Aethophyllum BRONGNIART 1828, Conifère (non Équisétale)du Grès à Voltzia (Buntsandstein supérieur) des Vosges (France): Note préliminaire

AethophyllumBRONGNIART 1828 is a plant genus from the Voltzia Sandstones (Upper Bunter) of the Vosges which has been classified first into the Monocotyledons and than into the Equisetales. A careful study of new material shows that it actually is a Gymnosperm and more exactly a Conifer. Male cones found separately have already been described under the name Masculostrobus acuminatusGRAUVOGEL-STAMM and GRAUVOGEL, 1973. This Triassic plant presents simultaneously affinities with some Cordaites (Poacordaites) and with some Podozamites (P. schenki-agardhianus group of Harris 1935 + Swedenborgia).     

Structure d'adhérencedes grains de pollen en tétrade du genre Classopollis PFLUG, 1953, de l'Hettangien de Saint-Fromont,Manche (France)

Palynological inventory of Saint-Fromont pit 0815 (Manche, France) related to Hettangian seems to show the conspecificity of Classopollis chateaunoviReyre, 1970, Classopollis kieseriReyre, 1970 and Classopollis harisiiMuir & Van Konijnenburg-Van Cittert, 1970. SEM pictures exibit some sculptural elements interpreted as structural attachments of grains in tetrad and compared to those of genus DicheiropollisTrevisan, 1971.     

Révision d'?Orthis? berthoisiRouault, 1849Orthida (Brachiopoda) de l'Ordovicien du Massif Armoricain

Since it is impossible to state about any genericassignment for Orthis berthoisiRouault, 1849the species name is herein restricted to original specimens figured by the author. The study of the Brachiopods from the St-Germain-sur-Ille Formation allows to confirm the first determination by De Tromelin &Lebesconte (1875)and to establish their conspecificity with Orthis berthoisi var. erratica described in 1869 by Davidson from the Budleigh-Salterton pebbles. The successive assignment of the species erratica to the genus Svobodaina(Cocks, 1978) then to Corineorthis(Cocks & Lockley, 1981) is discussed. The attribution to the genus DrabovinellaHavlicek, 1951appears most likely.     

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).     

Additions a la faune de sélaciens fossilesdu Maroc: 1: Sur la présence des genres Heptranchias,Alopias etOdontorhytis dans l'Yprésien des Ouled Abdoun

Recent researches in the phosphat-bearing basins ofMorocco have allowed to collect new selachian forms. In this paper, three Ypresian genera from Ouled Abdoun basin, new for Morocco, are described: Heptranchias howellii (Reed, 1946), Alopias denticulatus nov. sp. and Odontorhytis pappenheimiBöhm, 1926. The re-discovery of the genus Odontorhytis allows to state precisely its morphological dental features and to affirm that it is well a selachian and not a teleostean, as it was thought. The stratigraphic distribution of some species is stated precisely.     

A bryozoan-like chaetetid (possible sclerosponge)from Jurassic-Cretaceous limestone near Orhaneli,Northwestern Turkey

Bryozoan-like fossils have been found rarely in Upper Jurassic or Lower Cretaceous limestone near Orhaneliin northwestern Turkey; they represent the chaetetid species Atrochaetetes alakirensisCUIF & FISCHER, 1974, possibly a sclerosponge, and previously known only from the lower part of the Upper Triassic.     

Le genre leptaenopyxis (brachiopoda,leptaenidae) dans le Devonien du Massif Armoricain (France)

The study of genus LeptaenopyxisHavlicek, 1963 in the Lower Devonian from Armorican Massif allows to recognize four species: Leptaenopyxis kerfornei n. sp., Leptaenopyxis cf. bouei (Barrande), Leptaenopyxis sp. 1 and Leptaenopyxis sp. 2. These species were described, until now, under specific name boueiBarrande, 1848. From this study it follows some biostratigraphical and palaeobiogeographical results for the Armorican Massif and its relations with surrounding areas during Lower Devonian time.     

Étude préliminaire des genres Cycadopteris Zigno, 1853 et Lomatopteris Schimper, 1869

The study of leaf-impressions, with preserved cuticles, collected in the Callovian of Bourgogne (France), and belonging to the genus LomatopterisSchimper, 1869 emend. Saporta, 1873, has permitted to confirm and justify the synonymy of the genera CycadopterisZigno, 1853 and LomatopterisSchimper proposed by Hirmer (1924). The cuticular studies have been carried on with a conventional optical microscope after an usual maceration and also with the use of the scanning electron microscope. Comparisons are established with cuticles proceeding from the Lias of Italy and refered to the genus CycadopterisZigno.     

Une association de Dasycladales (Algues vertes)du passage Albien-Cénomanien dans les Pyrénées et les Régions voisines (Chaînes Cantabriques,Provence)

Two Dasycladales (green Algae), Trinocladus tripolitanusRaineri, 1922 and? Dissocladella nov. sp. 1, are described from the Pyrenees, the Cantabrian Mountains and the Provence. In SW-Europe, the two species are found in the Upper Albian sensu lato (including the Vraconnian), in some cases along with the Vimport red Algae assemblage which does not persits beyond the Albian-Cenomanian boundary. In Libya, the type-locality of T. tripolitanus is however assigned to the Cenomanian/Turonian.     

Non-linear regression of biological temperature-dependent rate models based on absolute reaction-rate theory

Biological temperature-dependent rate models based on Arrhenius' and Eyring's equations have been formulated by Johnson & Lewin (1946), Hultin (1955), and Sharpe & DeMichele (1977). The original formulation of Sharpe and DeMichele is poorly suited for non-linear regression. Very high correlations of parameter estimators occassionally make regression with their equation impossible using Marquardt's algorithm (1963).This analysis describes a new formulation of Sharpe and DeMichele's model that greatly alleviates the non-linear regression problem. It is partly based on Hultin's formulation (1955). Biological and graphical interpretation of the model parameters is discussed. Regression suitability is illustrated with a typical data set. Similar modifications to the equations of Hultin (1955) and Johnson & Lewin (1946) are described.     

Paléoxylologie: Étude anatomique comparée de Scleromedulloxylon aveyronense nov. gen. nov. sp. du Permien de St-Affrique (Aveyron,France); considérations taxinomiques et stratigraphiques

The fossil woods studied in the present paper were collected by P. Béziat in the Permian Basin of St-Affrique (Southern Aveyron). They come from near Calmels. They are the first fossil woods collected and described in this basin.The secondary wood refers to the form genus Dadoxylon and more exactly to the speciesDadoxylon schrollianum (Goeppert, 1864–65) Frentzen, 1931, Frentzen, 1931. The pith is certainly related with the pith structure of Walchiapremnon valdajolenseFlorin, 1940.The association of a Dadoxylon secondary wood with an irregularly septate pith containinggroups of probably sclerotic cells can be found in Cedroxylon varollenseRenault, 1893–1896, Renault and Roche, 1894 from the Basin of Autun. It is not possible to conserve the species varollense in the genus Cedroxylon and we propose the form genus Scleromedulloxylon for the petrified structure from Autun and for the fossil woods of St-Affrique.Furthermore, a comparative anatomical study of the different Permo-Carboniferous structuresfrom the Euramerican province let us, when it is possible, distinguish structure-types related to Cordaitophyts or to Coniferophyts. In the present case, Scleromedulloxylo should rather correspond to the fossil wood of an Autunian Coniferophyt, that is to Walchia structure.     

On the type species of the genus Parapodemus and late turolian Apodemus associations: Remarks on an article by P. Mein in Géobios no 11, fasc. 3, 1978

Mus (Acomys?) gaudryiDAMES, 1883 (1) is considered to be the type species of Parapodemus, because “the type of any taxon, once fixed in conformity with the provisions of the international code of zoological nomenclature, is not subject to change except by exercise of the plenary powers of the commission” (see art. 61 and 70 of the code). Parapodemus schaubiPAPP, 1947 (2) is considered to be a junior synonym of P. gaudryi. The late Turolian Apodemus primaevusHUGUENEY and MEIN, 1965 (3), and A. gudrunaeVAN DE WEERD, 1976 (4), are sufficiently different from one another and from P. gaudryi to warrant their recognition as separate species.     

Révision de quatre espèces actuelles de Celleporaria (Bryozoa,Cheilostomata) décrites par de Lamarck en 1816

The bryozoa described by de Lamarck in 1816 are not well known. Four types of the Cellepora group have been found in the zoological collections of Museum d'Histoire naturelle in Paris: Celleporaria oculata, C. cristata, C. oliva and C. endivia. C. oculata is the type-species of the genus CelleporariaLamouroux, 1821. This revision confirms the synonymy of some species described subsequently.     

Précisions morphologiques,structurales et systématiques sur Reptomulticava parviporosa CANU et LECOINTRE (Bryozoa,cyclostomata)

This miocene organism was described as an Alga (Lithophyllym vinassaiPATRINI, 1932 = Neosolenopora patriniiMASTRORILLI, 1955) and as a Bryozoan (Reptomulticava parviporosaCANU et LECOINTRE, 1934). This paper shows several salient features of Cyclostomatous Bryozoans (morphology, microstructure, zoarial brood chamber). The arguments for the classing of this organism among Algae are simultaneously refuted (pseudo-differentiation of the thallus, conceptacles).     

Nouvelles observations de cannelures horizontalessur les berges vaseuses de l'estuaire de la Gambie et leur interpretation comme traces de broutage de poissons

Localisation, morphology and scratches wich characterise fluting features observed in the Gambia estuary are due 0610 to the feeding activity of fishes (as have suggested Schwarz et alii, 1975) and not due to the effects of biodestruction as proposed by F. Teissier (1957).     

Structure de la paroi de Aremoricanium rigaudae Deunff, 1955 (Acritarche,Ordovicien)

The wall of Aremoricanium rigaudaeDeunff, 1955, type-species by original designation of the genus AremoricaniumDeunff, 1955, is composed of two layers: the internal one has a circular opening while the second is the only one which develops the processes and a tubular expansion.     

Révision de l'ichnogenre Coprulus Richter & Richter, 1939, et description de quelques nouvelles espèces du Jurassique supérieur

Coprulus, described by R. Richter & E. Richter (1939a) is very abundant in the Oxfordian marls and muddy limestones of the French Jura Mountains. These small cylindrical calcareous bodies are characterised by longitudinal grooves. They have been often found in washings but are also visible in thin sections. Coprulus is rarely mentioned by micropaleontologists but its stratigraphical and geographical range is certainly very extended. Often considered as Problematica, this trace fossil has been differently interpreted. This work confirms and specifies the results of F. Gramann (1966): Coprulus represents a fecal pellet of a deposit-feeder mollusc (Nuculidae?). Three new ichnospecies are described herein and the ichnogenus Coprulus is compared with Bactryllium, Coptocampylodon and Tomaculum.     

The North American «Hipparion Datum and implications for the Neogene of the Old World

A large sample of skulls and associated dentitions of Cormohipparion sphenodus (Cope, 1889). new combination, is described from Miocene deposits of Nebraska, Colorado, New Mexico, and California. This species is morphologically more advanced than the most primitive species of the genus, C. goorisiMacFadden & Skinner, 1981, and more primitive than a third and more advanced species of this genus. C. occidentale (Leidy, 1856). In several characters such as configuration of the preobrital fossa, size, hypsodonty, shape of protocone, and complexity of enamel plication, C. sphenodus is morphologically similar, and potentially related to, some Old World Vallesian «Hipparion. In addition, based on radiometric calibration of stratigraphic sequences in Nebraska and California, C. sphenodus spans an interval of time from about 13.6 to 11 Ma. Inasmuch as the Old World «Hipparion Datum is calibrated at about 12 Ma, we conclude that C. sphenodus exhibits the morphological and chronological prerequisites to have been directly ancestral to some of these Old World forms.The hipparion horses apparently were a polyphyletic assemblage of several genera, and their biogeographic and biochronologic history is more complex than classically thought. Several dispersal events involving these horses may have occurred between the New and Old Worlds during the late Miocene.     

A propos de Mus gaudryi (Mammalia,Rodentia) et des premiers Apodemus (A. Primaevus et A. Gudrunae) du Miocene superieur europeen

Apodemus primaevusHUGUENEY & MEIN, 1965 from the upper Turolian of western Europ which was recentlycontested seems after examination of numerous specimens to be a valid species; Mus gaudryi must be invalided; on the other hand Apodemus gudrunae van de WEERD, 1976 is considered to be a junior synonyme of the former.