A NEW EARLY DEVONIAN THELODONT FROM CELTIBERIA (SPAIN), WITH A REVISION OF SPANISH THELODONTS

Abstract:  A revision of thelodont scales from the Lower Devonian of the Iberian Chains enables their grouping into two taxa: Turinia pagei and T. nachoi sp. nov. These taxa are clearly distinguishable by morphological and histological features; they also have a different stratigraphic range ( T. pagei is restricted to Lochkovian strata, whereas T. nachoi sp. nov. occurs within lower–middle Pragian rocks). The new species is represented by head, transitional (cephalopectoral) and trunk scales.     

滇东曲靖翠峰山群下部花鳞鱼类微体化石的再研究

基于从云南曲靖翠峰山群下部西山村组和西屯组获得的许多花鳞鱼类微体化石新材料,建立1新属包含4新种,1老种。根据新属在形态学和古组织学构造显示的花鳞鱼类志留纪属和泥盆组属的过渡性质,认为曲靖地区含该类鱼化石的地层时代似应为Pridolian中、晚期。曲靖地区志留——泥盆纪界线似应从翠峰山群西屯组中部通过。建立了曲靖地区从Ludiovian到Emsian早期的三个脊椎动物组合。     

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 Late Silurian or Early Devonian Thelodont from the Boothia Peninsula, Arctic Canada

Isolated scales of Boothialepis thorsteinssoni gen. et sp. nov. are described from a fossiliferous calcareous dolomite at the base of the Somerset Island Formation of the Boothia Peninsula, Arctic Canada. A new family, Boothialepididae (Thelodonti), is established on features of the scale morphology and histology. The new genus and species are distinguished by characteristics of crown sculpture, neck, and unusual size of the base. Two other thelodonts, Nikolivia elongata Karatajūtė-Talimaa and Canonia grossi Vieth, and an acanthodian, Poracanthodes sp., are described from the same stratigraphical level. Thelodonts have not previously been described from the Boothia Peninsula. Conodont-based correlation indicates a Late Silurian age for the base of the Somerset Island Formation on the Boothia Peninsula. Correlation of the beds with precisely dated microvertebrates in the Read Bay section on Cornwallis Island enables the age of the horizon with the new species to be determined as Early Devonian.     

New ammonoid taxa from the Lower Cretaceous Giumal Formation of the Tethyan Himalaya (Northern India)

Knowledge of the Early Cretaceous ammonoids of the NW‐Himalayas was poor until recent discoveries. Intense sampling from the Giumal Formation exposed near the village of Chikkim (Spiti Valley, Himachal Pradesh, India) led to the recognition of a new Early Cretaceous ammonoid fauna. The succession consists of arenitic sandstone interbedded with shale that was deposited by turbidity currents on an unstable shelf in the Early Cretaceous. Ammonoids have been obtained only from sandstone beds in the lower one‐third and close to the top of the c. 350‐m‐thick section. Eight new ammonoid taxa (1 genus and 7 species) are described: Sinzovia franki sp. nov. (rare), Giumaliceras giumaliense gen. et sp. nov. (abundant), Giumaliceras bhargavai gen. et sp. nov. (rare), Neocomites (Eristavites) platycostatiformis sp. nov. (rare), Cleoniceras oberhauseri sp. nov. (abundant), Australiceras himalayense sp. nov. (rare) and Deshayesites fuchsi sp. nov. (rare). Sinzovia and Deshayesites are reported for the first time from the Tethyan Himalaya. According to the biostratigraphic relevance of some ammonoid taxa described here, the age of the Giumal Formation can be constrained from Berriasian (Giumaliceras assemblage) to Aptian (Cleoniceras assemblage). The discovery of the new fauna substantiates the significance of the Giumal Formation around Chikkim and facilitates comparison with faunal assemblages from other regions in the Tethys Ocean and beyond.     

Thelodonts and distribution of associated conodonts from the Llandovery–lowermost Lochkovian of the Welsh Borderland

Thelodont scales from the Middle Llandovery–lowermost Lochkovian of southern Britain are described with three new taxa, Loganellia? unispinata sp. nov., Nethertonodus prodigialis gen. et sp. nov. and Paralogania tarranti sp. nov. established, and Paralogania kaarmisensis Märss identified for the first time from Britain. Thelodonts are rare in the Llandovery and Wenlock series where predominantly Loganellia cf. aldridgei Turner, Loganellia scotica (Traquair) and Thelodus sp. are accompanied by coniform conodonts Panderodus Ethington, Decoriconus Cooper and Dapsilodus obliquicostatus (Branson and Mehl). The majority of the material has been recovered from the Ludlow and P?ídolí series. Thelodus laevis (Pander) and Paralogania martinssoni (Gross) occur in the lower Gorstian. Paralogania kaarmisensis and Phlebolepis elegans Pander come from the Upper Gorstian–Lower Ludfordian and are associated with the zonal conodont Polygnathoides siluricus Branson and Mehl in the upper Gorstian. Thelodus parvidens Agassiz and T. trilobatus Hoppe dominate in the Upper Ludfordian in association with the rarer zonal conodonts Ozarkodina snajdri (Walliser), O. crispa (Walliser) and O. remscheidensis eosteinhornensis (Walliser). The basal P?ídolí Series indicates a change to a thelodont fauna dominated by Paralogania ludlowiensis (Gross) and including Nethertonodus prodigialis. Higher in the P?ídolí Series, a succession in faunas includes Katoporodus cf. timanicus (Karataju¯te‐Talimaa), Paralogania tarranti, Loganellia? unispinata and Goniporus alatus (Gross). In the highest P?ídolí beds Paralogania kummerowi (Gross) and Loganellia cuneata (Gross) can be traced before the incoming of the lowermost Devonian taxon Turinia pagei (Powrie) along with Nikolivia gutta Karataju¯te‐Talimaa. Correlations with the Baltic are suggested from the Lower Ludlow, Upper Silurian, up to the Lower Lochkovian, Lower Devonian.     

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.     

依据牙形刺确定的蒙古国塔琳波格德组（Taliin Bogd Formation）的时代

在蒙古南部波尔海尔汗乌尔(Bor hairhan uul)剖面的塔琳波格德组下部的6个样品中发现了牙形刺,通过研究清楚地表明含牙形刺动物群的塔琳波格德组下部的时代是中洛霍考夫阶(早泥盆世)到中艾菲尔阶(中泥盆世).塔琳波格德组的牙形刺动物群更接近于北美同时期的动物群,而与欧洲同期动物群相远.这一动物群可能属于冷水动物群.作者在文中描写了一个新种:Steptotaxis mongolianus sp.nov.Wang.     

Spore assemblages from the Lower Devonian Xujiachong Formation from Qujing,Yunnan, China

Abstract: The Lower Devonian Xujiachong Formation from the vicinity of Qujing City, Yunnan, China is interpreted as a terrestrial‐fluviatile‐lacustrine sequence. It contains important nonmarine biotas including plants, fish and invertebrates. The plants are particularly interesting as they include many endemic taxa. Dispersed spore assemblages have been recovered from the upper part of this formation. The spores are well preserved and of moderate thermal maturity. They are systematically described and four new species erected: Aneurospora xujiachongensis sp. nov., Chelinospora ouyangii sp. nov., Camptozonotriletes? luii sp. nov. and Leiozonospora xichongensis sp. nov. One new combination is proposed: Aneurospora conica (Ouyang and Lu) comb. nov. This is a rare report of a Lower Devonian dispersed spore assemblage from the South China Plate. Indeed, few dispersed spore assemblages of this age are known outside of Euramerica and Northern Gondwana. It is suggested that the Xujiachong Formation spore assemblages can all be equated to the polygonalis‐emsiensis Spore Assemblages Biozone (PE SAB) of Richardson and McGregor (1986) indicating an early (but not earliest) Pragian to ?earliest Emsian age. However, caution is urged, because biostratigraphical interpretation is difficult owing to distinct differences between dispersed spore assemblages from South China and Euramerica/Northern Gondwana. This almost certainly reflects palaeophytogeographical variation and regional endemism among early land plant floras on widely separated land masses. Palynofacies analysis supports a nonmarine origin for the deposits of the Xujiachong Formation, with the very rare marine palynomorphs that were encountered interpreted as reworked.     

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.     

An Unusually Diverse Llandovery (Silurian) Diplograptid Fauna from the Southern Urals of Russia and Its Evolutionary Significance

This vesiculosus Biozone assemblage of chemically-isolated graptolites from the Orenburg District of Russia was obtained from limestones associated with pillow lavas of the Sakmara Formation of Silurian–Early Devonian age. It comprises 30 species, of which 24 are described. Nine are new, one is a new subspecies, and eight are left under open nomenclature. The assemblage is unique in its diversity of minute biserial graptolites referable to the genera ' Glyptograptus ', Normalograptus , Sudburigraptus , and Metaclimacograptus ; and is unusual in that well-preserved graptolite faunas are rare at this stratigraphical level, which is fixed by the occurrence of Cystograptus vesiculosus (Nicholson) s.l. and Paraclimacograptus innotatus (Nicholson). The following new forms are described: ' Glyptograptus ' tamariscus praecursor subsp. nov., G. mazovoensis sp. nov., G. nikitini sp. nov., G. pavlinovi sp. nov., G. telarius sp. nov., G. zimai sp. nov., Normalograptus legrandi sp. nov., N. melchini sp. nov., N. sobolevskayae sp. nov., and Metaclimacograptus bjerreskovae sp. nov. Five evolutionary lineages are defined within the ' Glyptograptus ' tamariscus (Nicholson) plexus, modifying and extending the pioneer work of Packham (1962). The diverse ' Glyptograptus ' faunas are considered to be a replacement for the Normalograptus fauna which peaked in the late Ordovician and early Silurian. Metaclimacograptus , although reasonably diverse in its speciation, exhibits a conservative style of evolution with little fundamental change throughout the Llandovery. It is suggested that cortical bandages have species-specific dimensions and micro-features. Some problematical micro- and ultrastructural features are described, notably fibrillar textures, parallel to the fusellar margins, in several species.     

西藏南部聂拉木地区晚泥盆世—早石炭世的介形类

本文系统描述西藏南部聂拉木地区晚泥盆世–早石炭世介形类共计15属24种。根据介形类的组合面貌及孢子、牙形刺的研究结果推断,亚里剖面上的亚里组时代为晚泥盆世–早石炭世,泥盆系-石炭系界线(D-CB)大致位于亚里东沟段顶部至沟陇日段。亚里组产出的介形类生态组合属于光滑速足目集群或艾菲尔生态型,指示亚里组在沉积时为远岸浅水沉积环境,且在上部腊扎蒲段水深变浅。亚里组介形类面貌与华南泥盆纪介形类相似程度高,与俄罗斯和欧美地区也有相似的属种,说明泥盆纪-石炭纪之交介形类的地理隔离并不显著,在各个板块之间有属种交流的可能。     

New Microorganisms from the Gaoyuzhuang Formation of Northern Taihang Mountains,China

A new diverse assemblage of microorganisms has been discovered in black bedded, nodular and lenticular cherts and dark chert of domical stromatolites in dolostone of the Gaoyuzhuang Formation in Lingqiu County, northern Taihang Mountains. The geologic relationships, biostratigraphic correlations, and available radiometric age determinations place the age of the Gaoyuzhuang Formation at approximately 1 400-1 600 million years in age. Eight new species, three unnamed species, and two emended genera of oscillatoriacean, nostocacean, and chroococcacean cyanobacteria are described. These data coupled with reports of others indicate that the diversity of taxa in the Gaoyuzhuang Formation reaches 100 species. The Gaoyuzhuang Formation contains one of the richest Mesoproterozoic communities of microfossils. The following new and emended taxa are described: Oscillatoriaceae: Eophormidium orculiformis sp. nov., E . sp., Siphonophycus caudataceous sp. nov., Palaeolyngbya complanata sp. nov., P. capitata sp. nov., P . sp. and Oscillatoriopsis sp..Nostocaceae: Veteronostocale vaginata sp. nov.. Chroococcaceae: Maculosphaera giganta sp. nov. and Gloeotheceopsis grandis sp. nov. Incertae sedis: Myxococcoides limpida sp. nov.     

华北太行山北段高于庄组微古植物的新发现

长城群高于庄组主要分布于我国华北地区,地质年龄约在14－16亿年。主要描述了华北太行山北段灵邱县境内高于组白云岩中的层状和扁豆状透镜体燧石及穹隆式叠层石的黑色燧石中的颤藻、念珠藻和色球藻植物的8个新种和3个未定种,其中还有两个新修订属。这些新的促群再加上前人在高于庄组地层中已报道的汇成了近100个种生物组合,进一步证明高于庄组地地球上中元代微化石类群最丰富的产地之一。以下是该 新发现和新修订的分类类群：颤藻科（Oscillatoriaceae): Eophormkidium orculiformis sp. nov., E. sp., Siphonophycus caudataceous sp. nov., Palaeolyngbya complanata sp. nov., P. capitata sp. nvo., P. sp., Oscilaltoriopsis sp.;念珠藻科（Nosto-caceae):Veteronostiocale vaginata sp.nov.;色球藻科（Chroococcaceae):Maculosphaera giganta sp.nov.,Gloeotheceopsis grandis sp.nov.;分类位置未定的类群：Myxococcoides limpida sp.nov.。     

WUCHIAPINGIAN (LOPINGIAN, LATE PERMIAN) BRACHIOPODS FROM THE EPISKOPI FORMATION OF HYDRA ISLAND, GREECE

Abstract:  Twenty-three species of silicified brachiopods are described from four samples in the middle and upper parts of the Episkopi Formation from Hydra Island, Greece. These brachiopods are newly recorded from the region and together with previously described brachiopods from the same localities constitute the most diverse Lopingian (Late Permian) brachiopod fauna reported in southern Europe. The brachiopod fauna is Wuchiapingian as indicated by the associated conodonts. The fauna from Hydra exhibits strong palaeobiogeographical links with the faunas from South China. In addition, palaeobiogeographical affinities with the faunas of Thailand and the northern peri-Gondwanan region are also present, which implies a peri-Gondwanan origin for Hydra. Palaeoecologically, the brachiopod assemblage from sample EP in the middle part of the Episkopi Formation is dominated by pedically-attached and cementing genera and reflects moderate energy conditions above storm wave base and an abundance of hard substrates provided by sponges in the biohermal habitat. By contrast, the brachiopod assemblage in the other three samples from the upper part of the Episkopi Formation is dominated by spinose genera with a free-resting life habit, suggesting soft substrates in a quiet water environment below storm wave base on the outer part of the shelf. New taxa are Petinospiriferina gen. nov., Hustedia episkopiensis sp. nov., Waterhouseiella hydraensis sp. nov. and Xenosaria tenuis sp. nov.     

On Occurrence and Significance about the Fossil Plants from the Yuntaiguan Formation Located between Hunan and Hubei

This paper deals with the fossil plants from the Yuntaiguan formation located between Hunan and Hubei province. There are six genera and ten species (containing a new genus and five new species) to be discussed here, such as Protolepidodendron scha-ryanum Krejci, Barrandeina dusliana (Krejci) Stur, B. contigua sp. nov., B. lixianensis sp. nov., B. multistriata sp. nov., B. laxa sp. nov., Drepanophycus spinaeformis Goepp., “Protopteridium”? minutum Halle, Psilophyti4es sp. and Longostachys latisporophyllus gen. et sp. nov., etc. The appearance of this fossil flora concerned here can be correlated to the Protolepidodendron scharyanum-Barrandeina dusliana Assemblage. Among these fossil plants from Yuntaiguan formation, both the Protolepidodendron scharyanum and Barrandeina dusliana are also the index fossils, the prior was wide spread during the Middle Devonian in whole world and the other was only found at the late Middle Devonian in Europe. In the Yuntaiguan formation the genus Barrandeina containing no less than five species and, the other taxa were also found from the Middle or the late Middle Devonian. So that this formation should be referred to the late Middle Devonian in age and this conclusion corresponds with the result of spore-pollen analysis in the Xiushuigou formation, Xiongzi county, which is similar to the Yuntaiguan formation and has been referred to the Middle Devonian. In this paper, only four species of Barrandeina and one species of Longostachys have been described, those of the former have not been found before in China. The authors think; this will be significant on studying fossil plants and in comparison with the age of the strata.     

Fish-otoliths from the early Miocene of the Castillo Formation,Venezuela: a view into the proto-Caribbean teleostean assemblages

We describe the otolith assemblage from the early Miocene (Burdigalian) exposures of the Castillo Formation at the Cerro La Cruz locality (Falcón Basin, Lara State, northwestern Venezuela). The samples were obtained through surface and bulk sampling at distinct stratigraphic levels of the study area. The otolith assemblage from Cerro La Cruz includes 14 families, 25 genera and 30 taxa, of which 20 are reported for first time from the Castillo Formation. These include two new sciaenid taxa, Ctenosciaena angusticaudata nov. sp. and Pareques laraensis nov. sp. The Castillo Formation otolith assemblage represent fishes typical of shallow and near-shore and coral reef associated environments as characterized primarily by a high taxonomic diversity and abundance of Sciaenidae, and the lack of mesopelagic families (Myctophidae). The faunal composition of Cerro La Cruz is similar to other chronological equivalent sedimentary units along the proto-Caribbean area (Pirabas and Cantaure formations; Brazil and Venezuela respectively), though the Castillo Formation fish fauna shows lower taxonomic diversity, suggesting some heterogeneity of the coastal and near shore marine environments along the southern portion of the proto-Caribbean.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:B79F51B8-BC35-4119-8957-84544286868D     

A diverse assemblage of early land plants from the Lower Devonian of the Welsh Borderland

FANNING, U., EDWARDS, D. & RICHARDSON, J. B., 1992. A diverse assemblage of early land plants from the Lower Devonian of the Welsh Borderland. Nine rhyniophytoid taxa are described from an early Gedinnian locality ( middle micromatus-newportensis spore Biozone) near Ludlow, England. They include Cooksonia pertoni, C. hemisphaerica, C. cambrensis, Tortilicaulis transwalliensis and three new taxa, Salopella marcensis sp. nov., Uskiella reticulata sp. nov. and Tarrantia salopensis gen. et sp. nov. Isolated sporangia of reniform shape, and those subtended by short lengths of axis, contain spores of Apiculiretusispora type and may belong to C. caledonica or Renalia . Morphologically distinctive forking, terminal sporangia lacking identifiable spores are not placed in a new taxon, because evidence based on in situ spores from elsewhere suggests they may belong to Salopella . Structures previously interpreted as clusters of sporangia of Yarravia- type are shown to be ± globular sporangia longitudinally split into valves. Sterile axes are dominated by smooth forms; although rare examples possess small enations. Tracheids have not been seen in axes of fertile specimens nor in sterile coalified compressions. A single pyrite permineralization contains tracheids of zosterophyll type. The assemblage demonstrates diversity among rhyniophytoids in the early Devonian and the existence of low vegetation 'alongside' the much larger zosterophyll dominated type.     

The Significance of the Found Fossil Species of Wodehouseia in China

Fossil pollen of Wodehouseia were first found by E. A. Stanley in 1961.There are several species of Wodehouseia found from the drill cores of the Lower member of Taizhou Formation in Rutung, North Jiangsu. It provides an evidence forjudging the Lower member of Taizhou Formation to be Maestrichtian age. In the assemblage of the Lower member of Taizhou Formation, there are not onlyAquiapollenites and Wodehouseia but also Morinoipollenites and Jianghanpollis. TheAquilapollenites and Wodehouseia are typical genera occurred in the humid, subtropicalclimatic phytogeoprovince in the “Aquilapolles District”, circumpacific and Siberiaduring Late Cretaceous age. The Morinoipollenites and Jianghanpollis are typical ge-nera occurred in the arid(or semiarid), subtropical climatic phytogeoprovince in widesouthern areas of our country at that time. This mixed assemblage provides a key tocompare the assemblage in wide southern areas of our country with those in other countries. The author discusses the geographical distributions and distributions of geologicalperiod of Wodehouseia in detail. The structure of Wodehouseia and the paleoecology of the parent plant of Wodehouseia pollen are explored. 7 species including 3 new spe-cies are described in this paper. The new species are Wodehouseia jiangsuensis sp. nov., W. circinata sp. nov., W. zoros sp. nov.