphibian distribution (except endemics and large-range species showing fit to mid-domain effect). Local communities of the study area extract amphibians for food and medicine, especially from the diverse mid elevation zone, which should be closely monitored and curbed by the wildlife authorities.     

New Species of the Late Triassic Plants from Yanbian,Sichuan, I

This paper deals with eight plants, all new to science of late Triassic (Keuper), found in the district Yanbian, Sichuan. These plants are Angiopteris hongniensis, Marattia antiqua, Todites yanbianensis, T. subtilis, Hicriopteris triassica, Kylikipteris simplex, Ctenozamites microloba, C. otoeis.     

A new Galeopid (Anomodontia,Galeopidae) from the Permian of Eastern Europe

A new anomodont genus and species, Parasuminia ivakhnenkoi sp. nov. (Galeopidae), from the Sundyr-1 locality (Upper Severodvinian Substage, Upper Permian) is described. Based on morphological analysis of tooth wear, the type of work of the jaw apparatus similar to that of Suminia Ivachnenko, 1994 is revealed.     

New and little-known grylloblattids of the family Geinitziidae (Insecta: Grylloblattida) from the Triassic and Jurassic of Europe,Asia, and South Africa

The fossil history of the family Geinitziidae is reviewed. New taxa are described in the family: Shurabia hissarica, sp. nov. (Lower Jurassic of Tajikistan), Sh. shartegica, sp. nov. (Upper Jurassic of Mongolia), Sh. serrata, sp. nov. and Ginitzia sagulensis, sp. nov. (both Lower Jurassic of Kyrgyzstan). The subfamily Stegopterinae Sharov, 1961 is synonymized under Geinitziinae Handlirsch, 1906. The genera Minesedes Fujiyama, 1973 and Ominea Fujiyama, 1973 (Upper Triassic of Japan) are synonymized under Shurabia Martynov, 1937 and Geinitzia Handlirsch, 1906, respectively. Geinitzia varia Bode, 1953 (Lower Jurassic of Germany) and Fletchizia picturata Riek, 1976 (Upper Triassic of South Africa) are redescribed from their holotypes. F. kapokraalensis Wappler, 2001 and F. aleda Wappler, 2001 (both Upper Triassic of South Africa) are transferred to the genus Shurabia.     

Survey on helminthofauna in pheasants from Eastern Europe

In order to assess the parasitological status in imported pheasants, 51 birds (Phasianus colchicus) coming from Poland and Rumania and used in Italy in repopulation interventions for hunting purposes were examined. From each animal the trachea, oesophagus, crop and intestine were collected and examined for the presence of nematodes. The examination of the oesophagi and crops of 5 birds revealed the presence of parasites pertaining to the family Capillariidae: Eucoleus contortus was found in all of the 5 animals, E. annulatus was present along with the previous parasite in one animal coming from Poland. The examination of the tracheae revealed the presence of Syngamus trachea in 5 animals (9.80%). Adult or larval stages of Heterakis gallinarum (37.25% of birds) and Capillariidae (35.29%) were found in the intestinal tracts. Aonchotheca caudinflata was detected only in one bird coming from Poland; the capillarids found in all of the remaining pheasants exhibited morphological characteristics referable to Capillaria phasianina, a species never reported in Italy. The release of game from foreign countries, therefore, may always constitute a risk for the autochthonous one due to the spread of new parasitic infections.     

Trichothecenes produced by Stachybotrys atra from Eastern Europe

A total of 17 isolates of Stachybotrys atra isolated from various parts of Hungary and Czechoslovakia were grown on rice, and the toxin production of each isolate was analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography. Of the 17 isolates, 14 produced macrocyclic trichothecenes (satratoxins F, G, and H, roridin E, and verrucarin J) as well as trichoverrols A and B. Most isolates produced satratoxins G and H in higher quantities than the other trichothecenes. The yield (in milligrams) of trichothecenes produced by one isolate grown on 800 g of rice was as follows: roridin E, 12; satratoxin F, 10; satratoxin G, 75; satratoxin H, 100; trichoverrol A, 15; and trichoverrol B, 30.     

Dicynodontids of Eastern Europe

Dicynodontids are the most widespread and diverse group of higher anomodonts in the Late Permian of Eastern Europe. Dicynodon trautscholdi Amalitzky, 1922 is the first dicynodont described in Russia (Amalitzky, 1922). The taxonomic position of this and several closely related forms described by V. P. Amalitzky and P. P. Sushkin (Sushkin, 1926) remains an open question. A reexamination of cranial morphological features in East European members of the family Dicynodontidae allows the assignment of Dicynodon trautscholdi to a new genus, Fortunodon gen. nov., and corroborates the isolated position of Dicynodon amalitzkii established by Sushkin (1926), which is also assigned to the genus Fortunodon gen. nov. Beginning from the Sokolki Assemblage, Late Permian dicynodontids adapted to various ecological niches and had a noticeable effect on the general appearance of the tetrapod fauna.     

Albaillellaria from the New England orogen, Eastern NSW, Australia

Radiolarian data provide important age constraints on the development of terranes within the New England orogen and have implications for existing tectonic models. Most radiolarian assemblages recovered from the orogen are of Late Devonian to Early Carboniferous ages. Albaillellaria comprise a minor proportion of the faunas present but have major biostratigraphic significance.Holoeciscus Foreman,Helenifore Nazarov and Ormiston,Circulaforma Cheng,Ceratoikiscum Deflandre,Protoalbaillella Cheng, andAlbaillella Deflandre, two new genera and three new species are found at various stratigraphic levels. Eleven radiolarian assemblages are recognised. In stratigraphic order these are theHelenifore laticlavium-Ceratoikiscum planistellare, Protoholoeciscus hindea, Holoeciscus formanae, Paraholoeciscus bingaraensis,Ceratoikiscum umbraculum, Protoalbaillella anaiwanensis, Albaillella paradoxa, Albaillella undulata-Albaillella indensis,Albaillella indensis-Albaillella furcata, Albaillella cartalla-Albaillella thomasi andCirculaforma omicron assemblages. There is an apparent biostratigraphic succession amongst the Albaillellaria in the New England orogen in whichProtoholoeciscus hindea n. gen. n. sp. is transitional betweenCeratoikiscum Deflandre andHoloeciscus Foreman andParaholoeciscus bingaraensis n. gen. n. sp. is transitional betweenHoloeciscus Foreman and theAlbaillella paradoxa Deflandre group.