On high-armor bothriolepidid placoderms (Pisces,Placodermi, Bothriolepididae) from the Upper Devonian of the southern Ural Mountains and Kuznetsk Coal Basin

The bothriolepidid placoderms Bothriolepis markovskii sp. nov. from the southern Ural Mountains and Bothriolepididae gen. et sp. indet. from the Kuznetsk Coal Basin are described. The new species from the southern Ural Mountains has a high dorsal crest, resembling in this character Scottish B. cristata Traquair, Australian B. gippslandiensis Hills and B. cullodenensis Long, and B. heckeri Lukševičs from the Novgorod Region. The bothriolepidid from the Kuznetsk Coal Basin is similar to Bothriolepis from central Poland and Livnolepis from European Russia. The new finds expand the diversity and distribution of crested bothriolepidid antiarchs. Apparently, the high bone dorsal crest developed in parallel in the exoskeleton of different both-riolepidid groups.     

Vertebrate fossils of the Middle Devonian (Eifelian) Mühlenberg Formation in the Bergisches Land, northwestern Germany

Vertebrate fossils of the lower Middle Devonian Mühlenberg Formation from the western Bergisches Land (eastern Rhenish Massif) are described. The placoderms are represented by disarticulated plates of coccosteid arthrodires and the acanthodians by several ischnacanthid jaw bones and aMachaeracanthus finspine. The arthrodires are assigned to a new species; a new genus has to be erected if remains of trunk and head shield remains are conspecific.     

New Devonian punctate rhynchonellids (Brachiopoda) from Transcaucasia

New genus and species of punctate rhynchonellids Sharovaella mirabilis are described from the Famennian (Upper Devonian) of Transcaucasia.     

广西早泥盆世一新型胴甲鱼化石并初步探讨其系统分类位置

本文描述的胴甲鱼化石标本,采自广西象州大乐早泥盆世地层.化石系内、外模,但保存非常完整,包括自然连接的头部、躯干、胸鳍及躯甲后的尾部.头甲、躯甲的特征较为接近星鳞鱼 (Asterolepis) 的特征,而某些特征又与云南鱼 (Yunnanolepis) 类似.胸鳍分为近节和远节,鳍片排列近似欧洲的翼甲鱼 (Pterichthyodes) 型的胸鳍.根据头甲、躯甲及胸鳍的特征,笔者建立了一新属、新种——Liujiangolepis suni gen. et sp. nov.,代表胴甲鱼类中—新科——Liujiangolepidae fam. nov..文中对新属种的胸鳍结构和新属种在胴甲鱼类中的分类位置做了初步探讨.     

Occurrence of Sanqiaspis,Liu, 1975 (Vertebrata,Galeaspida) in the Lower Devonian of Vietnam,with remarks on the anatomy and systematics of the Sanqiaspididae

A new species of the huananaspidiform galeaspid genus Sanqiaspis is reported from the Lochkovian Si Ka Formation of northern Vietnam and is somewhat older than the previously recorded occurrences of this genus, from the Pragian Posongchong Formation of southern China. This species provides new information about the anatomy of the head shield in the Sanqiaspididae and notably provides evidence of a complete endoskeletal and dermal postbranchial wall, like in osteostracans. The various types of vertebrate assemblages defined in the Lower Devonian of China are discussed, by comparison to the vertebrate faunas hitherto recorded from the Lower Devonian of Vietnam, and it is suggested that their composition is strongly influenced by environmental factors.     

滇西早泥盆世大瓣鱼科(Macropetalichthyidae)化石的发现

<正> 泥盆纪的大瓣鱼化石目前除在南美和非洲尚未发现外,在全球其他各洲分布甚为广泛.它的分布时代可由早泥盆世延续到晚泥盆世.据统计目前发现的该科化石已达12个属.我国目前发现的大瓣鱼科化石共有5个属种,分布于华南的下、中泥盆统,主要发现于下泥盆统.     

Stenolaemate bryozoans from the Geirud Formation (Upper Devonian/Lower Carboniferous) of Central Alborz (Iran)

Two bryozoan species are described from the Geirud Formation (Upper Devonian/Lower Carboniferous) of Central Alborz (Iran). Trepostome Schulgina mutabilis Troizkaya, 1975 is known from the Upper Devonian (Famennian) of Central Kazakhstan. The new species Ascopora geirudensis n. sp. is the earliest known representative of the rhabdomesine genus Ascopora Trautschold, 1876.     

The First Record of a Lungfish (Dipnoi,Sarcopterygii) in the Famennian Deposits (Upper Devonian) of the Tver Oblast

Paleontological Journal - A new dipnoan genus and species Anchidipterus dariae Krupina, gen. et sp. nov. (Dipteridae) is described based on a lower jaw specimen from the Famennian (Upper Devonian)...     

华南泥盆系法门阶浅海相四射珊瑚的组合序列

晚泥盆世弗拉期末F-F的生物灭绝事件,导致珊瑚以及许多浅海底栖生物灭绝,几乎整个法门期珊瑚群都处于残存阶段,华南地区目前只在湖南的个别地方发现少量的Smithiphyllum。直到法门期末珊瑚和其它一些造礁底栖生物开始复苏,出现了不少与典型泥盆纪珊瑚存在很大差别的新分子。华南泥盆纪最晚期(Strunian)的珊瑚可划分成上、下两个组合:上部Cystophrentis组合;下部Eocaninophyllum组合。泥盆—石炭纪之交的另一次生物灭绝事件,使新生的泥盆纪最晚期的珊瑚又遭灭绝。     

A new coral genus (Tabulata) from the Upper Devonian of the Subpolar Urals

A new tabulate genus, Sokolovia gen. nov., with the type species B. pershinae sp. nov., from the Upper Devonian (Lower Famennian Substage) of the western slope of the Subpolar Urals is described.     

Bryozoans from the Mitikha Formation (Lower Famennian, Upper Devonian) of the Kuznetsk Basin, Russia

Bryozoans from the Mitikha Formation (Lower Famennian, Upper Devonian) in the Kuznetsk depression are described for the first time. This bryozoan assemblage comprises both the well-known species Leioclema numerosum Moroz., L. ramosum Nekh., and Nicklesopora graciosa Troiz. and new taxa: L. kusmense sp. nov. and Megacanthopora glubokaensis sp. nov. The bryozoan assemblage contains some species common with the Famennian bryozoan assemblage of Kazakhstan.     

A new pachyosteomorph arthrodire (Pisces: Placodermi) from the Upper Frasnian of the Central Devonian Field,Russia

A new genus and species of pachyosteomorph arthrodire, Omalosteus krutoensis gen. et sp. nov. from shallow-water marine deposits of the Evlanovo Regional Stage (Upper Frasnian, Upper Devonian) of the Central Devonian Field is described. It is tentatively referred to the family Trematosteidae Gross, 1932, which was earlier believed to be endemic to central Europe. The new genus is characterized by a rounded, dorsoventrally compressed cross section of the pectoral region and smooth head shield and postcranial membrane bones. The centrale is elongated, forming a narrow lateral lobe. The praeorbitale, postorbitale, and centrale come in contact in the center of the orbital region. The mediodorsale is wide, its carinal process projects considerably posteriorly. The anterior margin of the anterior ventrolaterale lacks articular facets for the interlaterale.     

A new species of eastmanosteid arthrodire (Pisces: Placodermi) from Gogo, Western Australia

A new species of Eastmanosteus Obruchev is described from the Upper Devonian Gogo Formation of Western Australia as E. calliaspis sp. nov. It is at the pachyosteomorph level of organization having no contact between the plates of the flank and those of the ventral shield behind the pectoral fin. Well preserved material of the parasphenoid and scapulocoracoid throws further light on the structure of these elements in arthrodires. The genus Eastmanosteus is reviewed.     

Microconchid tubeworms across the upper Frasnian – lower Famennian interval in the Central Devonian Field,Russia

Abstract: Microconchid tubeworms (Tentaculita) encrusting brachiopod shells have been investigated from the upper Frasnian – lower Famennian (Upper Devonian) deposits of the Central Devonian Field, Russia. The condition of microconchids and associated encrusting taxa is reported for the first time from the early Famennian recovery interval (crepida Chron) following the Frasnian–Famennian mass extinction. Two species, one new (Palaeoconchus variabilis sp. nov.) and the second one in open nomenclature (Palaeoconchus sp.), are described. Compared to lower Famennian specimens, they seem to be preferentially grouped on the anterior parts of the brachiopod host shells, which are interpreted as the most suitable sites away from the sea‐bottom and sediment. During the late Frasnian (Late rhenana Chron), microconchids, outnumbered by cornulitids and as abundant as foraminifers, were also associated with trepostome bryozoans, tabulates, rugose corals and various problematic encrusters. During the early Famennian recovery interval encompassing the crepida Chron, microconchids greatly outnumbered all associated encrusters, including the previously dominant cornulitids, while foraminifers, tabulates and rugose corals vanished. Early Famennian microconchids, represented by the single, albeit very abundant, species Palaeoconchus variabilis sp. nov., were opportunists that rapidly colonised the environment during the ongoing transgression following the regression‐driven biotic crisis in the area of the Central Devonian Field. In comparison to their late Frasnian predecessors and even other Middle Devonian specimens, no size reduction (the so‐called Lilliput effect) of early Famennian microconchid tubes was observed. It is probable that microconchids either rapidly attained their ‘normal’ sizes or they did not suffer any dwarfism following the Frasnian–Famennian event.     

A new hydroid coral from the Famennian stage of the Chernyshev Uplift, Polar Urals

A new stromatoporate species of the unusual genus Pararosenella Vassiljuk et Bogoyavlenskaya, 1990, P. olimpiadae sp. nov., is described; it is found for the first time in the Middle Famennian Substage of the Devonian in the Chernyshev Uplift, Polar Urals.     

The history of Devonian-Carboniferous reef communities: Extinctions,effects, recovery

Summary Analysis of the taxonomic composition, diversity and guild structure of five “typical” reef and mud mound communities ranging in age from Late Devonian-Early Carboniferous indicates that each of these aspects of community organization changed dramatically in relation to three extinction events. These events include a major or mass extinction at the end of the Frasnian; reef communities were also effected by less drastic end-Givetian and mid-late Famennian extinctions of reef-building higher taxa. Peak Paleozoic generic diversities for reef-building stromatoporoids and rugose corals occurred in the Eifelian-Givetian; reef-building calcareous algal taxa were longranging with peak diversity in the Devonian. These three higher taxa dominated all reef-building guilds (Constructor, Binder, Baffler) in the Frasnian and formed fossil reef communities with balanced guild structures. The extinction of nearly all reef-building stromatoporoids and rugose corals at the end of the Frasnian and the survival of nearly all calcareous algac produced mid-late Famennian reef communities dominated by the Binder Guild. Despite the survival of most calcareous algae and tabulate corals, the mid-late Famennian extinction of all remaining Paleozoic stromatoporoids and nearly all shelf-dwelling Rugosa brought the already diminished Devonian reef-building to a halt. These Devonian extinctions differ from mass extinctions by the absence of a statistically significant drop in taxonomic diversity and by their successional and cumulative effects on reef communities. Tournaisian mud mounds contain communities markedly different from the frame-building communities in Late Devonian and Visean reefs. Mound-building biotas consist of an unusual association dominated by erect, weakly skeletonized members of the Baffler Guild (chiefly fenestrate Bryozoa; Pelmatozoa) and laterally expanded, mud-binding algae/stromatolites and reptant Bryozoa. The initial recovery to reefs with skeletal frameworks in the Visean was largely due to the re-appearance of new species of abundant colonial rugose corals (Constructor Guild) and fenestrate Bryozoa. This Frasnian-Visean evolution in the taxonomic composition and structure of the reef-building guilds is also expressed by abrupt changes in biofacies and petrology of the reef limestones they produced. Thus, “typical” Frasnian reef limestones with balanced guild structures are framestones-boundstones-bafflestones, Famennian reefs are predominantly boundstones, Tournaisian mud mounds are bafflestones and Visean reefs are bafflestones-framestones.     

Late Devonian non-marine Naiadites devonicus nov. sp. (Bivalvia: Pteriomorphia) from the Waterloo Farm Lagerstätte in South Africa

This study defines a new bivalve species, Naiadites devonicus nov. sp., of Famennian (Late Devonian) age. The material was excavated from the non-marine deposits of the Waterloo Farm Lagerstätte in South Africa, which form part of the Witpoort Formation (Witteberg Group, Cape Supergroup) of the Cape Fold Belt region. The type material of Naiadites devonicus nov. sp. is preserved in metamorphosed, clayey to silty mudstones of a coastal estuarine to lagoonal facies, deposited along the shoreline of the Agulhas Sea, in a high-palaeolatitude Gondwanan setting. The new bivalve species is the stratigraphically oldest representative of the genus Naiadites Dawson. It is a faunal element of a high-latitude palaeoecosystem, immediately preceding the Hangenberg extinction event at the end of the Late Devonian.     

New Upper Devonian Rhynchonellids (Brachiopoda) from Transcaucasia

Anew genus, Zezinia gen. nov., and two new species, Zezinia multicostata sp. nov. and Zaigunrostrum nakhichevanense sp. nov., are described from the Upper Devonian of Transcaucasia. The first genus is one of the last Frasnian representatives of the family Uncinulidae. The Famennian Z. nakhichevanense sp. nov. belongs to punctate rhynchonellids of the family Trigonirhynchiidae.     

Anatomical reinvestigation of Archaeopteris macilenta from the Upper Devonian (Frasnian) of South China

Abstract Archaeopteris macilenta is one of the most widespread plants in the Late Devonian. Based on fossils from the Frasnian Huangjiadeng Formation, Yichang District of Hubei Province, for the first time we study in detail the anatomy of this progymnosperm plant in South China. Ultimate axes are protostelic with three xylem sympodia and lack secondary tissue. Penultimate axes are eustelic, bearing eight sympodia and a thin band of secondary xylem. Radially symmetrical sympodia of mesarch primary xylem produce traces of appendages in a spiral arrangement. Archaeopteris macilenta and A. halliana (A. roemeriana) are dominant in the Frasnian and Famennian, respectively. Comparisons with these two species from other tectonic plates indicate consistent stelar architectures. Global spread, continuous occurrence, and identical anatomy during the Late Devonian indicate that Archaeopteris survived the Frasnian–Famennian extinction event. In this time, endemic genera and cosmopolitan taxa, including Archaeopteris, suggest the palaeogeographic isolation of South China and certain associations with other plates.