<Emphasis Type="Italic">Salpingoporella</Emphasis>? <Emphasis Type="Italic">popgrigorei</Emphasis>, a new species of Dasycladales (calcareous algae) from the Lower Aptian deposits of Pădurea Craiului (northern Apuseni Mountains,Romania)

A new dasycladalean alga Salpingoporella? popgrigorei n. sp. was identified in P?durea Craiului Mountains (northern Apuseni, Romania) in the Lower Aptian limestone of the Valea Bobdei Member. The new alga was found within the external platform coarse bioclastic facies with fragments of corals, sclerosponges, bivalves (including rudists), gastropods, echinoderms, brachiopods, and bryozoans. The micropaleontological assemblage consists of foraminifera, calcareous algae, rare rivulariacean-type cyanobacteria, and some problematic microfossils. The deposits are Early Bedoulian in age, as clearly indicated by the orbitolinid foraminifera Orbitolinopsis pygmaea, Paracoskinolina sunnilandensis and Palorbitolina lenticularis. Salpingoporella? popgrigorei n. sp. is a medium-sized dasycladalean alga showing funnel-like laterals with an euspondyl arrangement. The laterals consist of two distinctive parts. The proximal part is narrow and flattened. The distal part widens relatively suddenly, and then narrows slightly before the final widening towards the exterior, in the place where the laterals most probably formed an assimilatory cortex. The distinctive features of the new species are represented by the shape of the laterals. The new Salpingoporella best resembles the Upper Hauterivian–Lower Barremian p.p. Salpingoporella genevensis (Conrad), especially due to the quadrangular aspect of the laterals in middle-deep tangential section. However, differences refer to the laterals’ general shape, and to the typical features of the laterals in deep tangential section of Salpingoporella? popgrigorei n. sp.     

New and little known weevils (Coleoptera: Curculionoidea) from the Paleocene of Menat (France)

Two new genera Petropsis gen. n., and Menatorhis gen. n., and two species, Petropsis rostrata gen. et sp. n. (Ithyceridae) and Perapion menatensis sp. n. (Brentidae), are described from the Paleocene of Menat (France). Petropsis rostrata gen. et sp. n. is similar to Cretocar luzzii Gratshev et Zherikhin (2000) but differs from it in the comparatively short ventrites 1 and 2, almost straight and not dilated metatibiae, short precoxal portion of the prosternum, slightly convex elytra and antennae inserted more closely to the middle of the rostrum. Perapion menatensis sp. n. is similar to Perapion antiquum (Gyllenhal, 1833) but differs from it in the straight rostrum, sparser and finer punctures of the pronotum, and somewhat larger body. The families Ithyceridae and Brentidae are recorded for the first time in the Paleocene of Menat. The systematic positions of Balaninus elegans Piton (1940) (type species of Menatorhis gen. n.) and Hipporhinus ventricosus Piton (1940) are discussed.     

内蒙古查布地区下白垩统巨齿龙足印化石

内蒙古鄂尔多斯市鄂托克旗查布地区下白垩统中产有大量的蜥脚类和兽脚类恐龙足迹及鸟类足迹化石,作者对这个地区的足迹化石进行全面普查,发现许多新暴露出来的恐龙足迹化石,包括兽脚类恐龙足迹一新属新种Chapuslockleyiichnogen.etichnosp.nov.属于巨齿龙类(megalosaurid)所留。与兽脚类足迹保存在一起的蜥脚类足迹Brontopodusbirdi分布凌乱,反映了造迹恐龙搏斗的场面。通过测量连续的兽脚类足迹计算,Chapuslockleyi的造迹恐龙的行走速度为4.33km/h。通过足迹化石还识别出造迹恐龙的病态特征。     

A new ground beetle (Carabidae, Protorabinae) from the Lower Cretaceous of Inner Mongolia, China

Cretorabus rasnitsynisp. n., belonging to the extinct subfamily Protorabinae of Carabidae, was described based on a well-preserved specimen from the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation of Yangshuwanzi, Inner Mongolia. The diagnostic characters forCretorabus are revised, and the key to species of the genus was presented. The fossil record of Protorabinae was summarized. Sinocarabus Hong, 1982 and Obesofemoria Hong, 1982 cannot be attributed to Protorabinae.     

蒙古东南部早白垩世新水井组的甲壳类化石

蒙古人民共和国早白垩世介形类和叶肢介的研究已有半个多世纪的历史,文中介绍了一个新的化石产地———蒙古东南部新水井地区和若干属种,主要是介形类和叶肢介,并依据这些年来在中国境内的多处发现,进行了相应地层对比及沉积环境的讨论。     

New Curculionoidea (Coleoptera) records for Canada

The following species of Curculionoidea are recorded from Canada for the first time, in ten cases also representing new records at the generic level: Ischnopterapion (Ischnopterapion) loti (Kirby, 1808); Stenopterapion meliloti (Kirby, 1808) (both Brentidae); Atrichonotus taeniatulus (Berg, 1881); Barinus cribricollis (LeConte, 1876); Caulophilus dubius (Horn, 1873); Cionus scrophulariae (Linnaeus, 1758); Cryptorhynchus tristis LeConte, 1876; Cylindrocopturus furnissi Buchanan, 1940; Cylindrocopturus quercus (Say, 1832); Desmoglyptus crenatus (LeConte, 1876); Pnigodes setosus LeConte, 1876; Pseudopentarthrum parvicollis (Casey, 1892); Sibariops confinis (LeConte, 1876); Sibariops confusus (Boheman, 1836); Smicronyx griseus LeConte, 1876; Smicronyx lineolatus Casey, 1892; Euwallacea validus (Eichhoff, 1875); Hylocurus rudis (LeConte, 1876); Lymantor alaskanus Wood, 1978; Phloeotribus scabricollis (Hopkins, 1916); Scolytus oregoni Blackman, 1934; Xyleborus celsus Eichhoff, 1868; Xyleborus ferrugineus (Fabricius, 1801); Xylosandrus crassiusculus (Motschulsky, 1866) (all Curculionidae). In addition the following species were recorded for the first time from these provinces and territories: Yukon – Dendroctonus simplex LeConte, 1868; Phloetribus piceae Swaine, 1911 (both Curculionidae); Northwest Territories – Loborhynchapion cyanitinctum (Fall, 1927) (Brentidae); Nunavut – Dendroctonus simplex LeConte, 1868 (Curculionidae); Alberta – Anthonomus tectus LeConte, 1876; Promecotarsus densus Casey, 1892; Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins, 1902; Hylastes macer LeConte, 1868; Rhyncolus knowltoni (Thatcher, 1940); Scolytus schevyrewi Semenov Tjan-Shansky, 1902 (all Curculionidae); Saskatchewan – Phloeotribus liminaris (Harris, 1852); Rhyncolus knowltoni (Thatcher, 1940); Scolytus schevyrewi Semenov Tjan-Shansky, 1902 (all Curculionidae); Manitoba – Cosmobaris scolopacea Germar, 1819; Listronotus maculicollis (Kirby, 1837); Listronotus punctiger LeConte, 1876; Scolytus schevyrewi Semenov Tjan-Shansky, 1902; Tyloderma foveolatum (Say, 1832); (all Curculionidae); Ontario – Trichapion nigrum (Herbst, 1797); Nanophyes marmoratus marmoratus (Goeze, 1777) (both Brentidae); Asperosoma echinatum (Fall, 1917); Micracis suturalis LeConte, 1868; Orchestes alni (Linnaeus, 1758); Phloeosinus pini Swaine, 1915; Scolytus schevyrewi Semenov Tjan-Shansky, 1902; Xyleborinus attenuatus (Blandford, 1894) (all Curculionidae); Quebec – Trigonorhinus alternatus (Say, 1826); Trigonorhinus tomentosus tomentosus (Say, 1826) (both Anthribidae); Trichapion nigrum (Herbst, 1797); Trichapion porcatum (Boheman, 1839); Nanophyes marmoratus marmoratus (Goeze, 1777) (all Brentidae); Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus Kuschel, 1952 (Brachyceridae); Acalles carinatus LeConte, 1876; Ampeloglypter ampelopsis (Riley, 1869); Anthonomus rufipes LeConte, 1876; Anthonomus suturalis LeConte, 1824; Ceutorhynchus hamiltoni Dietz, 1896; Curculio pardalis (Chittenden, 1908); Cyrtepistomus castaneus (Roelofs, 1873); Larinus planus (Fabricius, 1792); Mecinus janthinus (Germar, 1821); Microhyus setiger LeConte, 1876; Microplontus campestris (Gyllenhal, 1837); Orchestes alni (Linnaeus, 1758); Otiorhynchus ligustici (Linnaeus, 1758); Rhinusa neta (Germar, 1821); Trichobaris trinotata (Say, 1832); Tychius liljebladi Blatchley, 1916; Xyleborinus attenuatus (Blandford, 1894); Xyleborus affinis Eichhoff, 1868 (all Curculionidae); Sphenophorus incongruus Chittenden, 1905 (Dryophthoridae); New Brunswick – Euparius paganus Gyllenhal, 1833; Allandrus populi Pierce, 1930; Gonotropis dorsalis (Thunberg, 1796); Euxenus punctatus LeConte, 1876 (all Anthribidae); Loborhynchapion cyanitinctum (Fall, 1927) (Brentidae); Pseudanthonomus seriesetosus Dietz, 1891; Curculio sulcatulus (Casey, 1897); Lignyodes bischoffi (Blatchley, 1916); Lignyodes horridulus (Casey, 1892); Dietzella zimmermanni (Gyllenhal, 1837); Parenthis vestitus Dietz, 1896; Pelenomus squamosus LeConte, 1876; Psomus armatus Dietz, 1891; Rhyncolus macrops Buchanan, 1946; Magdalis inconspicua Horn, 1873; Magdalis salicis Horn, 1873 (all Curculionidae); Nova Scotia – Dryocoetes autographus (Ratzeburg, 1837); Ips perroti Swaine, 1915; Xyleborinus attenuatus (Blandford, 1894) (all Curculionidae); Prince Edward Island – Dryocoetes caryi Hopkins, 1915 (Curculionidae); Newfoundland – Scolytus piceae (Swaine, 1910) (Curculionidae).Published records of Dendroctonus simplex LeConte, 1868 from Northwest Territories should be reassigned to Nunavut, leaving no documented record for NWT. Collection data are provided for eight provincial and national records published without further information previously.     

A new subfamily of ichneumonids from the Lower Cretaceous of Transbaikalia and Mongolia (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae)

A new subfamily of ichneumonids, Palaeoichneumoninae, is described from the Lower Cretaceous of Transbaikalia (Baisa locality) and Mongolia (Bon Tsagan and Kholbotu Gol localities). The new subfamily is intermediate between the archaic subfamily Tanychorinae and the Recent Ichneumonidae. It includes 12 new species, described in three new genera: Palaeoichneumon freja gen. et sp. nov., P. ornatus sp. nov., P. danu sp. nov., P. micron sp. nov., P. mirabilis sp. nov., P. tenebrosus sp. nov., P. townesi sp. nov., Rudimentifera mora gen. et sp. nov., R. suspecta sp. nov., Dischysma maculata gen. et sp. nov., D. similis sp. nov., and D. ramulata sp. nov.     

Timing and magnitude of early Aptian extreme warming: Unraveling primary δO variation in indurated pelagic carbonates at Deep Sea Drilling Project Site 463, central Pacific Ocean

In order to elucidate early Aptian marine paleotemperature evolution across the period of enhanced organic carbon (C_org)-burial [Oceanic Anoxic Event (OAE) 1a], stable isotope analyses were performed on pelagic limestones at Deep Sea Drilling Project Site 463, central Pacific Ocean. The δ¹⁸O data exhibit a distinct anomaly by ~ − 2‰ spanning the OAE 1a interval (i.e., a ~ 6 m-thick, phytoplanktonic C_org-rich unit constrained by magneto-, bio- and δ¹³C stratigraphy). Elucidation of paleotemperature significance of the δ¹⁸O shift is made by taking account of recent Sr/Ca evidence at the same section, which revealed that geochemical signals in carbonate-poor lithologies are relatively unaltered against burial diagenesis. By discriminating δ¹⁸O values from carbonate-poor samples (CaCO₃ contents = 5–30 wt.%), it appears that an abrupt rise in sea-surface temperatures (SSTs) by 8 °C (= − 1.7‰ shift in δ¹⁸O) occurred immediately before OAE 1a, whereas a cooling mode likely prevailed during the peak C_org-burial. In terms of its stratigraphic relationship as to the C_org-rich interval and to a pronounced negative δ¹³C excursion, as well as its timescale, the observed SST rise resembles those associated with the Paleocene–Eocene thermal maximum and, more strikingly, Jurassic Toarcian OAE. This observation is consistent with the hypothesis that these paleoenvironmental events were driven by a common causal mechanism, which was likely initiated by the greenhouse effect via massive release of CH₄ or CO₂ from the isotopically-light carbon reservoir and terminated by a negative productivity feedback.     

Palynostratigraphical dating of the Lower Cretaceous Peñaferruz Formation,San Pedro de Antromero Beach (Asturias Region,northwestern Iberian Peninsula)

A palynological assemblage of five Lower Cretaceous stratigraphic levels corresponding to the Peñaferruz Formation in San Pedro de Antromero Beach, has been studied to determine the exact age of this formation. An age no older than the Aptian is suggested on the basis of the palynoflora, based on the presence of Trilobosporites hannonicus, Cicatricosisporites venustus, Cicatricosisporites berouensis, Ephedripites dudarensis, and Reticulisporites semireticulatus. This age assignment implies a new relationship between the Peñaferruz and Antromero formations, the Peñaferruz Formation being younger than previously thought. This possibly makes both formations contemporaneous, at least at the San Pedro de Antromero Beach section, suggesting a lateral change of facies between these deposits.     

A new solitary coral genus of the suborder Heterocoeniina (Scleractinia) from the Aptian (Cretaceous) of Spain

The new scleractinian coral genusHexasmiliopsis is described on the basis of material from the Early Aptian (Early Cretaceous) of Murcia (Spain). The new genus of the Heterocoeniidae family is characterised by its solitary growth form, a very strong main septum and the presence of apophysal septa. It is closely related to the generaHexasmilia (phaceloid growth form),Rodinosmilia andTiarasmilia (both without main septum). The genus is monospecific and represents only the type species,Hexasmiliopsis saldanai.      

辽宁黑山恐龙蛋──长形蛋类新分子的发现及其意义

辽宁西部黑山县下白垩统发现我国最早的恐龙蛋壳化石,属长形蛋类,取名常氏黑山蛋（新属新种）（Ｈｅｉｓｈａｎｏｏｌｉｔｈｕｓ ｃｈａｏｇｉｉ　ｏｏｇｅｎ ｅｔ ｏｏｓｐ ｎｏｖ）。该新属种蛋壳表面具密集的细瘤状纹饰,局部相邻的两个或数个细瘤联结成链条状细脊,锥体层极薄,锥体层与柱状层之比约为１：７。根据埋藏情况来看,产蛋恐龙生活在湿热、植被茂盛的河湖沼泽附近的生态环境。     

The barbs (Barbus spp.) of Lake Tana: a forgotten species flock?

Synopsis All living species occupy an ecological niche, and are positioned within a trophic hierarchy. Extinct organisms presumably held similar behavioral and coevolutionary characteristics in the past, and were susceptible to the same kinds of natural ecological pressures operating today. Paleoecological investigations are limited by the incompleteness of the fossil record, and particularly by a lack of behavioral data that are so fundamental to ecological studies of living communities and habitats. Opportunities to examine the coevolutionary structure of ancient communities from empirical data are extremely rare. One such opportunity is provided by the Lower Cretaceous Santana Formation of north-eastern Brazil, a series of richly fossiliferous strata approximately 110 million years old. Many fossil fishes from the Santana Formation contain identifiable prey, including decapod crustaceans and fishes. A trophic hierarchy of these organisms is reconstructed here, and their ecological relationships are discussed. Comparison is made with a similar fish fauna from the Upper Jurassic Solnhofen Limestone of Germany. Low-level, intermediate and high-level predators are identified in each fauna. Predator-prey relationships in the Santana fauna are strongly hierarchical, and are more focussed at the intermediate predator level than in Solnhofen. Comparison with a model of predator-prey relationships between fishes and benthic fauna of the Baltic Sea (which like the Araripe Basin represents a semi-enclosed environment) suggests that heavy predation on teleosts such asRhacolepis, occupying an intermediate trophic level, may have permitted benthic decapods to proliferate and exclude other benthic organisms. Less intense predation on fishes at the intermediate trophic level would allow their numbers to increase, thereby increasing the intensity of predation on the benthos at the base of the trophic hierarchy.     

Unusual deinonychosaurian track morphology (Velociraptorichnus zhangi n. ichnosp.) from the Lower Cretaceous Xiaoba Formation,Sichuan Province,China

A new Lower Cretaceous dinosaur footprint locality named the Mujiaowu tracksite in the Xiaoba Formation, Sichuan Province, has yielded a new assemblage containing the didactyl deinonychosaurian ichnogenus Velociraptorichnus. This is the eleventh report in the global record, the seventh from Asia and the fifth from China. All, except for an isolated report from Europe, occur in Lower Cretaceous deposits. Unlike previous reports of the ichnogenus, the Mujiaowu site has yielded both didactyl Velociraptorichnus tracks and tridactyl tracks which we interpret as a different expression of this same ichnogenus, caused by registration of digit II, either due to special substrate conditions or to less claw retraction. These tridactyl Velociraptorichnus footprints are assigned to the new ichnospecies Velociraptorichnus zhangi. Such tridactyl deinonychosaurid footprint morphology is predictable, but based on current ichnological evidence appears to be the exception rather than the rule.     

Palaeoceanographic differences of early Late Aptian black shale events in the Vocontian Basin (SE France)

A high-resolution study focussing on the distribution of calcareous nannofossils and carbon isotopes was carried out to improve the understanding of mid-Cretaceous black shale formation. The studied interval of the early Late Aptian is characterized by two major black shale couplets, the Niveau Noire 4 (NN4) and Niveau Noire Calcaire 2 (NNC2), of the Serre Chaitieu section in the Vocontian Basin (SE France; Bréhéret, 1997). This interval occurs within a long-term negative carbon isotope excursion of > 1.5‰ following the Early Aptian Oceanic Anoxic Event 1a (OAE1a). In contrast to the local NN4 black shales, the black shales of NNC2 are of regional significance and occur at the end of the major negative carbon isotope excursion of the early Late Aptian. Time equivalent black shales are suggested to be coeval with black shales found in the Western Tethys and Atlantic Ocean (Herrle et al., 2004). Calcareous nannofossil analyses and carbon isotopes indicate higher surface water productivity (mesotrophic), warmer surface water, and higher sea-level during the formation of the NN4 black shales. In contrast, the formation of the NNC2 black shales took place during a cooler phase, lower surface water productivity, and lower sea-level. A sea-level fall may cause a restriction of water mass exchange between the open-marine Western Tethys and the Vocontian Basin. This resulted in a longer residence time of the bottom water, decreased ventilation and less mixing of surface waters and thus enhanced preservation of organic matter at the sea floor. Our results indicate that the black shale formation of NN4 and NNC2 was caused by different processes such as increased surface water productivity and enhanced preservation of organic matter at the sea floor. Thus, we emphasize the role of different forcing factors which control the formation of local and regional black shales. The most important factors are sea-level fluctuations, increasing productivity, and changes in precipitation and evaporation rates.