Thelodont Scales from the Lower Devonian Red Bay Group, Spitsbergen

Scales of nine thelodont taxa are described from the Red Bay Group of Spitsbergen, also characterized by its assemblage of other typical Early Devonian vertebrates. The four thelodont–bearing horizons of the lower Fraenkelryggen Formation yield typical Lochkovian thelodont assemblages, containing Boreania minima , Canonia grossi , Nikolivia depressa sp. nov., Nikolivia elongata , Nikolivia gutta and Turinia pagei . One horizon from the younger Ben Nevis Formation has a similar thelodont assemblage, except for two new taxa; Apalolepis angelica sp. nov. and Turinia barentsia sp. nov. The appearance of Turinia polita and the disappearance of Boreania minima is also characteristic for this assemblage. Comparison with similar faunas from the Northern Hemisphere supports this faunal change and allows further elaboration of Early Devonian thelodont biostratigraphy.     

Taxonomic revision, phylogenetic analysis, and biogeography of the bee genus Tropidopedia (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Tapinotaspidini)

The species of the bee genus Tropidopedia stat. nov. are revised. Thirteen new species are proposed: T. carinata sp. nov. , T. caracicola sp. nov. , T. danunciae sp. nov. , T. duckeana sp. nov. , T. eliasi sp. nov. , T. flavolineata sp. nov. , T. friesei sp. nov. , T. japuraensis sp. nov. , T. nigrita sp. nov. , T. nigrocarinata sp. nov. , T. ornata sp. nov. , T. peruana sp. nov. and T. venezuelana sp. nov. Taxonomic notes are provided for another four species: Tropidopedia punctifrons (Smith, 1879) comb. nov. , T. pallidipennis (Friese, 1899) comb. nov. , T. seabrai (Michener & Moure, 1957) and T. arcuatilis (Vachal, 1909) comb. nov. , including designation of a lectotype for Tetrapedia arcuatilis Vachal. An identification key, illustrations for main diagnostic characters, and distributions maps for all species are provided. A phylogenetic analysis was carried out to evaluate the monophyly of Tropidopedia and its main species groups, as well as to position it among the related genera. Biogeographical patterns are discussed.  © 2007 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2007, 151 , 511–554.     

Phylogeny of the pollinating yucca moths, with revision of Mexican species (Tegeticula and Parategeticula; Lepidoptera, Prodoxidae)

The yucca moths ( Tegeticula and Parategeticula ; Lepidoptera, Prodoxidae) are well known for their obligate relationship as exclusive pollinators of yuccas. Revisionary work in recent years has revealed far higher species diversity than historically recognized, increasing the number of described species from four to 20. Based on field surveys in Mexico and examination of collections, we describe five additional species: T. californica Pellmyr sp. nov. , T. tehuacana Pellmyr & Balcázar-Lara sp. nov. , T. tambasi Pellmyr & Balcázar-Lara sp. nov., T. baja Pellmyr & Balcázar-Lara sp. nov. and P. ecdysiastica Pellmyr & Balcázar-Lara sp. nov . Tegeticula treculeanella Pellmyr is identified as a junior synonym of T. mexicana Bastida. A diagnostic key to the adults of all species of the T. yuccasella complex is provided. A phylogeny based on a 2104-bp segment of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) in the cytochrome oxidase I and II region supported monophyly of the two pollinator genera, and strongly supported monophyly of the 17 recognized species of the T. yuccasella complex. Most relationships are well supported, but some relationships within a recent and rapidly diversified group of 11 taxa are less robust, and in one case conflicts with a whole-genome data set (amplified fragment length polymorphism, AFLP). The current mtDNA-based analyses, together with previously published AFLP data, provide a robust phylogenetic foundation for future studies of life-history evolution and host interactions in one of the classical models of coevolution and obligate mutualism.  © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2008, 152 , 297–314.     

SERPUKHOVIAN CONODONTS FROM NORTHERN SPAIN AND THEIR BIOSTRATIGRAPHIC APPLICATION

Abstract:  Conodont collections from late Viséan–early Bashkirian deposits include numerous elements related to the cosmopolitan species Gnathodus bilineatus (Roundy) in the Cantabrian Mountains. Arnsbergian beds yield the taxa Gnathodus bilineatus leonicus subsp. nov., G. millarensis sp. nov., G. truyolsi sp. nov. and Gnathodus sp. nov. A. Almost all are also found in limestones of similar age in the Pyrenees, and the G. truyolsi conodont Zone is defined for the upper Serpukhovian of the northern Iberian Peninsula. In addition, numerous references to the proposed taxa come from Austria, Eastern Europe, Northern Africa and Asian localities. The increase in gnathodid diversity and abundance in northern Spain is related to a local Arnsbergian drowning episode of the carbonate platform. G. truyolsi is possibly derived from G. b. bilineatus , and there is morphological convergence with Gnathodus kiensis Pazukhin.     

Early Ordovician bivalves from Dali, West Yunnan, China

A bivalve fauna of Early Ordovician (late Arenig) age is described from the Hsiangyang Formation of the eastern part of West Yunnan, China. The fauna contains elements in common with Early Ordovician faunas of southern Gondwanan areas such as the Montagne Noire and Morocco and with those of Avalonia, together with several previously undescribed taxa. The following taxa are new: Biseriodonta simplex gen. et sp. nov.; Glyptarca sinensis sp. nov.; Trigonoglyptarca magna gen. et sp. nov.; Erhaiconcha xiangyangensis gen. et sp. nov.; Fasciculodonta impressa gen. et sp. nov.; Yunnanoredonia laevis gen. et sp. nov.; Daliella gen. nov.; Goniophorina ( Goniophorina ) contracta sp. nov.; Haidongoconcha radialis gen. et sp. nov.; Eopterinea aequiconcha gen. et sp. nov. The bivalve fauna includes the most diverse glyptarcid fauna and the earliest nuculanid and paracyclid known hitherto.   Eastern West Yunnan belonged to the Indochina terrane and it is concluded that the bivalve fauna represents a high-latitude assemblage and that the Indochina terrane should be considered a component part of the Peri-Gondwanan continent in the Ordovician; its bivalve faunas contrast with those of neighbouring terranes which have affinities with those of lower latitudes.     

ORDOVICIAN (ARENIG–CARADOC) SYNTROPHIIDINE BRACHIOPODS FROM THE EAST BALTIC REGION

Abstract:  Syntrophiidine brachiopods are a rare and poorly known component of Ordovician Baltoscandian faunas. They appear in the East Baltic in the Billingenian (lower Arenig) as part of the earliest known benthic assemblages dominated by elements of the Palaeozoic Evolutionary Fauna. These faunal assemblages usually include bryozoans, ostracodes, and the earliest known porambonitoids, strophomenides and endopunctate orthides, such as Idiostrophia and Orthidium , which later became characteristic of the Whiterockian brachiopod assemblages in Laurentia, but by that time had disappeared from Baltica. The superfamily Syntrophioidea reappears in Baltoscandia in the mid Caradoc. In contrast, Porambonitoidea remained the integral part of the Baltoscandian brachiopod associations through the Ordovician. Porambonites , herein redefined on the basis of restudy of the type species P. intermedius , includes only smooth porambonitoids; taxa with the distinctive ornament of radiating rows of pits first appeared in the group in the mid Arenig. The taxa Eoporambonites gen. nov., Tetralobula peregrina sp. nov., Idiostrophia prima sp. nov. and Idiostrophia tenuicostata sp. nov. are erected.     

NEW MYSIDIELLIDAE (BIVALVIA) FROM THE ANISIAN (MIDDLE TRIASSIC) OF QINGYAN, SOUTH-WEST CHINA

Abstract:  Three new genera including four new species of the bivalve family Mysidiellidae are described from late middle to early late Anisian (Middle Triassic) deposits of Qingyan, Guizhou Province, south-west China. The new taxa Leidapoconcha gigantea gen. et sp. nov., Waijiaoella elegans gen. et sp. nov., Waijiaoella speciosa gen. et sp. nov. and Qingyaniola mirabilis gen. et sp. nov. significantly increase the known taxonomic diversity within the Mysidiellidae. These findings suggest a somewhat endemic evolutionary development within this small bivalve family during the Middle Triassic in south-west China.     

A new species of Swertia L. (Gentianaceae) from Nepal

Swertia barunensis P. Chassot sp. nov. from Nepal is described and illustrated. It was collected in 1997 in an alpine meadow in the Makalu Barun National Park at an elevation of 4200 m. It belongs to Swertia section Macranthos T.-N. Ho & S.-W. Liu and resembles S. pseudohookeri H. Smith, from which it differs mainly by the shape of the nectary and the exomorphic seed structure. A key to all the species of sect. Macranthos is provided. The affinities of S. barunensis with some other taxa in the subtribe Swertiinae (Griseb.) Rchb. are also briefly discussed.  © 2003 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2003, 141, 389–394.     

Lower Devonian Polyplacophora from New South Wales, Australia

Silicified polyplacophorans are common in the Lower Devonian Garra Formation in New South Wales. Four taxa occur within the lower 237 m of the formation at 14 horizons associated with an abundant and diverse fauna. Chelodes calceoloides Etheridge ranges through the section. New taxa are Chelodes cordatus sp. nov., Acutichiton depressolatus sp. nov., and Jugochiton patulus gen. and sp. nov. A single plate of an indeterminate genus occurs in the lower portion of the Camelford Limestone.     

Two new records of Telenominae (Hymenoptera, Scelionidae) from the Rovno amber (Eocene of Ukraine)

Two new scelionid species of the subgenus Telenomus, genus Telenomus, subfamily Telenominae are described: Telenomus (Telenomus) oculus sp. nov. and T. (T.) tetragonus sp. nov. Brief morphological characterizations of the new taxa are given, and comparative analysis of the inclusions described and members of the recent fauna is provided.     

NEW FOSSIL LACEWINGS AND ANTLIONS (INSECTA, NEUROPTERA) FROM THE LOWER CRETACEOUS CRATO FORMATION OF BRAZIL

Abstract:  Remarkable new fossil taxa of Neuroptera from the laminated limestone of the Crato Formation, north-east Brazil, are described: Nuddsia longiantennata gen. et sp. nov. (Osmylidae, Gumillinae), the first fossil record of this family from South America, Parapalaeoleon magnus gen. et sp. nov. (Palaeoleontidae), and Triangulochrysopa formosa sp. nov. (Mesochrysopidae). A diagnosis of Gumillinae is provided; Epiosmylidae is considered to be a synonym of this subfamily. A revised diagnosis of Palaeoleontidae is provided, based on a new interpretation of venational characters evident on the exceptionally well-preserved specimen of P. magnus ; vein homologies are determined and the fusion of MP and CuA is discussed. The genus Triangulochrysopa has been known previously only from the Lower Cretaceous of Las Hoyas, Spain.     

EARLY LLANDOVERY CHITINOZOANS FROM JORDAN

Abstract:  Chitinozoans recovered from cores BG-14 and WS-6 in southern and eastern Jordan are described. Sample ages are well-constrained by graptolite data to the ascensus-acuminatus and vesiculosus graptolite biozones. Eighteen chitinozoan taxa are recognized, with Spinachitina  fragilis , Plectochitina  nodifera , Ancyrochitina  laevaensis and Belonechitina  postrobusta allowing correlation with both local and global chitinozoan and graptolite biozonations for the Rhuddanian. One new species of chitinozoan is erected, Belonechitina  pseudarabiensis sp. nov.     

Patterns of evolution and extinction in proetid trilobites during the late Devonian mass extinction event,Canning Basin,Western Australia

Abstract: In the early Late Devonian, terminal Frasnian proetid trilobites have previously only been known from Europe and North Africa. For the first time, a rich fauna of late Frasnian proetids is described from the Virgin Hills Formation, Canning Basin, Western Australia. Seventeen species in six genera are described, of which three are new: Rudybole gen. nov., Palpebralina gen. nov. and Canningbole gen. nov. A new subgenus, Chlupaciparia (Australoparia) subgen. nov. is also described. Fourteen of the species are new: Palpebralia initialis sp. nov., P. pustulata sp. nov., ?P. sp. nov. A, Rudybole depressa sp. nov., Palpebralina pseudopalpebralis sp. nov. (comprising the subspecies P. pseudopalpebralis pseudopalpebralis subsp. nov. and P. pseudopalpebralis ultima subsp. nov.), P. minor sp. nov., P. ocellifer sp. nov., Canningbole latimargo sp. nov., C. henwoodorum sp. nov., C. macromma sp. nov., Pteroparia extrema sp. nov., Chlupaciparia (Chlupaciparia) planiops sp. nov., Chlupaciparia (Australoparia) australis sp. nov. and C. (Australoparia) lata sp. nov. The subspecies Rudybole adorfensis angusta subsp. nov. is also described. The proetids range through conodont Zones 11–13b and terminate at the Upper Kellwasser Event, which marks the terminal Frasnian mass extinction event. Three of the six proetid lineages, Palpebralia, Canningbole and Pteroparia, show evolutionary trends of eye reduction. Two of the remaining lineages, Rudybole and Palpebralina, consist exclusively of blind taxa. The last, Chlupaciparia, also comprises forms with reduced eyes. The proetids show a stepped pattern of extinction during the late Frasnian, which correlate with two Kellwasser biocrises documented in European/North African Frasnian sections. The highest diversity preceded the Lower Kellwasser event that occurred at the end of conodont Zone 12 and saw the extinction of all species present in that zone. However, only one genus, Pteroparia, locally became extinct. A major higher‐level taxonomic mass extinction at the top of Zone 13b initiated the Upper Kellwasser extinction event. This included extinction at the generic level, with all five remaining genera becoming extinct, and at the family level, with the loss of the Tropidocoryphidae.     

Opisthobranch gastropods from the Lower Cretaceous of the Ulyanovsk Volga Region: 1. Genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tornatellaea</Emphasis> Conrad

Five new species of the genus Tornatellaea from the Lower Cretaceous of the Volga Region near Ulyanovsk, T. kabanovi sp. nov. (Hauterivian), T. densistriata sp. nov., T. gracilis sp. nov., T. volgensis sp. nov. (Barremian), and T. sinzovi sp. nov. (Aptian), are described. The data on geographical and stratigraphical distribution of new taxa are provided.     

A NEW OXFORDIAN PLIOSAURID (PLESIOSAURIA, PLIOSAURIDAE) IN THE CARIBBEAN SEAWAY

Abstract:  A new pliosaurid, Gallardosaurus iturraldei gen nov. et sp. nov., was found in the Viñales area, western Cuba, in sediments of the Jagua Formation, middle–late Oxfordian. This new taxon is characterized by: wide participation of the premaxilla in the outer margin of the external naris; frontal not participating in the orbital margin; postorbital in contact with the jugal and squamosal; presence of anterior pterygoid vacuity; cultriform process of parasphenoid convex and exposed in palatal view; pterygoid flanges high; jaw articulation low relative to tooth row; trihedral teeth in cross-section and with smooth ridges at least in the labial face. A phylogenetic analysis suggests that Gallardosaurus forms a clade with Peloneustes , the most common pliosaurid genus occurring in the Oxford Clay. The Caribbean Seaway was, at least since the Oxfordian, a corridor that permitted the interchange for marine biota between Western Tethys and Eastern Pacific realms. Among vertebrates, bony fish and long-necked plesiosaurs prevailed. However, marine pleurodiran turtles, metriorhynchid crocodilians, ophthalmosaurian ichthyosaurs, and pliosaurids ( G. iturraldei gen. nov. et sp. nov.) have also been found, as well as at least two species of pterosaurs, and one camarasaurian dinosaur. Among these reptiles there were off-shore pelagic forms such as the ichthyosaurs and metriorhynchids, together with the pliosaurid G. iturraldei gen. nov. et sp. nov.; other taxa were presumably less pelagic, such as the pleurodiran turtles and the cryptoclidid plesiosauroids. Gallardosaurus iturraldei gen. nov. et sp. nov. would have played the role of an active predator taking advantage of nectonic fish recorded in the area.     

A new diploid species of Hieracium sect. Pannosa (Asteraceae) from Bulgaria

Hieracium petrovae Vladimirov & Szeląg sp. nov. , a new diploid (2 n  = 18) species in H. sect. Pannosa Zahn, is described and illustrated from the Rhodope Mountains, South Bulgaria, and compared with related taxa. It grows in relict habitats in crevices of limestone rock together with many Balkan endemics. H. petrovae is morphologically similar to taxa from the H. pannosum , H. pilosissimum and H. heldreichii groups (collective species sensu Zahn) to some of which it is a presumed ancestral species.  © 2006 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2006, 150 , 261–265.     

广东地区红菇属的分类初报及一新种和一新变种

本文根据Henri Romagnesi(1967)的分类系统就作者在广东地区所采集到的红菇属Russula33个种作了分类上的研究。其中新种1种即广东红菇Russula guangdongensis Bi & T.H.Li,sp.nov.,新变种一种即小小红菇Russula minutula var.minor Bi var.nov.和12种国内新记录种。文中有新种及新变种的形态描述及微观图,分种及所属亚组的检索表。     

A new species of Arabis (Brassicaceae) from inner Anatolia

A new species of Arabis L., A. erikii Mutlu sp. nov. , is described and illustrated. The species is restricted to inner Anatolia, south-west of Sivas. It grows on steppes. Diagnostic morphological characters are given for discrimination from the most similar taxa.  © 2004 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2004, 145 , 251–256.