Three species of Pagodia (Corynexochida,Trilobita) from the Furongian (Cambrian) of northern Anhui,China and their intraspecific variation

More than one thousand cranidia, librigenae, and pygidia of the trilobite Pagodia were collected from the Cambrian (upper Jiangshanian through Stage 10) at Fenghuangshan in northern Anhui, China. They were identified as Pagodia lotos Walcott, 1905, Pagodia depressa (Walcott, 1905), and Pagodia bia Walcott, 1905. Based on one rare nearly complete exoskeleton of P. depressa and comparisons among the three species of Pagodia, the redefinition for those species is attempted as follows. Pagodia lotos: Glabella rectangular, slightly convergent anteriorly; anterior border ridge-like, anterior border furrow deep; pygidium semicircular, axis tapered rearward, with 4 axial rings and a terminal piece. P. depressa: Cranidium subquadrate, highly convex; glabella cylindrical, convergent anteriorly; pygidium semicircular. P. bia: Glabella rectangular, constricted in the midlength; fixigena wide (tr.); anterior border very narrow (sag.) and ridge-like; pygidium semicircular with wide borders; pygidial axis ended closer to the pygidial border furrow. We also discuss their intraspecific variations, commonly seen on the exfoliated specimens: palpebral ridge evident or obliterated, the length (sag.) of anterior area variable, the decoration of exoskeleton surface (with granules variable in size, convex or pitted).     

Late ontogeny of the trilobite Tsinania shanxiensis (Zhang and Wang, 1985) from the Cambrian (Furongian) of Anhui,China and its systematic implications

A new occurrence of Tsinania shanxiensis (Zhang and Wang, 1985) n. comb., is reported herein from northern Anhui, China. This species is here transferred from Guluheia to Tsinania as the differences between the two genera are not enough to support the generic difference. The late ontogeny of T. shanxiensis is documented herein, which provides important evidence for the evolutionary origin of the Family Tsinaniidae. The late ontogeny of the pygidia of T. shanxiensis is divided into four stages: PSS+2 stage, PSS+1 stage, early holaspid stage, and late holaspid stage. The immature morphology of T. shanxiensis retains long pygidial spines, reminicent of Mansuyia. Therefore, the morphology of T. shanxiensis can be regarded as the transitional type between kaolishaniids (e.g., Mansuyia orientalis, M. tani) and tsinaniids (e.g., T. canens, Shergoldia laevigata) during the middle Furongian.     

Post-embryonic development of the Furongian (late Cambrian) trilobite Tsinania canens: implications for life mode and phylogeny

SUMMARY The current concept of the order Asaphida was proposed to accommodate some Cambrian and Ordovician trilobite clades that are characterized by the possession of a ventral median suture. The family Tsinaniidae was recently suggested to be a member of the order Asaphida on the basis of its close morphological similarity to Asaphidae. Postembryonic development of the tsinaniid trilobite, Tsinania canens , from the Furongian (late Cambrian) Hwajeol Formation of Korea, reveals that this trilobite had an adult-like protaspis. Notable morphological changes with growth comprise the effacement of dorsal furrows, sudden degeneration of pygidial spines, regression of genal spines, and loss of a triangular rostral plate to form a ventral median suture. Programmed cell death may be responsible for degenerating the pygidial and genal spines during ontogeny. Morphological changes with growth, such as the loss of pygidial spines, modification of pleural tips, and effacement of dorsal furrows, suggest that T. canens changed its life mode during ontogeny from benthic crawling to infaunal. The protaspid morphology and the immature morphology of T. canens retaining genal and pygidial spines suggest that tsinaniids bear a close affinity to leiostegioids of the order Corynexochida. Accordingly, development of a ventral median suture in T. canens demonstrates that the ventral median suture could have evolved polyphyletically, and thus the current concept of the order Asaphida needs to be revised.     

The Furongian (upper Cambrian) Alum Shale of Scandinavia: revision of zonation

The zonation of the Furongian Alum Shale in Scandinavia, based on olenid trilobites, is reviewed and revised. The current scheme is rooted in a detailed zonation introduced in the late 1950s with subzones that subsequently have been elevated to zonal rank. Ten of these zones are difficult to recognize in all Alum Shale districts, and a revised zonation is proposed, focused on unambiguous identification throughout Scandinavia. The difficulties in recognizing zones in some districts mostly relate to biofacies differentiation. Representatives of Ctenopyge are, for instance, common in palaeo-offshore areas, whereas pelturines are rare in these settings and vice versa in palaeo-inboard settings. The following modifications of the olenid zonation are proposed: the Olenus scanicus Zone is renamed the O. scanicus–O. rotundatus Zone; the Ctenopyge similis and Ctenopyge spectabilis zones are replaced by the Sphaerophthalmus modestus–Sphaerophthalmus angustus Zone; the Ctenopyge tumida Zone is renamed the Peltura acutidens–Ctenopyge tumida Zone; the Peltura scarabaeoides Subzone is restored (as a zone) and replaces the Ctenopyge bisulcata and Ctenopyge linnarssoni zones. The Parabolina heres megalops (Sub)Zone is reinstated and replaces the Peltura paradoxa Zone; the Acerocarina granulata and P. costata zones are combined as the Acerocarina granulata–Peltura costata Zone. In addition, the name Proceratopyge nathorsti–Simulolenus alpha Zone is suggested for the polymerid zone corresponding to the upper Miaolingian Agnostus pisiformis Zone. The proposed changes reduce the number of Furongian Zones to 23, allocated to six superzones. No subzones are recognized, but some zones can potentially be subdivided for improved local correlation. The stratigraphical ranges of all Furongian olenid trilobites and agnostoids described from Scandinavia are summarized.     

Mansuyia Sun,and Tsinania Walcott,from the Furongian of North China and the evolution of the trilobite family Tsinaniidae

The Furongian trilobite family Tsinaniidae is characterized by a highly effaced surface and forms an important constituent of the Furongian trilobite faunas of east Gondwana. However, the origin of the characteristic morphology of this family has remained unclear. Only recently has the tsinaniid trilobite Lonchopygella megaspina been suggested to represent an intermediate stage in the evolutionary transition to other tsinaniids on the basis of the trunk segmentation. Here, we report successive occurrences of four species of the kaolishaniid genus Mansuyia and a tsinaniid trilobite Tsinania canens from the Furongian (late Cambrian) Chaomidian Formation in Shandong Province, China. A cladistic analysis including these taxa reveals that the four species of Mansuyia constitute stem‐group taxa to the family Tsinaniidae, rendering Mansuyia and the Kaolishaniidae paraphyletic. The youngest species of Mansuyia, M. taianfuensis, turns out to be the immediate sister taxon of the Tsinaniidae, displaying a closely similar morphology to the tsinaniid trilobite, Shergoldia laevigata. The generic and familial boundary therefore situated between M. taianfuensis and S. laevigata.     

A new Alokistocaridae Resser, 1939 (Trilobita) from the middle Cambrian of Spain

A new trilobite species, Schopfaspis? graciai, from the middle Cambrian of Spain is the first member of Alokistocaridae reported from west Gondwana. A cladistic analysis of this trilobite and other Gondwanan trilobites of possible alokistocarid affinities (Schopfaspis granulosa, Chelidonocephalus anatolicus, Derikaspis toluni, Kounamkites multiformis) suggests that this family can be divided into two subfamilies: Alokistocarinae and Altiocculinae. Schopfaspis? graciai nov. sp. and Schopfaspis granulosa are assigned to the subfamily Altiocculinae laying in a more basal position than Altiocculus species. The cladistic analysis also demonstrates a possible relationship of Chelidonocephalus anatolicus and Derikaspis toluni with Alokistocaridae. Enrolment is analysed in this new trilobite describing novelties in the ventral surface of the cephalon which allowed interlocking of the trunk and cephalon in a discoidal enrolment-type.     

Two new species ofSilhouetted (Gobiidae) from northern Australia

Two new species of the tropical Indo-Pacific gobiid genusSilhouetted, S. evanida andS. hoesei, are described from Darwin and Queensland, and the Cobourg Peninsula, N.T., respectively.S. evanida occurs in pools on intertidal sand flats along beaches and sandy creek mouths, andS. hoesei more sublittorally at 5–6 m on silty sand. A key to western Pacific and Australian species is included.     

安徽苦草属—新种

描述了1个新种,即安徽苦草,并提供了该属全部已知国产种的分种检索表。     

安徽苦草属一新种

描述了1个新种,即安徽苦草,并提供了该属全部已知国产种的分种检索表。     

Two new species of Myrtaceae (Myrteae) from northern South America

Two new species of Myrtaceae are described and illustrated. Campomanesia cucullata is a tree from Monte Alegre, Pará, in the Brazilian Amazon. It is most similar to C. lineatifolia, from which it differs by being leafless when flowering, and by having densely congested and very small flowers. Myrcianthes monteucalyptoides is a tree from Tarma, Junín, in Central Peru. It is most similar to Myrcianthes myrsinoides, but the new species differs by a combination of medium-sized, somewhat revolute, broadly-acuminate leaves, and by the solitary, pentamerous flowers with delicate pedicels.     

How species longevity, intraspecific morphological variation, and geographic range size are related: a comparison using late Cambrian trilobites

Phenotypic variation is fundamental to evolutionary change. Variation not only evinces the connectivity of populations but it is also associated with the adaptability and evolvability of taxa. Despite the potential importance of morphological variation in structuring evolutionary patterns, little is known about how relative differences in intraspecific morphological variation and its geographic structure are linked to differences in species longevity. This study offers a novel combination of analyses that reveal the quantitative relationships among intraspecific variation, geographic range size and duration in the fossil record using late Cambrian trilobites. Results show that geographic range size and duration are positively correlated. Surprisingly, longer lived species tend to have less intraspecific variation. Phylogenetic effects were also explored and found not to determine the association between these variables. However, the distribution of geographic range sizes shows strong phylogenetic signal. In light of previous work, one possible explanation for these results is that species with shorter durations have comparatively higher rates of morphological evolution, reflected in higher phenotypic variation overall.     

Two new species of Paraclius from China (Diptera,Dolichopodidae)

Thirty-one species of Paraclius Loew were known to occur in China. In this paper, two species are described as new to science: Paraclius ventralis sp. nov. and Paraclius wutongshanus sp. nov. A key to the Chinese species of Paraclius is provided.www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:3E803E27-5E44-4A55-91D5-DA088F986485.     

Global Standard Stratotype-section and Point (GSSP) of the Furongian Series and Paibian Stage (Cambrian)

The Global Standard Stratotype-section and Point (GSSP) of the Furongian Series (uppermost series of the Cambrian System) and the Paibian Stage (lowermost stage of the Furongian Series), has been recently defined and ratified by the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS). The boundary stratotype is 369 metres above the base of the Huaqiao Formation in the Paibi section, northwestern Hunan Province, China. This point coincides with the first appearance of the cosmopolitan agnostoid trilobite Glyptagnostus reticulatus, and occurs near the base of a large positive carbon isotopic excursion (SPICE excursion).     

Two new species of Matileola (Diptera,Keroplatidae) from China

Only three species belong to Matileola in previously described species of Keroplatidae from world. Here two species are added to the fauna of Chinese mainland, Matileola motuoensis sp. nov. and Matileola sejilaensis sp. nov., which are described and illustrated as new to science. A key to the species of Matileola from world is presented.LSID: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:09701DF4-61B5-42E4-BF05-EC9E68718758.     

Two new Daedalea species (Polyporales,Basidiomycota) from South China

Two new Daedalea species were described from South China based on morphological and molecular evidences. Daedalea circularis sp. nov. was discovered from Guangdong and Yunnan provinces, it is characterized by its bluish gray to peach, glabrous, concentrically sulcate and zonate pileal surface with irregular, white to cream outgrowth and fuscous to black patches spreading from the base, round hymenophore, colorless, thin-walled cystidioles present in the hymenium which sometimes with branched apiculus and occasionally collapsed and septate. Daedalea radiata sp. nov. was discovered from Yunnan Province, it is easily recognizable by its effused-reflexed, grayish-brown to fuscous, hispid pileal surface with angular to daedaleoid pores, tissue darkening and skeletal hyphae slightly swollen in KOH, and a typical catahymenium formed by apices of skeletal hyphae in the hymenium.