A new genus of the Arenigian bryozoans, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lynnopora</Emphasis>, and its systematic position in the family Revalotrypidae Gorjunova, 1988

A new genus Lynnopora gen. nov. with the type species L. lunata sp. nov. and a new species Revalotrypa krestensis Koromyslova sp. nov. from the Arenigian Stage (Latorp and Volkhov horizons) of the Ordovician of the Leningrad Region are described. The positions of the genus Revalotrypa Bassler, 1952 and the family Revalotrypidae Gorjunova, 1988 in the order Cystoporida are substantiated. The problems of biogeography and ecological adaptations of bryozoans of the family Revalotrypidae are discussed.     

Morphogenesis,phylogenetic relationships,and distribution of the bryozoans of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Orbipora</Emphasis> Eichwald, 1856 (order Trepostomida)

Five species of the genus Orbipora, including two new species, O. lynnensis sp. nov. and O. ukhakuensis sp. nov., are described from the Middle Ordovician of the Leningrad Region and Estonia. The colonies of the species O. acanthophora Bassler, 1911 and O. solida Bassler, 1911 are measured and figured for the first time. The stratigraphic range and geographic distribution of O. acanthophora are refined. A scheme of possible phylogenetic relationships and distribution maps of the species of the genus are presented.     

Revision of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Scoliocystis</Emphasis> (Rhombifera: Echinoencrinitidae) and related cystoid genera

Species attributed to Scoliocystis Jaekel, 1899, including the type species S. pumila (Eichwald, 1860) and S. thersites Jaekel, 1899 from the Ordovician of the Leningrad Region, are reviewed. Scoliocystis sp. from the Upper Ordovician of Estonia, figured by Hecker (1964), is redescribed as Maennilocystis heckeri gen. et sp. nov. and it is attributed to the family Callocystitidae Bernard, 1895. The genus Scoliocystis is intermediate between the families Cheirocrinidae and Echinoencrinitidae in having five periproct border plates (as in cheirocrinids), but lacking plate R5 and having a reduced oral area, as in echinoencrinitids, but is retained in the Echinoencrinitidae. The similarity of Scoliocystis to the unusual North American cheirocrinid genus Sprinkleocystis is convergent. The genus Gonocrinites Eichwald, 1840, with two species, is restored among echinoencrinitids, as having four periproct border plates, whereas Echinoencrinites sensu stricto has three. The families Echinoencrinitidae and Callocystitidae arose from cheirocrinids with closed plate circlets by the loss of plate R5 and substitution of radial:lateral for radial:radial pectinirhombs. In addition, echinoencrinitids are characterized by a reduced oral area, whereas in callocystitids, the recumbent ambulacra are extensive. Scoliocystis is a stem-group genus to Echinoencrinitidae plus Callocystitidae. Several glyptocystitoid genera independently developed advanced pectinirhombs.     

New bryozoans (Stenolaemata) from the Middle Jurassic of Moscow City and the Moscow Region

Five new species of stenolaematous bryozoans are described from the Middle Callovian of Moscow City (Krasnopresnenskii Region) and the Moscow Region (Gzhel’ Railroad Station and the quarry between the small towns of Rechitsy and Troshkovo): Entalophora alexeevi sp. nov., Cellulipora retshitsiensis sp. nov., Diplosolen pravus sp. nov., Siphodictyum primarium sp. nov., and Ceata kamushkiensis sp. nov. The last four species belong to the genera that have never been recorded from deposits older than the Lower Cretaceous. The presence of different types of heterozooecia in these bryozoans shows that the functional polymorphism of zooids developed considerably in the class Stenolaemata as early as the Middle Jurassic.     

The First Record of a Chigger Mite of the Genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Neotrombicula</Emphasis> (Acariformes: Trombiculidae) in the Northwest of European Russia

A chigger mite species, Neotrombicula absoluta Schluger, 1966, previously known only from its type locality in Transcarpathian Region of Ukraine, was found in the vicinity of Kurgolovo Village (Kingisepp District, Leningrad Province, Russia). A single specimen of this species was collected off the common shrew Sorex araneus L. This is the first record of the genus Neotrombicula (which includes the most usual causative agents of trombiculiasis of humans and domestic animals in Europe) in the northwestern part of European Russia.     

Gall midges of the supertribe Stomatosematidi (Diptera,Cecidomyiidae) in the Palaearctic Region,with descriptions of new taxa from the Late Eocene Rovno amber: 1. <Emphasis Type="Italic">Stomatosema,Vanchidiplosis, Clarumreddera</Emphasis> gen. n.

Three recent genera are included in the supertribe Stomatosematidi: Stomatosema (16 species), Vanchidiplosis (4 species), and Didactylomyia (3 species). Seven species of the genus Stomatosema and two species of the genus Vanchidiplosis occur in the Palaearctic Region. No reliable findings of representatives of the supertribe were known in fossilized condition. One new genus and 3 new species are described from amber of the Late Eocene age (Rovno Region): Stomatosema iljieteugeniae sp. n., Clarumreddera korneyevi gen. n. et sp. n., and C. conceptiva sp. n.     

The oldest bryozoans of Baltoscandia from the lowermost Floian (Ordovician) of north-western Russia: two new rare,small and simple species of Revalotrypidae

We describe two new species of esthonioporate bryozoans, Revalotrypa inopinata sp. nov. and R. yugaensis sp. nov., from the Lower Ordovician, south-east of Lake Ladoga, north-western Russia. The colonies of the two species are very small and were extracted from limestone nodules found in the lower part of glauconitic sandstone in the Joa Member (lowermost Floian). Revalotrypa inopinata sp. nov. and R. yugaensis sp. nov. are the oldest known bryozoans from Baltoscandia. Study of the two species includes scanning electron microscopy (SEM) imaging and X-ray microtomography (micro-CT). The palaeogeographic distribution of the oldest known bryozoans from the Lower Ordovician and the advantages and disadvantages of micro-CT for the study of Palaeozoic bryozoans are discussed. The authorship of Revalotrypidae, which has been inconsistently allocated in the literature, is discussed.     

To the revision of the Upper Ordovician <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bilobia</Emphasis> Cooper (Strophomenida,Brachiopoda)

The diagnosis and species composition of Bilobia Cooper, 1956 (family Leptestiidae, Strophomenida, Brachiopoda) are specified based on literary data and collection from the Leningrad Region. In particular, the cardinal process with cleft shaft and trifid myophore and denticles along the area of ventral valve are adduced to the diagnosis. A new species, B. alichovae sp. nov., from the Sandbian Stage of the Leningrad Region is established.     

Two new palaearctic species of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Scoliophthalmus</Emphasis> Becker, 1903 (Diptera,Chloropidae) with a key to the species occurring in the Palaearctic Region

Two new species of the genus Scoliophthalmus Becker, 1903 (Diptera, Chloropidae) are described: S. miscanthi sp. n. from southern Primorskii Territory (Russia) and S. gussakovskii sp. n. from southern Tajikistan. The genus is recorded for Russia for the first time. The species of Scoliophthalmus occur only in the southern areas of the Palaearctic Region. A key to eight species occurring in the Palaearctic Region is given.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Oredezhosteus</Emphasis>, a new psammosteid genus (Heterostraci,Psammosteiformes) from the Lower Frasnian (Upper Devonian) of the Main Devonian Field

A new psammosteid, Oredezhosteus kuleshovi gen. et sp. nov., from the Amata Regional Stage (Lower Frasnian) of the Leningrad Region is described. In addition, Psammosteus livonicus Obruchev from beds of the same age from Latvia is included in the new genus. The major diagnostic characters distinguishing Oredezhosteus gen. nov. from Psammosteus Agassiz are the large rounded striated tubercles, which cover more than half width of the branchials, and the long base of the branchial plates.     

New species of stenolaemate bryozoans from the Jurassic of the Moscow and Saratov Regions (Russia)

Three new species of the Middle Jurassic stenolaemate bryozoans of the genera Reptomultisparsa d’Orbigny and Microeciella Taylor et Sequeiros are described: R. saratovensis sp. nov. and M. seltseri sp. nov. from the Lower Bathonian and the Upper Callovian of the Saratov Region, respectively, and R. stupachenkoi sp. nov. from the Middle Callovian of the Moscow Region. Some specific features of their astogeny and colonial morphology are discussed.     

Biogeography and evolution of bryozoans of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Minussina</Emphasis> Morozova, 1961

The spatial variations of bryozoans of the Devonian genus Minussina throughout its existence are discussed. The areal distribution of Minussina is shown to be restricted mainly to the Altai-Sayan region. The variability of seven morphological characters of Minussina species is analyzed. The variations in the number of acanthozooecia and in the thickness of walls are attributed to evolutionary change; variations in the measurements of apertures and heterozooecia are explained by geographical variation. The narrow stratigraphic range of Minussina species makes it possible to use them for correlation of Devonian deposits.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Neocosmocercella fisherae</Emphasis> n. sp. (Nematoda: Cosmocercidae), a parasite of the large intestine of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phyllomedusa bicolor</Emphasis> (Boddaert) (Anura: Phyllomedusidae) from the Brazilian Amazon

Neocosmocercella fisherae n. sp. is the first nematode species found parasitising Phyllomedusa bicolor from the Brazilian Amazon Region. The new species has a triangular oral opening, with bi-lobed lips, and is distinguished from N. bakeri (triangular oral opening with simple lips), and from N. paraguayensis (hexagonal oral opening with bi-lobed lips). Additionally, the new species has ciliated cephalic papillae, which are absent in the other species of the genus. The reduced uterine sac and the presence of a single egg in the uterus in females are the main morphological characters that differentiate the new species from its congeners N. bakeri (8–10 eggs) and N. paraguayensis (10 eggs, based on the allotype). Additionally, the new species differs from the other two species of the genus by morphometric characters such as the size of spicules and gubernaculum in males and the vagina in females. Until now, phyllomedusid anurans are the only known hosts for the nematodes of this genus. The present work describes the third species of the genus and the first species of nematode parasitising P. bicolor.     

New Species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Inoceramus</Emphasis>-like Bivalves of the Subfamily Kolymiinae from the Middle Permian of Northeastern Asia

Middle Permian Inoceramus-like bivalves of the genera Kolymia Licharew and Cyrtokolymia Astafieva endemic to the East Boreal Biogeographic Realm are considered. Cyrtokolymia, previously regarded by the author as endemics of the Verkhoyansk–Okhotsk Province and including only the type species, are also recorded in the Kolyma–Omolon Province, where they are represented by the endemic species C. bobini sp. nov. An emended diagnosis of the genus Cyrtokolymia is provided. The genus Kolymia comprises about 30 species. The greatest diversity of Kolymia (24 species, 13 of which are endemic) is known from the Verkhoyansk–Okhotsk Province, which is the center of diversification of this genus. The Kolyma–Omolon Province is characterized by 12 species, only three of which are endemic. In other provinces of the East Boreal Realm, only individual members of Kolymia are known. From the Middle Permian of the Omolon Massif, northern Verkhoyansk Region, and Penzhinsky Ridge, the following new species are described: Kolymia posneri Muromzeva, Kusnezov et Biakov, sp. nov., K. pontoneica Biakov, sp. nov., K. simkiniformis Biakov, sp. nov., and Cyrtokolymia bobini Biakov, sp. nov.     

Contributions to the knowledge of tetrastichine wasps (Hymenoptera,Eulophidae, Tetrastichinae) of the Middle Volga Region

The Tetrastichinae fauna of the Middle Volga Region comprises 115 species of 16 genera. Quadrastichus rosarum sp. n. is described as an endoparasitoid of Torymus bedequaris L. (Hymenoptera, Torymidae); the latter develops in galls of Dasineura rosarum (Hardy) (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae) on Rosa canina L. Aprostocetus populi (Kurdjumov) is redescribed and transferred from Tetrastichus to Aprostocetus. Thirty-three species are recorded for the Middle Volga Region for the first time. The genus Puklina Graham is new to the Russian fauna. New hosts are reported for five species of Tetrastichinae.     

New cryptostomide bryozoans from the Upper Devonian of Transcaucasia and some aspects of the evolution of the order Cryptostomida

New bryozoans of the suborder Ptilodictyina of the order Cryptostomida are described from the Upper Famennian of Transcaucasia: those of the family Worthenoporidae, i.e., a genus Geranopora gen. nov. comprising three species G. fabulosa sp. nov. (type species), G. fida sp. nov., and G. finitima sp. nov., and those of a new family Mysticellidae fam. nov., i.e., a genus Mysticella gen. nov. comprising four species M. labyrinthica sp. nov. (type species), M. laudativa sp. nov., M. sacrosancta sp. nov., and M. ortiva sp. nov. Thus, a Late Devonian part of the evolutionary line of ptilodictyines is revealed that shows their radiation at the levels of families, genera, and species.     

Aboral nervous system in two Ordovician crinoids: Reconstruction and comparison of Baltic <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pentamerocrinus</Emphasis> Jaekel and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Grammocrinus</Emphasis> Eichwald

Two unusual Middle Ordovician crinoid genera from the St. Petersburg Region, Pentamerocrinus Jaekel, 1918 and Grammocrinus Eichwald, 1860, are redescribed. A new species, Pentamerocrinus kosovi sp. nov., is described based on new material and the cup structure in the type species Grammocrinus lineatus, which has previously been known only from stem fragments, is reconstructed. The system of ridges and canals on the internal surface of the cup plates in both genera is described, allowing the reconstruction of the aboral nervous system. It is in general similar to extant crinoids, but the two Ordovician genera differ considerably in structural details. In Pentamerocrinus, ten nerve cords diverge interradially from the ganglionated nerve ring at the cup base and soon are fused in pairs inside the rays. In Grammocrinus, a similar nerve ring also gives rise to ten cords, but they are inside the rays and become fused in the interrays. This distinction in morphology of the nervous systems is correlated with the interradial arrangement of the axial canal angles of the stem in the first case and radial in the second. Therefore, despite general similarity in the structure and arrangement of calyceal plates, the genus Grammocrinus is assigned to the disparid crinoid family Iocrinidae, while the monotypic family Pentamerocrinidae Jaekel, 1918 is regarded as a fam. inc. sed. of inadunate crinoids.     

A new species of grayling <Emphasis Type="Italic">Thymallus svetovidovi</Emphasis> sp. nova (Thymallidae) from the Yenisei basin and its position in the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Thymallus</Emphasis>

The Upper Yenisei grayling Thymallus svetovidovi sp. nova that inhabits the headwaters of the Yenisei River in Mongolia is described. From the other representatives of the genus Thymallus, the species differs in the elements of body coloration, dorsal fin pattern, some morphometric characters, and genetic characteristics. Besides this species, most of the Yenisei basin is inhabited by Baikal grayling T. baicalensis Dyb., and its low reaches, by the Arctic grayling T. arcticus (Pall.).