Middle Ordovician (Llanvirn) ungulate brachiopods and conodonts from the Malyi Karatau Range,Kazakhstan

A new middle Ordovician fauna including conodonts and brachiopods is described from the early Llanvirn Zhyrykaus Formation, Malyi Karatau Range, southern Kazakhstan. The fauna includes the lingulate brachiopodsHyperobolus fragilis n. sp. andTalasotreta apollonovi n. gen. n. sp., as well as the conodontsCordylodus? cf.horridus, Drepanoistodus? sp.,Erraticodon sp.,Parapaltodus simplicissimus, Prioniodus (Baltoniodus) sp.,Protopanderodus cf.varicostatus, andWalliserodus sp. s. f. It represents the first record of Llanvirn conodonts and Ungulate brachiopods from southern Kazakhstan.     

Cenozoic phoenicopteriform birds from central Asia

A new phoenicopteriform bird, Palaelodus kurochkini sp. nov., is described from the terminal middle Miocene of Mongolia (the Sharga locality) on the basis of a partial tibiotarsus and tentatively associated fragmentary tarsometatarsus, carpometacarpus and proximal phalanx of the major wing digit. This is the first record of the extinct phoenicopteriform family Palaelodidae in Asia and shows that the genus Palaelodus is one of few taxa in the Sharga fauna to have a wide distribution range. Two other fossils of Phoenicopteriform birds from the Cenozoic of Central Asia are also restudied in this work; Agnopterus turgaiensis from the early Oligocene of Kazakhstan is provisionally placed within the extant family Phoenicopteridae, and Cygnopterus lambrechti, also from the Lower Oligocene of Kazakhstan, is identified as belonging to an indeterminate phoenicopteriform family.     

Taxonomic note on some paleozoic marine algae (Uzbekistan, Central Asia)

The paleozoic marine algae of Central Asia were recently investigated and attributed to warm-water and Tethyan microflora. If the majority of the taxa (114 out of 117) were already described from other basins, a few elements merit attention. Two chlorophyte species are new (Atractyliopsis nuratauensis nov. sp., Amarellina moscoviensis nov. sp.) and a new Hoeegonites sp. is left in open nomenclature. The flora also contains representatives of the puzzling Moniliporelleae, a rhodophyte family only reported from Kazakhstan with the genus Furcatoporella. An unusual in situ cluster of calcispheres is also illustrated.     

Contributions to the systematics of the genus Microsiphum (homoptera, aphididae)

Microsiphum Cholodkovsky (Macrosiphini) is a small genus comprising 11 species and subspecies distributed in the Palaearctic Region. After examination of the collection of the Institute of Zoology (Kazakhstan), Microsiphum diversisetosum sp. n. from Artemisia abrotanum (northern and western Kazakhstan) is described. New synonymies are established: M. nudum Holman, 1961 = M. minus Bozhko, 1963, syn. n., M. ptarmicae Cholodkovsky, 1902 = M. heptapotamicum Kadyrbekov, 2000, syn. n. The taxonomic rank of M. procerae subalpicum Mamontova, 1982 stat. n. and M. jazykovi wahlgreni Hille Ris Lambers, 1947 stat. n. is changed. A key to the known taxa of the genus Microsiphum is given.     

First records of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Mirovia</Emphasis> Reymanówna (Miroviaceae,Coniferales) from the Lower Jurassic of Western Kazakhstan (Mangyshlak)

Two new species, Mirovia asiatica sp. nov. and Mirovia kazachstanica sp. nov., are described from the Lower Jurassic of Mangyshlak (western Kazakhstan). Representatives of Mirovia Reymanówna are for the first time found in the Lower Jurassic and for the first time in Central Asia. A new combination, M. eximia (Gordenko), comb. nov., is proposed. The morphology of stomatal guard cells is described in detail, based on examination of cross sections of leaves.     

New bibionomorpha (Insecta: Diptera) from the Jurassic of Asia

The new species Protorhyphus rohdendorfi sp. nov. (Protorhyphidae), Mesorhyphus handlirschi sp. nov., and M. hennigi sp. nov. (Anisopodidae), Procramptonomyia ponomarenkoi sp. nov. and P. kovalevi sp. nov. (Procramptonomyiidae) are described from the Upper Jurassic deposits of Mongolia (Shar Teg); some features of Archirhyphus asiaticus Rohdendorf, 1964 are revealed. The latter two species are also known from the locality of Karatau (Kazakhstan, J_2/3). The genus Tega Blagoderov, Krzemi??ska, and Krzemi??ski, 1993 is transferred from the family Cramptonomyiidae into Anisopodidae (Teginae subfam. nov.).     

Early Silurian (Rhuddanian) rugose corals and sponges from the Ak-Kerme Peninsula,Kazakhstan

An assemblage of earliest Silurian (Llandovery, Rhuddanian) fossils from South Kazakhstan (Ak-Kerme Peninsula, Lake Balkhash) contains solitary rugose corals (Calostylis denticulata, Streptelasma? sp., and Cystipaliphyllum sp.) and the demosponge Calycocoelia typicalis, which are described here. This assemblage occurs with previously described brachiopods and constitutes a post extinction survival fauna; such faunas are poorly known and this study fills a gap in our knowledge. All three genera of Rugosa were transitional across the Ordovician–Silurian boundary and are also reported from other parts of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan during the Llandovery. Streptelasma had already been present in Kazakhstan during the Ordovician, while during the Rhuddanian Calostylis immigrated from Baltica or China, and Cystipaliphyllum from the Australian part of Gondwana. Demosponges are rare during the Llandovery but probably had a cosmopolitan distribution. Calycocoelia typicalis marks the first Rhuddanian record of lithistid demosponges, and the first record of Silurian demosponges from Kazakhstan.     

Revision of the Aphid genus Avicennina Narzikulov, 1957 (Homoptera, Aphididae)

In the course of examination of material of the genus Avicennina Narzikulov, 1957 in the collection of the Institute of Zoology of the Republic of Kazakhstan (Almaty), A. turkestanica Akhmedov, 1994, previously known from the Alai Range, Uzbekistan was recorded for the first time for the fauna of Kazakhstan. Avicennina almatina sp. n. from cow-parsnip (Heracleum dissectum) is described as a new species from South-Eastern Kazakhstan (the Zailiyskiy Alatau Range). A new synonymy is established: Avicennina sogdiana Narzikulov, 1957 = A. spiraecola Akhmedov, 1994, syn. n. Keys to apterous and alate seasonal morphs of Avicennina are provided.     

A new species and a new combination of the Mesozoic genus Podocarpophyllum Gomolitzky (Coniferales)

Podocarpophyllum Gomolitzky is studied in detail from the type locality Angren (Uzbekistan, Middle Jurassic). Emended diagnoses of the genus and its type species P. singulare Gomolitzky are provided. For the first time, members of the genus are reported from the Lower Jurassic of the Mangyshlak Peninsula (western Kazakhstan), where P. kazachstanicum sp. nov. is described, and from the Middle Jurassic of the eastern Ural Mountains, where P. mesozoicum (Kiritchkova) comb. nov. is established. The epidermal morphology of the genus Podocarpophyllum is compared with that of fossil and modern members of the Podocarpaceae.     

Taxonomy of the genus Peyerimhoffia Kieffer from Mainland China,with a description of seven new species (Diptera,Sciaridae)

The taxonomy of the genus Peyerimhoffia Kieffer in China was studied. Eight species were recognized, including seven new species that are herein described and illustrated: P. hamata sp. n., P. obesa sp. n., P. sparsula sp. n., P. longiprojecta sp. n., P. brachypodua sp. n., P. yunnana sp. n., and P. shennongjiana sp. n. In addition, P. vagabunda (Winnertz, 1867) is reported for the first time from China. A key to these Chinese species is provided.     

A New Species of a Bee of the Genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sphecodes</Emphasis> Latreille (Hymenoptera,Halictidae) from Kazakhstan

Sphecodes trjapitzinisp. n. is described and illustrated from Kazakhstan (Almaty Province), increasing the number of species reported from the region to 31.     

New data on the systematics of the Palaearctic species of the Dolichopus longisetus Negrobov, 1977 group (Diptera,Dolichopodidae)

Three new species of the Dolichopus longisetus Negrobov, 1977 group, Dolichopus kasakhstaniensis sp. n. from Kazakhstan, Dolichopus venturii sp. n. from Italy, and Dolichopus shamshevi sp. n. from various regions of Eastern Siberia, Amurskaya Province, Primorskii Territory, and Sakhalin Island, are described.     

New or Little-Known Crickets of the Subfamily Phalangopsinae (Orthoptera,Gryllidae): 12. The Genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Parendacustes</Emphasis> (Part 3) and Other Taxa

Parendacustes (Minizacla) papua sp. n., P. (M.) wasile sp. n., Longizacla lambusango sp. n., Luzonogryllus (Squamizacla) palawanensis meridionalis subsp. n., subtribe Parendacustina (Phalangopsini), Phalangopsina clara sp. n., Indozacla gen. n., subtribe Indozaclina subtrib. n. (Phalangopsini), and Brevizacla desultor sp. n., subtribe Brevizaclina (Paragryllini), are described from Indonesia and India. The genus Pseudendacustes Chopard, 1928 stat. resurr. from an uncertain subtribe of the tribe Paragryllini is restored from the synonymy of the genus Paragryllodes Karny, 1909. New data on the distribution and systematic position of some other taxa of the subfamily Phalangopsinae from Southeast Asia and Oceania are also provided.     

Additions to the knowledge on fossil rodents of Uruguay (Mammalia: Rodentia)

Additions to the knowledge on fossil rodents of Uruguay (Mammalia: Rodentia). — This paper brings new information on fossil rodents of Uruguay. Four new species are described:Microcavia (M.) aua n. sp. (Caviidae),Ctenomys mesorhinus n. sp. (Octodontidae),Isostylomys intermedius n. sp. andIsostylomys magnus n. sp. (Dinomyidae), the latter from Argentina. Apart from this,Palmiramys waltheri Kraglievich, 1932, illustrated here for the first time, is considered a Lower Oligocene (Deseadan) ?Dasyproctidae. The first records for Uruguay ofEucardiodon cf.marshi (Ameghino) (Hydrochoeridae), and +Holochilus brasiliensis (Desmarest) are reported.     

Three New Species of Dance Flies of the Subgenus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Empis</Emphasis> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Polyblepharis</Emphasis>) (Diptera,Empididae) from Kazakhstan and Eastern Siberia

Three new species of dance flies (Diptera, Empididae) of the subgenus Polyblepharis Bezzi, 1909 of the genus Empis Linnaeus, 1758 are described and illustrated: E. (P.) bartakisp. n. (Kazakhstan), E. (P.) dulkeitisp. n. (Russia (Krasnoyarsk Territory)), and E. (P.) ozerovisp. n. (Kazakhstan).     

On the fauna of the bristletail family Machilidae (Thysanura) of the Caucasus and southern Kazakhstan

Four new species, Trigoniophthalmus dombayi sp. n. from Stavropol Province, T. vorontzovi sp. n. and T. montanus sp. n. from Krasnodar Province, Allopsontus varvarae sp. n. from southeastern Kazakhstan, and the new subgenus Allopsontus (Aridopsontinus) subgen. n., are described. Keys to all the known species of the genus Trigoniophthalmus Verh. from the Caucasus and to subgenera of the genus Allopsontus Silv. of the world fauna are given.     

Taxonomy and phylogeny of theParanourosorex lineage,Neogene of Eurasia (Mammalia: Soricidae: Anourosoricini)

Paranourosorex remains from 14 Miocene and Pliocene localities in Inner Mongolia (China) and SW Siberia (Russia, Kazakhstan) are referred to a detailed biochronological sequence. The fossils are considered to represent a single evolutionary lineage which ranges in time from late middle Turolian (MN 12) through late early Ruscinian (MN 14). The lineage is subdivided into 5 species, including the previously describedP. gigas Rzebik-Kowalska 1975 from Poland.Neomys inexspectatus Schlosser 1924 is assigned toParanourosorex, andP. seletiensis n.sp. is described as new. All taxa are diagnosed. Evolutionary changes within theParanourosorex lineage over a period of about 1.5 my are discussed. Intratribal comparisons suggest 3 anourosoricine clades during the Mio/Pliocene of Eurasia, consisting of 1)Crusafontina, 2) Paranourosorex, and 3)Anourosorex andAmblycoptus.     

Cylindrotomidae (Diptera,Tipulomorpha) from the paleogene of bolshaya svetlovodnaya (Eastern Asiatic USSR)

Cyttaromyia rayona n. sp. andCylindrotoma biamoensis n. sp. are described from limnic deposits of probably Oligocène age of Bolshaya Svetlovodnaya. Both belong to the rarely preserved tipulomorph family Cylindrotomidae and are the first fossil representatives of cylindrotomids from Asia.