An unusual microfungus in a fungal spore from the Lower Devonian Rhynie chert

Abstract: A new fossil microfungus, Kryphiomyces catenulatus gen. et sp. nov., occurs as an endobiotic mycelial thallus in a large spore of a glomeromycotan fungus from the Lower Devonian Rhynie chert. The thallus consists of branched (?pseudo‐)septate hyphae with numerous catenulate swellings. Some hyphal tips produce spherical reproductive structures or propagules. Hyphal morphology in K. catenulatus is reminiscent of that in certain extant Hyphochytridiomycota, Chytridiomycota, and even Ascomycota, but specific diagnostic features that allow assignment of the fossil to modern groups are absent. The discovery of this interfungal association broadens our knowledge about the diversity of microfungi and their intricate associations in early continental ecosystems.     

Hassiella monospora gen. et sp. nov., a microfungus from the 400 million year old Rhynie chert

A new microfungus, Hassiella monospora gen. et sp. nov., consisting of coenocytic hyphae is associated with degraded plant material in the Early Devonian silicified Rhynie chert ecosystem. Some hyphae produce small bulb-like projections that subsequently develop into spherical, thick-walled and highly ornamented reproductive structures. Mature reproductive structures are characterized by a prominent, funnel-shaped appendage that is interpreted as an amphigynous antheridium. When combined, these features are suggestive of the oogonia/oosporangia in certain extant members of the Peronosporomycetes (Oomycota).     

Early Devonian (~410 mya) microfossils resembling Characiopsis (Tribophyceae) and Characium (Chlorophyceae)

Unusual microfossils that occurred associated with fungal spores in the Lower Devonian (~410 mya) Windyfield chert from Scotland were composed of a narrow stipe (2.5–9 μm long) to which was attached an obovoid or elongate drop‐shaped cell up to 14 μm long; a basal attachment pad was present in several specimens. The fossils were strikingly similar morphologically to certain present‐day unicellular freshwater Tribophyceae and Chlorophyceae, but affinities to the fungal phylum Chytridiomycota also cannot be ruled out. This discovery adds to the inventory of distinctive microbial morphologies in the early non‐marine paleoecosystems.     

An Early Devonian arthropod fauna from the Windyfield cherts, Aberdeenshire, Scotland

New terrestrial and freshwater arthropods are described from the Windyfield cherts, a suite of silicified sinters deposited 700m north‐east of the Rhynie cherts and part of the same Early Devonian hot‐spring complex. The diverse assemblage consists of Heterocrania rhyniensis (Hirst and Maulik, 1926a), here recognized as a euthycarcinoid; scutigeromorph centipede material assigned to Crussolum sp.; the crustacean Lepidocaris; trigonotarbid arachnids; a new arthropod of myriapod affinities named Leverhulmia mariae gen. et sp. nov.; and the distinctively ornamented arthropod cuticle of Rhynimonstrum dunlopi gen. et sp. nov. The Leverhulmia animal preserves gut content identifying it as an early terrestrial detritivore. Abundant coprolites of similar composition and morphology to the gut contents of the euthycarcinoid crowd the matrix. Chert texture, faunal associations, and study of modern analogues strongly suggest that the terrestrial arthropods were ubiquitous Early Devonian forms with no particular special adaptation to localized conditions around the terrestrial hot‐spring vents. The aquatic arthropods represent biota from ephemeral cool‐water pools in the vicinity of the hot‐spring vents.     

Taxonomy,morphology and phylogeny of Late Cretaceous spirulid coleoids (Cephalopoda) from Greenland and Canada

Abstract: Groenlandibelus rosenkrantzi from the Maastrichtian of Greenland has long been thought to constitute an early representative of spirulid coleoids. This study shows that this view must be reassessed, at least in part. A re‐investigation of the types and of material recorded subsequently has revealed that none of these specimens is conspecific with the holotype of G. rosenkrantzi. Cyrtobelus birkelundae gen. nov, sp. nov. differs from the type of G. rosenkrantzi in having lower chambers and in lacking an apically elongated sheath. The longiconic phragmocone of G. rosenkrantzi has more features in common with the presumed spirulid genus Naefia. A specimen described in detail by J. A. Jeletzky in the mid 1960s as ‘G. rosenkrantzi’ is designated holotype of C. birkelundae sp. nov., which means that internal phragmocone features are still unknown in G. rosenkrantzi. Cyrtobelus hornbyense gen. nov, sp. nov. from the Campanian of western Canada constitutes the first record of early spirulids from the northeast Pacific, being based on seventeen extraordinarily well‐preserved phragmocones. This species differs from C. birkelundae sp. nov. only in the width of the siphuncular tube. The presence of a caecum, a nacre‐less conotheca that represents the continuation of the protoconch conotheca, conothecal flaps that anchor the mural parts of the septa, and a thin investment‐like sheath are characters shared only with Recent Spirula. In particular, the unusual protoconch architecture of Cyrtobelus gen. nov. challenges a phylogenetic origin within bactritoid‐like coleoids.     

Acaulosporoid glomeromycotan spores with a germination shield from the 400-million-year-old Rhynie chert

Scutellosporites devonicus from the Early Devonian Rhynie chert is the only fossil glomeromycotan spore taxon known to produce a germination shield. This paper describes a second type of glomeromycotan spore with a germination shield from the Rhynie chert. In contrast to S. devonicus, however, these spores are acaulosporoid and develop laterally in the neck of the sporiferous saccule. Germination shield morphology varies, from plate-like with single or double lobes to tongue-shaped structures usually with infolded margins that are distally fringed or palmate. Spore walls are complex and appear to be constructed of at least three wall groups, the outermost of which includes the remains of the saccule. The complement of features displayed by the fossils suggests a relationship with the extant genera Ambispora, Otospora, Acaulospora or Archaeospora, but which of these is the closest extant relative cannot be determined. The acaulosporoid spores from the Rhynie chert document that this spore type was in existence already ∼400 mya, and thus contribute to a more complete understanding of the evolutionary history of the Glomeromycota. This discovery pushes back the evolutionary origin of all main glomeromycotan groups, revealing that they had evolved before rooted land plants had emerged.     

Discosorids and Oncocerids (Cephalopoda) of the Middle Ordovician Kunda and Aseri Regional Stages of Baltoscandia and the early evolution of these groups

Discosorid and oncocerid cephalopods of the Kunda and Aseri Regional Stage (Darriwilian, Middle Ordovician) from Öland Island, Sweden and North Estonia are described for the first time. We demonstrate that a high generic and specific diversity of Oncocerida was already established in the earliest Darriwilian. The new oncocerid species Neumatoceras borense nov. sp., N. breviborense nov. sp., Paramiamoceras breviventrum nov. sp., Richardsonoceras gastroscopium nov. sp., R. gerhardi nov. sp., R. goldmanni nov. sp., R. haelluddenense nov. sp., Richardsonoceroides kingi nov. sp., R. oelandense nov. sp., and R. rhytium nov. sp. are erected; Richardsonoceroides schiefferdeckeri (Dewitz) is revised. The new graciloceratid Kundoceras evansi nov. gen., nov. sp. is erected. A review of records of early oncocerids from China shows that Richardsonoceras Foerste is probably the most primitive oncocerid and supports the hypothesis that oncocerids evolved in the early Floian or latest Tremadocian from a Bassleroceras Ulrich and Foerste-like ancestor. The new discosorid genus Paldoceras nov. gen. and species Paldoceras paldiskense nov. sp. and P. neptunsakerense nov. sp. are erected. These discosorids record the morphological link between the late Darriwilian Ruedemannoceras Flower and the early Floian Apocrinoceras Teichert and Glenister, which is considered to be the earliest discosorid.     

Groupe de Candona clivosa, nouveau groupe de Candoninae (Crustacea, Ostracoda) et sa diversification dans le Bassin de Turiec (Slovaquie) au Miocène supérieur

The Candona clivosa-group, a new group of Candoninae - is erected on the base of the folded inner lamella observed on the postero-ventral border of the female valve. The elongated sub-triangular and rectangular valves of this group are described from the Miocene and Quaternary deposits of Europe. A folded inner lamella is also observed in 11 species of Candona from the Upper Miocene of the Turiec Basin of which 8 are new - Candona fatrica nov. sp., C. tatrica nov. sp., C. lacustris nov. sp., C. palustris nov. sp., C. stagnosa nov. sp., C. laterisimilis nov. sp., C. jiriceki nov. sp. and C. incurva nov. sp. They show a higher variability of the outline, calcification of the valves and width of the zone of concrescence. The extrinsic and intrinsic aspects of this morphological diversification in the Turiec Basin are discussed.     

Alilepus meini nov. sp. (Leporidae,Lagomorpha) from the Early Messinian of Tuscany (central-western Italy)

Alilepus meini nov. sp., a new leporid known only from the Early Messinian of central-western Italy (Baccinello-Cinigiano basin, V3 faunal assemblage; Tuscany), is described here. A. meini nov. sp. is an endemic taxon – not inherited from the older Tusco-Sardinian assemblages – of the continental and balanced BCB V3 fauna. The peculiarities of A. meini nov. sp. mainly reside in the occlusal surface of p3 (very large anteroconid, extremely short talonid, deep and crenulated posterior flexids, extremely thin protoisthmus) and P3 (wide hypoflexus). A. meini nov. sp. seems closely related to Alilepus turolensis, as testified by shared morphological characters (globous anteroconid and deep protoflexid, very thin protoisthmus). Palaeobiogeographical evidences support morphological data as A. meini nov. sp. and A. turolensis are the only two species of the genus present in western Europe.     

Systematics and taphonomy of an Early Kimmeridgian belemnite fauna from the Mediterranean Tethys (Monte Nerone, Central Apennines, Italy)

About three hundred belemnite rostra were collected from Lower Kimmeridgian beds of a structural high sequence cropping out at Mt. Nerone (central Apennines, Pesaro Province, Italy). The belemnite fauna is composed mainly of new species. Nine species were recognised, ascribed to five genera, which include Hibolithes semisulcatusMünster, 1830; H. pignattii nov. sp.; Acutibelu0s sp. cf. acuariformisRiegraf, 1981; Belemnopsis neronensis nov. sp., Duvalia matteuccii nov. sp., D. nicosiai nov. sp., D. pallinii nov. sp., D. raymondi nov. sp. and Rhopaloteuthis massimoi nov. sp.; moreover a single specimen is treated in open nomenclature as Belemnopseidae incertae sedis. The stratigraphic and palaeobiogeographic significance of the new fauna is discussed. The taphonomy of the belemnite-rich level is described, with reference to borings found on the belemnite rostra.La fauna a belemniti risulta composta quasi esclusivamente da specie nuove. Sono state riconosciute le seguenti specie: Hibolithes semisulcatusMünster, 1830; H. pignattii nov. sp.; Acutibelus sp. cf. acuariformisRiegraf, 1981, Belemnopsis neronensis nov. sp., Duvalia matteuccii nov. sp., D. nicosiai nov. sp., D. pallinii nov. sp., D. raymondi nov. sp. and Rhopaloteuthis massimoi nov. sp. Inoltre un esemplare è stato discusso con nomenclatura aperta come Belemnopseidae incertae sedis. Alcuni nuovi dati stratigrafici e paleobiogeografici sono stati analizzati ed integrati con i dati della letteratura. E’ stata anche esaminata la tafonomia del livello a belemniti e le perforazioni presenti sulla superficie dei rostri.     

New Protocytherines (Ostracods) from the Lower Cretaceous sequences of the Crimean Peninsula

One new genus of Ostracoda, Protobrachycythere nov. gen. (Protocytherinae, Lyubimova), and two new species, P. taurica nov. sp. and P. aptica nov. sp., are described from the Barremian and Aptian of the Crimea. Based on the ontogeny of the hinge, Protobrachycythere is considered as an ancestor of the Brachycythere Alexander, 1933 (Brachycytherinae Puri, 1954). The higher taxonomy of the Subfamily Brachycytherinae is reviewed. It is suggested to assign Brachycytherinae to the Family Brachycytheridae Puri.     

Gymnocranius superciliosus and Gymnocranius satoi, two new large-eye breams (Sparoidea: Lethrinidae) from the Coral Sea and adjacent regions

Two related perciform fish species of the subfamily Monotaxinae (Sparoidea: Lethrinidae) Gymnocranius superciliosus sp. nov. and Gymnocranius satoi sp. nov. are described from specimens and tissue samples from the Coral Sea and adjacent regions. G. superciliosus sp. nov. is distinct from all other known Gymnocranius spp. by the following combination of characters: body elongated (depth 2.7–3.1 in standard length), caudal fin moderately forked with a subtle middle notch, its lobes slightly convex inside, distinctive blackish eyebrow, snout and cheek with blue speckles, and dorsal, pectoral, anal and caudal fins reddish. G. satoi sp. nov. is the red-finned ‘Gymnocranius sp.’ depicted in previous taxonomic revisions. While colour patterns are similar between the two species, G. satoi sp. nov. is distinct from G. superciliosus sp. nov. by the ratio of standard length to body depth (2.4–2.5 vs. 2.7–3.1) and by the shape of the caudal fin, which is more shallowly forked, its lobes convex inside and their extremities rounded. The two species are genetically distinct from each other and they are genetically distinct from G. elongatus, G. euanus, G. grandoculis, and G. oblongus sampled from the Coral Sea and adjacent regions.     

Antibacterial activity of guava,moringa, camphor bush and pelargonium extracts against bacterial wilt (Ralstonia pseudosolanacearum sp. nov.) of potato

Bacterial wilt (Ralstonia pseudosolanacearum sp. nov.) is a major disease devastating global potato production. Proposed management options are mostly expensive and ineffective. This has necessitated efforts to develop cheaper and eco-friendly management options such as use of botanicals. Antibacterial activity of ethanol and acetone plant extracts from guava (Psidium guajava), drumstick (Moringa oleifera), camphor bush (Tarchonanthus camphoratus) and pelargonium (Pelargonium zonale) against R. pseudosolanacearum sp. nov. was evaluated in-vitro at a concentration of 100 mg/mL of 1 % Dimethlysulfoxide (DMSO) using disk diffusion technique. The R. pseudosolanacearum sp. nov was isolated from infected haulms collected from potato growing field at the University of Nairobi. The most effective extracts were subjected to further screening at different concentrations to determine their minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs). All the four plant extracts showed varied antibacterial efficacy. P. zonale leaves extract was the most effective with growth inhibition zone of 18.73 mm and 18.60 mm for ethanol and acetone solvents respectively. The average of growth inhibition zones for each plant extract was not significantly different at p ≤ 0.05 among extraction solvents. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) results showed that antibacterial activity of P. zonale and P. guajava leaf started at 6.25 mg/mL with growth inhibition zones of 7.67 and 8.0 mm for ethanol and acetone solvents respectively. P. zonale and P. guajava leaf extracts exhibited significantly higher antibacterial activity at p ≤ 0.05 compared to other extracts. Thus, further research should be conducted to assess their antibacterial potency against R. pseudosolanacearum sp. nov. both in-vivo and under field condition.     

Fungal colonization of the rooting system of the early land plant Asteroxylon mackiei from the 407‐Myr‐old Rhynie Chert (Scotland,UK)

Associations between plants and fungi were an important and varied feature of early terrestrial ecosystems, but in most instances their biological functions remain poorly understood. We document a new species of fungus colonizing the rooting system of the early lycopod Asteroxylon mackiei, based on exceptionally well‐preserved fossils from the Rhynie Chert. We investigated historical petrographic thin sections using standard optical microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy. P alaeozoosporites renaultii gen. nov., sp. nov. colonized the inner cortex of the plant rooting system. The fungus had an aseptate thallus with isotomous or sympodial branching. The mycelium bore distinctive porate, globose to elongated structures that we interpret as zoosporangia and resting sporangia. Doubts remain over the precise systematic affinity of P. renaultii, which closely resembles chytrids. Whereas most of the Rhynie Chert plants developed symbiotic associations of the mycorrhizal type, it seems that this was not the case for Asteroxylon mackiei, which possessed the most evolved rooting system among the Rhynie Chert plants. We argue that the new root‐borne fungus was probably parasitic. © 2015 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2015, 179 , 201–213.     

Tremadoc (earliest Ordovician) brachiopods from Purmamarca and the Sierra de Mojotoro, Cordillera Oriental of northwestern Argentina

The Late Tremadoc storm-dominated shoreface to inner platform deposits exposed west of the Purmamarca village (Coquena Formation) contain a considerably more diverse brachiopod fauna than previously reported. Coquinite horizons from the lower heterolitic succession have yielded monospecific associations of Nanorthis purmamarcaensis nov. sp. (formerly assigned to N. christianiae KJERULF), which is also reported from the Late Tremadoc rocks of the Cerro San Bernardo area. The fine-grained Upper Member of the Coquena Formation contains a more diverse fauna composed by Nanorthis brachymyaria nov. sp., Astraborthis quebradensis nov. sp. and the new plectorthid genus Lipanorthis (type species L. andinus nov. sp.). A different species of Lipanorthis (L. santalaurae nov. sp.) from the Mid Tremadoc Floresta Formation of the Sierra de Mojotoro is also described.     

New gomphaeschnids and progobiaeshnids from the Yixian Formation in Liaoning Province (China) illustrate the tremendous Upper Mesozoic diversity of the aeshnopteran dragonflies

One new genus and five new species of dragonflies (Odonata) are described and figured from the Yixian Formation of northeastern China, viz. two gomphaeschnids Sinojoria magna nov. sp. and S. cancellosa nov. sp., plus three progobiaeshnids Mongoliaeshna hadrens nov. sp., M. exiguusens nov. sp., and Decoraeshna preciosus nov. gen., nov. sp. These new discoveries confirm the apparently sudden great diversification in China of the clade Aeshnoptera during the Middle-Upper Jurassic, together with the Upper Mesozoic to modern lineages of dragonflies. At the same time, some ‘ancient’ groups of Odonata became extinct.     

Some cercosporoid hyphomycetes from Brazil

New and interesting collections of cercosporoid hyphomycetes from Brazil (State of Ceará) are reported in the present paper. Pseudocercospora eugeniicola sp. nov., P. krameriae sp. nov., P. hirtellae sp. nov., and P. thiloae sp. nov. are described, and Passalora davillae (A.S. Mull. & Chupp) comb. nov. and Pseudocercospora plumeriifolii (Bat. & Peres) comb. nov. are introduced.     

Scinderella scopuliformis nov. gen., nov. sp. (Dasycladales, green algae) from the middle Triassic of Croatia

Scinderella scopuliformis nov. gen., nov. sp. is identified in the Anisian (Middle Triassic) reef limestones from the Belski dol quarry (Ivanš?ica Mt., NW Croatia). The new alga is characterised by claviform thallus, curved in the basal part, and very narrow central cavity. Thallus is often disintegrated into fragments. Laterals swell from a thin basal part, and have uniform (rarely slightly increasing) diameter along most of their length. Distally, they are flattened and probably touch each other, forming an irregular cortex. Laterals are arranged densely in close whorls and oblique to the longitudinal axis. Euspondyl arrangement is readily visible in the proximal part of the laterals, but distally, the arrangement seems more or less irregular, i.e. ruffled (Lat. scindere = ruffle, dishevel) and resembling a broom (Lat. scopulae = small broom; forma = form, shape).     

Late Norian (Triassic) Radiolaria from the Kotel’nyi Island (New Siberian Islands,Arctic, Russia)

Two radiolarian assemblages were recovered from upper Norian strata of the Kotel’nyi Island (Russia); the first assemblage, from the Monotis zabaikalica Subzone (lower part of Upper Norian), is represented by Betraccium inornatum Blome, Dumitricaella (?) parva Sugiyama, Ferresium titulense Blome and 24 other species; the second assemblage, from the Monotis subcircularis Subzone (upper part of Upper Norian), is represented by Crucella sp. cf. C. angulosa Carter, Kahlerosphaera acris Bragin, K. sp. cf. K. parvispinosa Kozur & Mostler, Pseudohagiastrum crassum (Carter) and 11 other species. Both assemblages have common taxa with Upper Norian and Rhaetian radiolarian assemblages of British Columbia and they display clear Boreal features: low taxonomic diversity, abundance of taxa known from high-latitude regions, absence or rare presence of taxa known from low-latitude areas. The presence of early representatives of nassellarian genera Droltus and Parahsuum is very distinctive. Six new species are described: Pseudohagiastrum spinosum nov. sp., Cantalum boreale nov. sp., Plafkerium carteri nov. sp., Droltus guttaeformis nov. sp., Laxtorum blomei nov. sp., L. glacialis nov. sp.