Nouvelles données sur le genre Imerites Rouchadzé, 1933 (Ammonitida,Ancyloceratina) ; réponses et précisions apportées au travail de Bert,Delanoy et Canut, 2009

This work is mainly an answer to the work of Bert, Delanoy and Canut, on the genus Imerites Rouchadzé, and we add also some points to the knowledge of this genus. An answer is given for the implication of one of the authors (J.V.) of this present work, about the origin of the genus Imerites Rouchadzé, and some significant bibliographic references, not named in the 2009 work, are specified and placed in their context. The characteristics of the ornamental stage “Pseudoshasticrioceras” mainly defined by an oval and compressed section of the whorls and by regular ventrolateral clavi, well marked, which frame the venter in a typical way (Bert et al., p. 181), don’t allow to affirm the presence of this stage during the ontogeny of all species of the genus Imerites Rouchadzé, contrary to what Bert, Delanoy and Canut (p. 30, 31) wrote. The type-species of the genus Imerites Rouchadzé is made clear by the application of the rules of the I.C.Z.N. code. The article 23, with the paragraph 23.1 of the I.C.Z.N. code, imply the senior synonymy of Imerites cristatus (Orbigny) on Imerites giraudi (Kilian), even if the Kilian's species is still the type species of the genus Imerites Rouchadzé. The taxinomical validity of the species Imerites cristatus (Orbigny) is confirmed. Its morphological variability is clarified by the distinction of four referential morphotypes, Cristatus, Giraudi, Favrei and Raricostatum. Consequently, the assumption of a shape-dimensional dimorphism into the populations of the genus Imerites Rouchadzé is rejected, awaiting irrefutable proof. A new species, Imerites stephaniae sp. nov., is described. It was collected in the Gerhardtia sartousiana Zone, in the uppermost part of the Gerhardtia provincialis Subzone, and it is a probable ancestor of the cogeneric species of the Imerites giraudi Zone.     

Zonocypris digitalis (Ostracoda, Crustacea), nouvelle espèce du Fuvélien (Campanien continental) de Provence (sud-est France)

Many specimens of non-marine Ostracodes, especially the new species Zonocypris digitalis were recovered from continental deposits of fuvelian (Campanian) age at Auriol (Provence, south-east France). First species of that genus described in the Cretaceous of southern Europe, Z. digitalis is associated with Charophytes and mainly Gastropodes remains, thus providing confirmation of the datation proposed and age of the studied outcrops. Z. digitalis may be integrated within the current biostratigraphic scale which is accepted as valid for the non-marine Upper Cretaceous of the above mentioned area.     

Anglesites gen. nov. (Ammonoidea, Ancyloceratina), un nouveau genre d’ammonites hétéromorphes du Barrémien supérieur du Sud-Est de la France

The revision of the Crioceras puzosianum d’Orbigny, 1842 made during the revision of the Paléontologie Française of d’Orbigny, shows that this taxon belongs to a new genus: Anglesites gen. nov. This new genus, from upper Barremian age, is monospecific for the moment and is homeomorphic to the Leptoceratoides from the Lower Barremian. It is temporarily included in the subfamily of the Leptoceratoidinae. A neotype for the “Crioceras” puzosianum d’Orbigny, 1842 is herein designated.     

Ostracodes de la Formation de Bhanness,Kimméridgien (Jurassique supérieur) du Liban central : taxonomie,paléoécologie et paléobiogéographie

A microfauna composed of 11 species of ostracodes belonging to 11 genera have been recovered from the Bhanness Formation of Kimmeridgian age, in Central Lebanon. Four species are new and are described herein: Ektyphocythere dahressawanensis nov. sp., Dicrorygma (Orthorygma) libanensis nov. sp., Citrella? elongata nov. sp. and Procytherura inflata nov. sp. From a palaeobiogeographical standpoint, this fauna characterizes the North Gondwana province which differs from the South Gondwana province, particularly by the presence of the genus Schuleridea and the absence of the genus Majungaella.     

Sur l'origine du genre Microceratina Swanson, 1980 (Ostracoda, Eucytherurinae) et sa présence téthysienne dès le Jurassique supérieur

The discovery in the uppermost Jurassic of Lebanon of a species of the ostracod genus Microceratina Swanson, 1980 (Eucytherurinae), of which the oldest known species was until now of Maastrichtian age, confirms the Tethyan origin of this genus. Two new species are created: Microceratina bhannesensis nov. sp. from the Upper Jurassic (Kimmeridgian) of Lebanon, and Microceratina azazoulensis nov. sp. from the Cenomanian of Morocco. The genera Chapmanicytherura Weaver, 1982 and Erratacytheridea Herrig et al., 1997, are considered as probable junior synonyms of Microceratina. An exhaustive bibliographical analysis allowed to identifying several other Cretaceous species susceptible to be assigned to the genus Microceratina.     

Présence de l’éocrinoïde Ascocystites Barrande (Echinodermata,Blastozoa) dans l’Ordovicien supérieur (Caradoc) de l’Anti-Atlas (Maroc) : premières données

Family Ascocystitidae, defined and established by Georges Ubaghs in 1967, includes a single genus, Ascocystites. This genus was described and figured for the first time by Barrande in 1887, from Bohemian specimens. Thereafter, specimens brought close to Ascocystites or assigned to this genus were described starting from samples collected in Bohemia in the Armorican Massif or in Portugal. The new specimens were collected in Morocco in the Eastern Anti-Atlas, within the formation of Izzeguirene of Caradoc age. The studied material includes several sandy slabes often containing many well-preserved and almost complete individuals. These levels gather individuals of various sizes, corresponding to various stages of development. The morphological study in progress should allow a specific attribution by comparison with the Bohemian and Armorican forms actually known. The Moroccan material has, in addition, the advantage of corresponding to associations of several Echinodermata groups, rich in individuals, allowing a taphonomic and possibly paleoenvironmental study. Biostratigraphically, Ascocystitidae are actually known between Middle (Armorican Massif and Portugal) and Upper Ordovician (Bohemia and now Morocco). The discovery of Ascocystitidae in the Moroccan Anti-Atlas extends their distribution, within gondwanian domain, during Middle and Upper Ordovician.     

Zonation des brachiopodes du Jurassique moyen sur la marge sud de la Téthys occidentale (Maroc, Algérie occidentale): Comparaison avec la marge nord-téthysienne française

A new and yet unpublished palaeontological revision of very important collections accomplished these last thirty years in many localities of Morocco and Western Algeria joined to the already published data, allow us to propose a biostratigraphical succession of the Middle Jurassic Brachiopods suitable to the Southern Margin of the Western Tethys. This Brachiopod scale is correlated with the standard chronostratigraphy based on ammonites. It involves eight zones and six sub-zones separated by five interval zones where Brachiopods are missing. Moreover, brachiopods have not been discovered in Early Aalenian and Late Callovian. Afterwards, the two brachiopod zonations established on the northern and southern margins of the Western Tethys are compared. On a paleontological plane, a new definition of the species Burmirhynchiaathiensis warrants to precise its vertical distribution (Parkinsoni and Zigzag zones) and to give a better distinction with Burmirhynchiatermierae (Humphriesianum and Niortense zones).     

Taxonomie du grand canidé de la grotte du Vallonnet (Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, Alpes-Maritimes, France)

The large canid of Vallonnet cave belongs to Xenocyon lycaonoides. Its remains are similar to the Xenocyon from Untermassfeld in Germany. X. Lycaonoides, and evoluated form of the Xenocyon genus, is characteristic of the second half of the Lower Pleistocene. The genus Xenocyon may be the ancestor of both Cuon and Lycaon.     

Un nouveau Bovini dans la faune du Pléistocène supérieur d’Algérie

During the study of the Quaternary Maghrebian bovines in 1985, the review of the Bovini (aurochs and buffalos) found in Upper Pleistocene sites of Algeria showed that in comparison with most of the African bovine assemblage the attribution of genus Pelorovis to the species antiquus was inappropriate. The biometric and cladistic data revealed a close kinship with genus Syncerus. Later, other authors’conclusions confirmed its relevance. The antique buffalo of the Aterian site of the Phacochoeri has all the characteristics of genus Syncerus, but is different in that it shows a certain number of specific characteristics described in this article.     

Le genre Nucleolites (Echinoidea, Cassiduloidea) du Bajocien à l'Oxfordien dans le Bassin de Paris : apport des données architecturales à la systématique et à la phylogénie

The classification of the Paris basin Bajocian-Oxfordian species of the genus Nucleolites is revised. A classic point of view, until now used by authors and mainly based on the general morphology of the test, is first developed. Then, this last is modified with new architectural data, which refer to the extraxial-axial theory concerning the structure of the apical system as well as the presence of supplementary and catenal plates. These architectural data are first used facing the general morphology of the test. Such approach leads to a new point of view for the classification of the species of the genus Nucleolites. The systematics is particularly significantly simplified. The deduced and proposed phylogenetic hypothesis shows that the genus Nucleolites is composed of two parallel lineages as soon as the beginning of the genus in the Bajocian: a group with a so-called “primitive” architecture, and a group with an “advanced” one. On and after the Late Callovian, the species with a primitive organisation give birth to advanced species, which continue in younger time. In this way, the genus Nucleolites may be paraphyletic since the Late Callovian onward.     

Variations morphologiques des Toxaster (Echinoida : Spatangoida) en regard des fluctuations spatiales (Arc de Castellane, SE France) et temporelles (Valanginien-Hauterivien) du milieu sédimentaire : expression d'un potentiel adaptatif restreint

The impact of sedimentary conditions on the settlement, growth, and morphology of primitive spatangoid sea urchins of the genus Toxaster from the Lower Cretaceous (Valanginian and Hauterivian of the Provencal platform) is analyzed. The analyses concern spatial and temporal patterns of variation. The spatial approach is based on six isochronous populations of Toxaster granosus kiliani (424 specimens in total) dated from the Verrucosum biozone, and distributed along a proximo-distal gradient. The temporal approach concerns a reference section (Carajuan) ranging from the Lower Valanginian to the Upper Hauterivian, and involving the species T. granosus kiliani and T. gibbus. Sedimentary environments have been characterized by a factorial analysis of five characteristics of facies. Sea urchin morphology has been described with seven measures allowing the computation of two angles (α and β), and of six shape indices analyzed through a principal components analyses. The spatial approach shows that the adult mean size (> 20 mm) increases distally, and that morphology changes significantly across localities. However, only variations in α and β are sequentially organized along the proximo-distal gradient (they correspond to a forward migration of the peristome and to an expansion of the plastronal area). The stratigraphic survey of facies variation along the 369 beds analyzed in Carajuan shows a clear change in sedimentary conditions: from unstable with bioclastic events (Valanginian), to homogeneous with a low content in bioclasts (Hauterivian). Most Toxaster specimens are concentrated in three stratigraphic units (Campylotoxus and Verrucosum biozones for T. granosus kiliani; Sayni biozone for T. gibbus), their abundance being related to the macrofaunal presence and diversity and to burrowing activity. The adult mean size is only significantly related to facies variation, for the T. granosus kiliani from the Verrucosum biozone, increasing with textural gradient and bioclastic content. Shape - facies relationships have been identified for T. granosus kiliani in both Campylotoxus and Verrucosum intervals. However, the morphological variables and facies characteristics involved differ between the two biozones. The synthesis of all significant relationships between size or shape and facies characteristics demonstrates that the response of Toxaster to environmental changes was limited, and varied in space as well as for the different periods of time considered. The only recurring impact of sedimentary changes involved sea urchin abundance, that is, their ability to settle. The low adaptive potential of Toxaster is discussed in the context of the early radiation of the Spatangoida.     

Les Gregoryceras (Ammonitina) de l’Oxfordien moyen terminal et supérieur téthysien : révision systématique, biostratigraphie et évolution

In prolongation of the previous studies, the Gregoryceras Spath, 1924 (Ammonitina, Peltoceratina) species from the uppermost Middle Oxfordian (Rotoides sub-zone) to the Early Late Oxfordian (Bifurcatus zone), are revised. Sections providing most of the studied specimens in this work (Spain, Algeria, Tunisia) are described and dated based on faunal comparisons between Tethyan and Subtethyan domains. It appears that the best tool for correlations is the presence of the genus Gregoryceras, the succession of its species being similar for the two considered domains. It allows us to complete the biostratigraphic scale based on the Gregoryceras species succession, and parallel to the standard zonation. During this period the revised species of Gregoryceras are G. fouquei (Kilian, 1889) and G. pervinquieri (Spath, 1913). G. fouquei is only present in the Rotoides sub-zone (uppermost Middle Oxfordian), and not in the Stenocycloides sub-zone (early Late Oxfordian), where G. pervinquieri (Spath, 1913). A new species, G. benosmanae nov. sp. is described as the most recent species of the genus (Grossouvrei sub-zone). The evolution of the youngest species of Gregoryceras continues the peramorphocline described for older forms. Concerning a potential dimorphism, new data (size differences, umbilicus enlargement during growth) are particularly provided by G. pervinquieri.     

Euxinocythere (Ostracoda, Cytheridae, Leptocytherinae) du Miocène supérieur du Bassin de Turiec (Slovaquie) : taxonomie et paléoécologie

Eight new species of the family Cytheridae have been identified in the Upper Miocene deposits of the Turiec Basin (Slovakia), a small isolated intermountain depression. Six species are new - Euxinocythere aphroditae, E. delicata, E. lactea, E. minuscula, E. quadricostata, E. satyrica - and two are kept in open nomenclature. Their attribution to the genus Euxinocythere is based on arrangement of the hinge elements and of anterior marginal zone. This genus is known from brackish ostracod assemblages of the Paratethys and the Eastern Mediterranean while the species from the Turiec Basin are associated to fresh-water assemblages. The Euxinocythere have been found in littoral as well in deep limnic environment.     

Les Megacricetodon du gisement karstique miocène moyen de Blanquatère 1 (Pyrénées-Orientales, Sud de la France) : nouvelles espèces, implications biochronologique et phylogénique

Three Megacricetodon species are recognized in the Middle Miocene locality of Blanquatère 1 (Languedoc-Roussillon province, France). Two are new, the small-sized M. tautavelensis nov. sp. the medium to large-sized M. aunayi nov. sp., the third one being the already known M. “collongensis-gersii”, a medium-sized species found in other Miocene localities of the area. Size and morphology differentiate these species. Such a high number of contemporaneous species of the genus Megacricetodon is found for the first time in a Miocene locality in the region and indicate that the evolution of this genus in western Europe is likely more complicated. It may testify both of a biogeographical differentiation and of migration events. According to our calibration charts, the deposit is dated ca. 16 Ma ago. The position of Vieux-Collonges (MN 5) and Sansan (MN 6) on the biochronological scale is also discussed, as well as the estimated age of the biozonal boundaries MN 3/MN 4, MN 4/MN 5 and MN 5/MN 6.     

Hispanothrips from Early Cretaceous Spanish amber,a new genus of the resurrected family Stenurothripidae (Insecta: Thysanoptera)

During a palaeontological excavation of amber at the site named San Just, in the Utrillas-Escucha area of Teruel Province, northeastern Spain, a rich fauna from the Albian (Early Cretaceous) was discovered. Among it, three specimens of Thysanoptera were found that are here attributed to the new genus Hispanothrips n. gen. in the family Stenurothripidae Bagnall 1923. Phylogenetic analyses were conducted that support the resurrection of the family Stenurothripidae and its replacement for Adiheterothripidae Shumsher 1946.     

Ashea megacephala Kim & Ahn (Coleoptera,Staphylinidae, Aleocharinae), a new gyrophaenine genus and species from Peru

Ashea megacephala, a new Peruvian genus and species is described. The specimens were collected on mushrooms and mushroom-associated trees. This genus can be readily distinguished from the other genera of the subtribe Gyrophaenina by the large head and the three indistinctly articulated labial palpomeres. A key to the known genera of Gyrophaenina is provided. A habitus photograph and illustrations of diagnostic characters are also presented.     

Nouvelles observations sur les Miogypsinidés du Miocène inférieur et moyen de Provence et de Corse (France) et de Sardaigne septentrionale (Italie)

The detailed study of the Miocene strata of Bonifacio has revealed an atypical Miogypsinid assemblage. In addition to the three already cited genera, Miogypsinoides, Miogypsina and Miolepidocyclina from this region, Miogypsinodella is for the first time represented by two new species (Mdella corsicana nov. sp. et Mdella pillaria nov.sp.). The stratigraphical ranges of each genus in the Miogypsinidae are not verified here. However, Mdes bantamensis is still present in the Upper Burdigalian and the genus Miogypsinoides is also present in the Lower Langhian. Six species of Miogypsina coexist in the Upper Burdigalian (M. tani, M. globulina, M. intermedia, M. cf. sabahensis, M. cushmani, M. mediterranea) and two species are present in the Lower Langhian (M. antillea, M. digitata). This distribution is apparently an example of palaeoendemism resulting from the geographic isolation and the rotation of the Corso-Sardinian block and also from the palaeogeographical and palaeoecological favourable environment during that time.     

Les premiers Anguilliformes : I. Révision des genres cénomaniens Anguillavus HAY, 1903 et Luenchelys nov. gen.

New specimens from Cenomanian outcrops of Lebanon permit redescribtion of the first eel-like fossil fishes. Anguillavus bathshebaeHay, 1903 becomes synonymous with the type species A. quadripinnisHay, 1903. A new fossil eel with pelvic fins, Anguillavus mazeni nov. sp., is furthermore proposed. In the same way, the revision of Luenchelys minimus nov. gen., nov. sp., reveals some morphological variations at the specific level and a widespread biogeographical repartition which potentially can be important. This whole anatomical revision is a necessary basis for integrating these fossils into the Anguilliformes (Teleostei, Elopomorpha) and gives an idea of the plesiomorphic structural pattern of the order, in which the modern forms are particularly specialised.