The oldest Jurassic cyathophorid coral (Scleractinia) from siliciclastic environments of the Kachchh Basin, western India

Cyathophora Michelin, 1843, hitherto well known from the Upper Jurassic and Cretaceous, has been found in the Middle Jurassic (Bajocian) of the Kachchh Basin, western India. Eleven specimens ofCyathophora bourgueti (Defrance, 1826) from the Babia Cliff Sandstone member of the Kaladongar Formation, exposed along the northern scarp of the Kala Dongar, Pachchham Island, Kachchh, are described and illustrated as the earliest Jurassic record of the family CyathophoridaeVaughan & Wells, 1943. It is suggested that the monospecific occurrence ofCyathophora bourgueti was controlled by salinity.      

A new Early Cretaceous snakefly (Raphidioptera: Mesoraphidiidae) from El Soplao amber (Spain

A virtually complete specimen of the family Mesoraphidiidae (Insecta: Raphidioptera) is described as Cantabroraphidia marcanoi n. gen., n. sp. It was found in early Albian amber from a new deposit named El Soplao within the Las Peñosas Fm. in northwestern Cantabria (Spain). It has been compared to all adult fossils placed in the Mesozoic family Mesoraphidiidae. Some taxonomical comments are provided, and we propose to restore the genus Yanoraphidia Ren 1995 and the combination Yanoraphidia gaoi Ren 1995 stat. rest., provisionally retained in the family Mesoraphidiidae.     

A new late Cretaceous azhdarchid (Pterosauria,Azhdarchidae) from the Volga Region

A new azhdarchid genus and species, Volgadraco bogolubovi gen. et sp. nov., is described based on an anterior fragment of the mandibular symphysis (mandibular beak) and some postcranial elements from the Rybushka Formation (Upper Cretaceous, Lower Campanian) of the Shirokii Karamysh 2 locality, Saratov Region. The new taxon is intermediate in size and vascularization of the mandibular beak between medium-sized Turonian-Santonian azhdarchids (Azhdarcho, Bakonydraco) and the giant Maastrichtian azhdarchid Quetzalcoatlus.     

New species and new records of recently described species of the coral genus Acropora (Scleractinia: Astrocoeniina: Acroporidae) from Indonesia

Six new species of the coral genus Acropora arc described from Indonesia. These include a species which is remarkable for tubercular cocnostcal structures similar to those of the confamilial genus Montipora. The new species include three regional endemics (A. togianensis and A. batunai from central east Sulawesi and A. derawanensis from east Kalimantan), one species with broad distribution across the southern island chains (A. sukarnoi) and two species which occur throughout most of the Indonesian archipelago (A. Indonesia and A. hoeksemai). A further two species described from Western Australia and Papua New Guinea in 1994 (A. turaki and A. jacquelineae respectively) are recorded from Indonesia for the first time, as common members of an unusual assemblage type in the Togian Islands. The range of another species described from Lombok in 1994 (A. suharsonoi) is extended into Bali. With A. desalwii, A. lokani and A. indiana , this brings to 12 the number of Acropora species newly recorded as being endemic to the Indonesian archipelago or to Indonesia and one adjoining region (either the Indian Ocean or the western Pacific).     

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.     

A tiny lizard (Lepidosauria,Squamata) from the Lower Cretaceous of Spain

Abstract: The smallest living amniotes are all lizards, but the fossil history of this size trait in Squamata is difficult to follow because small skeletons have low preservation potential and are often hard to detect in the field. A new squamate taxon, Jucaraseps grandipes gen. et sp. nov., is here described on the basis of an articulated skeleton from the Early Cretaceous Spanish lagerstätten of Las Hoyas. It differs from other known Mesozoic lizards in combining very small body size with a short rostrum, low maxillary tooth count, a relatively slender and elongated body, and short limbs with large hind feet. Phylogenetic analysis using TNT places it on the stem of a clade encompassing scincomorphs, gekkotans, snakes, amphisbaenians and anguimorphs. Comparison with modern lizards suggests it was probably a cryptic surface or subsurface ground dweller but not a burrower.     

New Trigonioidoidea (Bivalvia; Unionoida) from the Early Cretaceous of Spain

Abstract: Two taxa belonging to the Trigonioidoidea (Order Unionoida) are described from the Early Cretaceous of Spain. Nippononaia (Paranippononaia) camerana subgen. et sp. nov. is described from the Aptian of the Cameros Basin of the north‐west Iberian Range. Subnippononaia fordi Barker et al., 1997 is described from new material from the Calizas de la Huérguina Formation (Late Barremian) from Las Hoyas and Buenache de la Sierra, Cuenca Province, and Subnippononaia is raised to generic status. The stratigraphy and palaeoenvironment of the Cornago G exposure of the Enciso Group where Nippononaia (Paranippononaia) camerana originates is interpreted as a fresh to brackish water system.     

Revision of the coral genus Acropora (Scleractinia: Astrocoeniina: Acroporidae) in Indonesia

The coral genus Acropora is reviewed from Indonesia for the first time, following detailed collections made at 131 sites and additional material collected from approximately 40 sites throughout the archipelago during the period 1993–6. Eighty-three species are recorded, four of these ( Acropora halmaherae, A. awi, A. plumosa and A. simplex ) new to science, six first described in 1994 and six in 1997. Records are compared with specimen-based records from localities worldwide. The species of Acrokora occurring in Indonesian waters include five recorded only from the Indian Ocean and Indonesia, seven recorded only from the Pacific Ocean, South China Sea and Indonesia, and a further 10 species apparently endemic to Indonesia, as well as widespread Indo-Pacific species. Two species ( A. jacquelineae Wallace, 1994 and A. batunai Wallace, 1996) are recorded only from north central Indonesia and Papua New Guinea, and two species ( A. russelli Wallace, 1994 and A. turaki Wallace, 1994) only from north central Indonesia and north western Australia. The findings contribute to a new view of the corals of the Indo-Pacific 'centre of diversity' as a composite fauna with origins in a number of events in space and time.     

The oldest Brentidae and Curculionidae (Coleoptera: Curculionoidea) from the Aptian of Bon-Tsagaan

A new tribe, Palaeoerirhinini Legalov, n. tribe, two new genera, Cretotanaos Legalov, n. gen. (type species: Cretotanaosbontsaganensis n. sp.) (Curculionidae: Erirhininae) and Palaeoerirhinus Legalov, n. gen. (type species: Palaeoerirhinusponomarenkoi n. sp. (Brentidae Apioninae) and five new species, C. bontsaganensis Legalov, n. sp., P.latus Legalov, n. sp., P. thompsoni Legalov, n. sp., P. longirostris Legalov, n. sp. and P. ponomarenkoi Legalov, n. sp. from the Bon-Tsagaan locality (Mongolia, Cretaceous, Aptian) are described.http://zoobank.org/3D42DB5C-1841-46F1-A2A0-1034DDE10490     

On the spinosaurid theropod teeth from the early Barremian (Early Cretaceous) Blesa Formation (Spain)

Spinosaurids are one of the most abundant theropods from the Early Cretaceous of the Iberian Peninsula. The published fossil record consists mainly of teeth. A good example is La Cantalera-1 site in the Blesa Formation (Spain). This site represents a marshy environment with periodic droughts, resulting in a non-permanent body of water. Theropod dinosaur teeth are frequent. Seventeen spinosaurid teeth have been studied using qualitative and quantitative features, including a statistical analysis, in order to compare them with the known spinosaurid record from Spain. In La Cantalera-1 we recognise two different morphotypes: Baryonychinae indet. and Spinosaurinae? indet. Baryonychinae indet. was produced by baryonychines close to Baryonyx; teeth with similar morphology have been described in other sites from the Early Cretaceous of the Iberian Peninsula. Teeth tentatively attributed to Spinosaurinae? indet. were produced by spinosaurines close to Spinosaurus. This morphotype could provide new evidence of the presence of spinosaurines in the Early Cretaceous of the Iberian Peninsula. The small size of the teeth from La Cantalera-1 when compared with those from other sites is interpreted as the result of the conditions characteristic of the deposit area, which represents an ecosystem unable to sustain large-sized organisms.     

Lancetfish teeth (Neoteleostei, Alepisauroidei) from the Early Cretaceous of Alcaine, NE Spain

Isolated teeth of fossil lancetfishes (Neoteleostei, Alepisauroidei) are reported from Early Cretaceous strata of the Oliete subbasin (Iberian basin) in NE Spain. These are the oldest remains attributable to alepisauriform teleosts. The fossil-bearing strata are dated as lower Barremian. The teeth were recovered from shallow marine to lagoonal sediments. They closely resemble teeth of the fossil alepisauriforms Enchodus and Cimolichthys in overall morphology. The combination of fang-like morphology, sculpture consisting of apico-basal striations, postapical barb, absence of distal cutting edge, and wide pulp cavity surrounded by a rather thin layer of dentine is interpreted as the most basal tooth pattern in alepisauriforms. These remains may be isolated, but this study emphasizes the true value of such remains for palaeobiological studies, predicting the fossils provide characters for phylogenetic analyses.     

Lower Aptian carbon isotope stratigraphy from a distal carbonate shelf setting: the Cau section, Prebetic zone, SE Spain

A δ¹³C curve is reported for the latest Barremian to Early Aptian at a section located in the Prebetic zone (Cau section, SE Spain). The studied section records a hemipelagic succession of dark shales, deposited on a distal carbonate ramp with a high subsidence rate, adjacent to shallow carbonate environments. The integrated biostratigraphy of the section is based on ammonites, planktonic foraminifera and calcareous nannofossils, and it has allowed an accurate dating of the succession. The δ¹³C curve presented shows a distinctive evolution, leading to the recognition of three major excursions, as well as a subdivision into eight segments, which represents an improvement of the current biostratigraphic resolution. The correlation, both isotopic and biostratigraphical, with other well resolved sections is very accurate even at the higher resolution attained. Correlation with sections with low-resolution biostratigraphic characterisation from shallow platform limestones also gives good results, which supports the effectiveness of carbon isotope stratigraphy as a correlation tool.     

Two new species of Constrictoceras nov. gen. (Ammonoidea) from the Early Cretaceous (Aptian) of Hungary

The new genus Constrictoceras is described below, and is represented in Hungary by two new species: Constrictoceras foezyi sp. nov. and Constrictoceras steineri sp. nov. According to morphological similarities, they are provisionally assigned to Acanthohoplitinae, but the lack of sutures cannot keep us from the idea of a possible relationship with Puzosiinae or Silesitidae, therefore its phylogenetic position of Constrictoceras gen. nov. is uncertain. Morphologically similar forms are described from the Aptian of Madagascar (Collignon, M., 1962) and from the Middle Aptian of Colombia (Sharikadze et al., 2004). Stratigraphical and paleobiogeographical use is very limited for the new genus.     

Biostratigraphical dating of Cretaceous coral communities using large data sets

Habitats of hermatypic corals are shallow and turbulent marine environments that often lack biostratigraphic index fossils. For that reason many Cretaceous coral faunas are imprecisely dated or dated only on the basis of comparisons with other coral faunas. Using a large database on the taxonomy, stratigraphical and geographical distribution of corals in the Cretaceous, a method is proposed that will make it possible to specify the stratigraphical age of coral associations on the basis of their specific composition. In this process the stratigraphical range of the species (calculated before from well-dated faunas) is summarized and a probable age of the association proposed. The method does not only help to assess the biostratigraphical age of a fauna, but may also indicate whether a fauna represents an original composition or is a mixed association derived from reworked horizons or olistoliths. The method can be applied to any other group of organisms, provided that the essential data for a comparison are available.      

New jewel beetles (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) from the Cretaceous of Russia,Kazakhstan, and Mongolia

A new jewel beetle genus, with one species (Cretofrontolina kzyldzharica gen. et sp. nov.) from the Upper Cretaceous of Kazakhstan is described based on a body; and three new species of the formal genus Metabuprestium are described based on isolated elytra: Metabuprestium sibiricum sp. nov. and M. arkagalense sp. nov. come from the Arkagala locality (Upper Cretaceous of Russia) and M. ichbogdense sp. nov. is from the Shar Tologoi locality (Lower Cretaceous of Mongolia).     

中国东北早白垩世一种新的昼蜓化石 (蜻蜓目: 昼蜓科)

本文记述昼蜓科化石一新属新种-孟氏丽昼蜓Abrohemeroscopus mengi gen.et sp.nov.。化石采自辽宁省义县早白垩世九佛堂组地层中。新属与巴依萨昼蜓Hemeroscopus Pritykina,1977在形态上比较相似,但在演化程度上更为原始,主要体现在下面几个方面：(1) 后翅臀套较小,仅有6～7个翅室; (2) 径增脉（Rspl）缺; (3) 后翅CuAa脉弯曲,带有5个明显的后分支; (4)前翅MP脉不显短,终止于翅后缘近翅结处; (5) 翅痣下有一个明显的支脉; (6) 后翅CuAa 和MP域基部较窄,在三角室下方仅有1排翅室。这是昼蜓科化石在中国的最老记录。     

A new anatomically preserved ginkgoalean genus from the Upper Cretaceous (Cenomanian) of the Czech Republic

A new genus of ginkgoalean woody branch, Pecínovicladus kvaceki gen. et sp. nov., is described from the Upper Cretaceous (mid to late Cenomanian) Peruc-Korycany Formation at Pecínov Quarry, near Prague, Czech Republic. Eighteen branch specimens, anatomically preserved as charcoal, the product of wildfire, occur as allochthonous assemblages in intertidal facies and as parauthochthonous assemblages in supratidal salt marsh facies. Primary branches range from 7–13 mm in diameter, and are composed of a central, parenchymatous pith, a medial pycnoxylic xylem layer, and an outer periderm layer. Closely spaced, helically arranged leaf bases and rare secondary branch scars characterize the exterior. The branches are confidently referred to the Ginkgoales on the basis of a variety of diagnostic xylem features, most notably the presence of inflated axial parenchyma containing moulds of crystals, and by the precise anatomical correspondence of the leaf bases to those of detached, but facies-associated Nehvizdya obtusa leaves of known ginkgoalean affinity. The newly described ginkgoalean, together with cheirolepidiaceous conifers, formed fire-prone vegetation in halophytic salt marsh environments under a seasonal, subtropical climate.     

†Cormopsocidae: A new family of the suborder Trogiomorpha (Insecta: Psocodea) from Burmese amber

Cormopsocidae n. fam . of the psocid suborder Trogiomorpha was proposed for a fossil species from mid‐Cretaceous Burmese amber, Cormopsocus groehni n. gen . & n. sp . This family was estimated to be the sister group of all other trogiomorphan taxa, but the possibility of much deeper divergence (i.e. placement as a sister group of all Psocodea) could not be excluded. Cormopsocus groehni retains many plesiomorphic features, which will contribute greatly to elucidating the ancestral state of Psocodea.