New radiolarians from the Devonian of the southern Ural Mountains: 2. Middle-Late Devonian

Middle-Late Devonian Radiolarians are recorded for the first time in the southern Ural Mountains in Bashkortostan, in a section of Kariukmas Mountain (Upper Eifelian) and on the southern slope of Argagan Mountain (Middle Frasnian). The new Late Eifelian assemblage is composed of 17 species of 11 genera, and Middle Frasnian radiolarians comprise 13 species of 7 genera of spherical, discoidal, pylomate, and spiny radiolarians. A new species, Primaritripus kariukmasensis, sp. nov., is described. The prevalence of discoidal forms in the oryctocenosis suggests shallow marine conditions in the Late Eifelian and Middle Frasnian basins. Two new biostratons, the Upper Eifelian beds with Primaritripus kariukmasensis and Middle Frasnian beds with Primaritripus chuvashovi, are established based on radiolarians.     

贵州南部独山地区泥盆纪弗拉期的石燕贝类腕足动物

弗拉期是了解泥盆纪弗拉-法门灭绝事件之前古代生物多样性的一个关键阶段.贵州南部的独山地区因其所具有的完整层序及丰富的底栖牛物化石成为我国主要泥盆系参考剖面之一.独山剖面弗拉期的石燕贝类腕足动物至少包括5种类型,其中4种在本文中为首次描述和图示.Conispirifer之前只发现于欧洲及北美的弗拉期地层中,目前也首次在华南独山剖面的同期地层中发现.大多先前从贵州南部其他地区弗拉期地层中描述的多种Cyrtospirifer可归于Cyrtospirifer subextensoides新种内.鉴于前人对Emanuella的模式种E.takwanensis 的内部构造描述的矛盾状况,本文暂把研究区具有抬离壳面的纤细铰窝、固着于壳面的主突起以及其前方下面为外铰板支撑的标本归于E.takwanensis.在华南弗拉期可初步识别出三个腕足动物群组合带:Yocrarhynchus-Phlogoiderhynchus动物群以小嘴贝类-无洞贝类-双腔贝类腕足动物为特征,其时代大致从弗拉阶底部至Pa.punctata带;之后为Cyrtospirifer动物群,以Cyrtospirifer的存在为特征,又可分为早晚两部分,前者(未命名)以conispiriferid类的Conispirifer和Pyramidaspirifer、弓石燕类、无洞贝类等为特征,其时代大致为Pa."hassi"带至下Pa.rhenana带;后者为Hunanotoechia动物群,以丰富的小嘴贝类-无洞贝类.弓石燕类腕足动物为特征,其时代大致为上Pa.rhenana带至Pa.1inguiformis带.     

Taxonomical and biostratigraphical remarks on the rhynchonellide “Paurorhyncha” (Brachiopoda) in the Yidade Formation of eastern Yunnan,China

Additional specimens of rhynchonellide brachiopods from the marly limestones in the Yidade Formation at the Panxi section in eastern Yunnan have been ascribed to the species “Paurorhyncha” squamosa Wang, 1956 and “P.” depressa Wang, 1956. The two species have been used frequently as index fossils for the Frasnian (Upper Devonian), but their taxonomic assignments are problematic because their internal structures remain unknown. In this study, detailed systematical examinations on both external characters and internal structures revealed by serial sections suggest that the two species are more appropriately assigned to the genus Hadrotatorhynchus Sartenaer, 1986. Based on the stratigraphical distributions of Hadrotatorhynchus and the conodonts in the upper unit of the Yidade Formation, the Hadrotatorhynchus-bearing horizons are re-considered as the uppermost Givetian (Middle Devonian) rather than Frasnian stage, although the precise position of the Middle/Upper Devonian boundary still depends on further investigations of high-resolution biostratigraphy.     

Spiriferide brachiopods from the Famennian (Late Devonian) Hongguleleng Formation of western Junggar,Xinjiang, northwestern China

Junggar is one of the most important areas in the study of the Upper Devonian and Lower Carboniferous in the Junggar-Hinggan Stratigraphic Region. Nevertheless, abundant benthic fossils await modern taxonomic studies. In this paper, six genera and eight species of Famennian spiriferide brachiopods are described from the Duguer Member and its equivalents of the Hongguleleng Formation in western Junggar, adding new data to the Rugaltarostrum Subassemblage of the “Palaeospirifer”–Megalopterorhynchus Brachiopod Assemblage of this area. Five previously recognized species within this subassemblage are revised, including: Cyrtospirifer junggarensis F.M. Zhang [now Ulbospirifer? junggarensis (F.M. Zhang)]; Tenticospirifer tenticulum transversus F.M. Zhang [now Cyrtospirifer transversus (F.M. Zhang)]; Tenticospirifer koketekensis F.M. Zhang [now Cyrtospirifer koketekensis (F.M. Zhang)]; Mucrospirifer quadratus F.M. Zhang (now “Mucrospirifer” quadratus F.M. Zhang); and Mucrospirifer bouchadi (Muir-Wood) (now Tylothyris cf. novamexicana Stainbrook). Three additional species, Cyrtiorina houi n. sp., Goungjunspirifer sinicus F.M. Zhang, and Cyrtospirifer procumbens Simorin in Litvinovich et al., are described. Ulbospirifer? junggarensis and Goungjunspirifer sinicus are characterized by a prismatic layer. Cyrtiorina houi shows a moderately high and triangular ventral interarea, with delthyrium covered by pseudodeltidium with a rounded foramen. Cyrtospirifer procumbens can be distinguished from other species of this genus by its shallow, clearly limited sulcus with prominent primary plications, and high ventral interarea. Cyrtospirifer transversus has an alate to subpentagonal outline. Cyrtospirifer koketekensis has rounded and distinct flank plications. The ventral delthyrium of “Mucrospirifer” quadratus is covered by a pseudodeltidium. Tylothyris cf. novamexicana develops an angular sulcus in cross-section. Comparisons with the coeval brachiopod faunas from various regions indicate that, biogeographically, western Junggar has a close relationship with the Tarbagatai Mountain Range, northeastern Kazakhstan, central Kazakhstan, and Karaganda Basin, and a certain affinity with North America.     

Spores and the middle-upper Devonian boundary

The stratigraphic levels most favoured for the Middle-Upper Devonian boundary fall approximately within the range of the ammonoid Pharciceras lunulicosta Zone, i.e. from the Middle varcus Subzone to the base of the Lower asymmetricus Zone of the conodont scale. Spore data that are potentially useful for recognition of the boundary within this range have been correlated with conodont zones in marine facies in the Boulonnais region of France. A vast amount of information on spores from Middle-Upper Devonian boundary strata has accumulated in the European U.S.S.R., where the boundary is taken at a somewhat lower level. Late Givetian and early Frasnian continental strata of Melville Island in the Canadian Arctic contain species present in the Boulonnais or the European U.S.S.R., as well as species common to both regions. Diatomozonotriletes spp., Rhabdosporites langii, Samarisporites triangulatus, Contagisporites optivus, Archaeoperisaccus timanicus, Chelinospora concinna and Ancyrospora langii, among others, may be useful for correlating the boundary as eventually defined. The stratigraphic ranges of most of these taxa show only limited agreement interregionally at present, probably owing at least in part to problems of spore nomenclature and taxonomy, and an insufficiency of spore reference sequences keyed to faunal zones. Nevertheless, individual species of spores, and especially assemblages of species, have much potential for delimiting and correlating the Middle-Upper Devonian boundary in both marine and continental facies.     

Sedimentary development of a continuous Middle Devonian to Mississippian section from the fore-reef fringe of the Brilon Reef Complex (Rheinisches Schiefergebirge, Germany)

The Brilon-reef complex is one of the biggest Devonian carbonate buildups (~80 km²) of the Rheinisches Schiefergebirge. The Burgberg section is located in the southeastern fore-reef area of the Brilon Reef Complex and exposes a succession of strata (117 m thick), which extends from the Middle Givetian (middle varcus conodont Zone) to the Viséan (bilineatus conodont Zone). Field and microfacies observations led to the definition of nine microfacies that are integrated into a sedimentary model divided into off-reef, intermediate fore-reef, and proximal fore-reef sedimentary domains (SD). The off-reef domain (SD1) is the most distal setting observed and is characterized by fine-grained sediments, dominated by pelagic biota and the local occurrence of gravity-flow deposits. The intermediate fore-reef (SD2) is characterized by a mixture of biota and sediments coming from both deeper-water and shallow-water sources and is influenced by storm and gravity-flow currents. In this domain, Renalcis mound-like structures developed locally. Finally, the proximal fore-reef (SD3) corresponds to the most proximal setting that is strongly influenced by gravity-flow currents derived from the Brilon Reef Complex. The temporal evolution of microfacies in the fore-reef setting of the Burgberg section show five main paleoenvironmental trends influenced by the onset, general development, and demise/drowning of the Brilon Reef Complex. Fore-reef to off-reef lithologies and their temporal changes are from the base to the top of the section: (U1)—fine-grained sediments with large reef debris, corresponding to the initial development of the reef building upon submarine volcaniclastic deposits during the Middle Givetian (middle varcus Zone) and first export of reef debris in the fore-reef setting; (U2)—high increase of reef-derived material in the fore-reef area, corresponding to a significant progradation of the reef from the Middle Givetian to the Early Frasnian (maximum extension of the Brilon Reef Complex to the south, disparilis to the falsiovalis conodont biozones); (U3)—progressive decrease of shallow-water derived material and increase of fine-grained sediments and deep-water biota into the fore-reef setting, corresponding to the stepwise withdrawal of the reef influence; from the Middle to the Late Frasnian (jamieae conodont Zone); (U4)—development of a submarine rise characterized by nodular and cephalopod-bearing limestones extending from the Late Frasnian to the Late Famennian corresponding to the demise and drowning of the Brilon Reef Complex as a result of the Late Frasnian Kellwasser events (upper rhenana and triangularis conodont biozones); (U5)—significant deepening of the Burgberg area starting in the Late Famennian, directly followed by an aggrading trend marked by pelagic shales overlying the nodular limestone deposits.     

On the Middle Miocene avifauna of Maboko Island,Kenya

The Middle Miocene sediments of Maboko Island (Lake Victoria) in western Kenya yielded numerous avian bones, which remained, however, little studied. The significance of this material is shown by the recent identification of an opisthocomiform bird. In the present study, further avian remains from Maboko Island are described. Most of the specimens belong to aquatic or semi-aquatic groups, of which some are closely related to taxa known from Early and Middle Miocene European avifaunas, that is, Nectornis cormorants (N. africanus nov. sp.) and Laricola-like Laromorphae. The fossil material also includes Ciconiidae (cf. Ciconia), Pelecanidae, Phoenicopteridae (Leakeyornis aethiopicus), Musophagidae, and a species of Ardeidae, which closely resembles the taxon Pikaihao from the Early Miocene of New Zealand. Some avian remains from Maboko Island belong to higher-level taxa unknown from the Middle Miocene of Europe. The occurrence of a giant Jacanidae (?Nupharanassa mabokoensis nov. sp.) is of particular interest, because these are globally absent in extant avifaunas and were previously only known from the Late Eocene/Early Oligocene of Egypt. Further unknown from contemporaneous European sites are small representatives of Jacanidae, Bucerotidae, and Alcedinidae, with the fossils of the latter two taxa being among the earliest published records of their respective groups. Several of the taxa that are common in contemporaneous European avifaunas have not been found in Maboko, and in spite of less pronounced climatic differences, Middle Miocene Afrotropical avifaunas already appear to have been distinct from contemporaneous European ones.     

Plicathyridine brachiopods (Athyridida) from the Frasnian (Late Devonian) of Western Europe and Middle East

Plicathyridine brachiopods (Athyridida) from the early–middle Frasnian of southern Belgium and northern France (Dinant Synclinorium) are systematically described for the first time. They include two species: Anathyris (Anathyris) calestiennensis nov. sp., and A. (A.) sp. indet. 1. They are uncommon in the mainly shally La Prée (Nismes Formation) and Ermitage (Moulin Liénaux Formation) members and are absent from the mixed argillaceous–carbonate late Frasnian succession in this area contrary to what is observed in Russia, notably in the East-European Platform and Siberia. In the Middle East, two species of Anathyris are recognized on the basis of a limited material from the Dascht-e-Nawar area in Afghanistan (A. (A.) sp. indet. 2) and the Kuh-e Kaftar mountains in Central Iran (A. (A.) sp. indet. 3). Anathyris (A.) calestiennensis nov. sp. is sometimes encrusted by epizoans (tabulate and rugose corals, and bryozoans) and rarely displays single, small circular drill holes. The past and current epizoan–brachiopod interactions are also discussed (Anathyris vs. Lingula, respectively).     

Actinocamax primus arkhangelsky (belemnitellidae; upper cretaceous) biometry,comparison and biostratigraphy

A sample ofActinocamax primus Arkhangelsky, 1912 from the Lower Middle Cenomanian limestones of the Wunstorf quarry west of Hannover (NW Germany) is studied by univariate and bivariate biometric methods in order to analyse the variation of critical characters.A. primus is closely related toA. plenus (Blainville, 1825) but differs from that species by being smaller and more slender.A. primus appears in the Lower Cenomanian and continues into the Lower Middle Cenomanian. It is mainly distributed in the northern part of the North European Palaeobiogeographic Province.A. plenus is recorded from the Middle Cenomanian-lower Lower Turonian of the Russian Platform, but only from the Middle Upper Cenomanian in NW Europe. It is widespread in the North European Province.The primus event in the Lower Middle Cenomanian and theplenus event in the Middle Upper Cenomanian are briefly discussed.     

The parrots (Aves: Psittaciformes) from the Middle Miocene of Sansan (Gers,Southern France)

The occurrence of Archaeopsittacus sp. (Psittaciformes) in the fossil deposits of Sansan (France) is reported, testifying to a survival of this genus in the Middle Miocene, as Archaeopsittacus verreauxi was described from the Early Miocene of Saint-Gérand-le-Puy (France) and was recorded only from its type locality. The data discussed here indicate the presence of two parrot species from Sansan, as it is the type locality of another parrot species, Pararallus dispar, only known from this locality. The differences between the humeri of these two taxa are described in detail, together with the differences from the other European fossil parrot species. The presence of more than one species of parrot in the same locality is not rare, but in Europe it is recorded in Sansan for the second time. Evidence for parrots also confirms the paleoenvironmental reconstruction of Sansan, as parrots are primarily arboreal species. Archaeopsittacus also represents one of the few common elements between the Early and Middle Miocene European bird assemblages.     

Devonian Gastropoda from the Dornap “Massenkalk” complex (Bergisches Land,Germany)

Seven Middle Devonian (latest Givetian or earliest Frasnian) gastropod species are described from the quarry of Oetelshofen near Dornap (Bergisches Land, northwestern Rheinisches Schiefergebirge, Germany). New species areMurchisonia dornapica, Araeonema osterholzensis, Plagiothyra isekei andMacrochilina drozdzewski. Additionally, a new subspecies,Euryzone delphinuloides oetelshofensis and aNaticopsis-like species and their typical facial occurrence are discussed. The existence of predation is proved by a bore-hole inMacrochilina drozdzewski; the predator itself is not yet identified with certainty.      

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.     

Biostratigraphical value of some Strunian (Devonian, uppermost Famennian) Productidina, Rhynchonellida, Spiriferida, Spiriferinida brachiopods

The space of Devonian time considered in this paper corresponds to the uppermost part of the Famennian or the latest Famennian as a fourfold subdivision of the stage, usually called by many authors Strunian in neritic facies and Wocklumeria Stufe or Wocklumian in pelagic facies. Here, we examine the biostratigraphical value of certain brachiopod genera and species as bio-markers of the uppermost Famennian throughout the world (Europe, the former USSR, Middle East, Asia, North America, North Africa, and Australia). We have focused our study for species which stratigraphical range has been firmly established in correlation with the conodont biozones (Upper expansa, Early, Middle and Late praesulcata), the ammonoid biozones (do VI = “Wocklumeria Stufe”), or the foraminifera biozones (kobeitusana Zone). Other data for which the stratigraphical range is not based on standard biozonation are provided in the annex. The brachiopod bio-markers discussed in this paper belong to 14 Productidina genera (Acanthatia, Araksalosia, Ericiata, Hamlingella, Mesoplica, Nigerinoplica, Orbinaria, Ovatia, Rugauris, Semiproductus, Sentosia, Spinocarinifera, Steinhagella, Whidbornella), 7 Rhynchonellida genera (Araratella, Centrorhynchus, Hadyrhyncha, Megalopterorhynchus, Novaplatirostrum, Rozmanaria, Tchanakhtchirostrum), 13 Spiriferida genera (Brachythyris, Cyrtospirifer, Dichospirifer, Eochoristites, Imbrexia, Parallelora, Prospira, Rigauxia, Sphenospira, Tenisia, Toryniferella, Tylothyris, Voiseyella) and one Spiriferinida genus (Syringothyris). Other orders have not been studied in this paper. The main features of the uppermost Famennian brachiopod taxa represented in this paper are commented. All these taxa are listed as completely as possible throughout the world (with complements in the annex). A quick summary of the geographic distribution of the more represented taxa is given in conclusion.     

New analysis of the Pleistocene carnivores from Petralona Cave (Macedonia, Greece) based on the Collection of the Thessaloniki Aristotle University

New taxonomic study of the “old collection” of Carnivora from Petralona Cave, associated to the well-known hominid skull, housed in the Geology School of the Thessaloniki Aristotle University since 1960, revealed 11 species (Canis arnensis, Lycaon lycaonoides, Vulpes praeglacialis, Ursus deningeri, U. spelaeus, U. arctos, Pliocrocuta perrieri, Pachycrocuta brevirostris, Crocuta crocuta, Panthera leo spelaea, and Felis silvestris), which are described in detail. The species composition is typical of the eastern part of the European Mediterranean and may be divided into three biostratigraphic assemblages: early Middle Pleistocene, late Middle Pleistocene and Late Pleistocene.     

Italian Cenozoic crocodilians: taxa, timing and palaeobiogeographic implications

Crocodylian remains are collected in 39 fossil-bearing localities but only in seven localities specimens with reliable taxonomic attributions, at least to genus level have been collected. Three species have been reported from the early Lutetian Purga di Bolca site: Pristichampsus cf. Pristichampsus rollinati, Asiatosuchus sp., Hassiacosuchus sp. (=Allognathosuchus sp.). The three crocodilians discovered at Purga di Bolca have been reported also from Geiseltal and Messel (Middle Eocene, Germany). Bolca at that time was part of a Tethysian archipelago and no mammals have been found there till now. Crocodilians and turtles clearly arrived from the European mainland across a marine water barrier. Among the other fossiliferous localities of Veneto, very interesting is the Monte Zuello site, of late Middle Eocene age, yielding a longirostrine crocodilian, Megadontosuchus arduini, a tomistomine species. Tomistomines are known in contemporaneous sediments of both Europe and Africa, but the European forms Dollosuchus and Kentisuchus seem the closest taxa. Remains of Oligocene age have been collected in Veneto and Liguria, but the fossils discovered in the second region are teeth or fragmented bones. The fossil crocodilians of Monteviale (Veneto), of Early Oligocene age, have been assigned to two species but they have been recently all identified as Diplocynodon ratelii, known from several European sites of Late Eocene, Oligocene and Miocene age. This species arrived in the Monteviale area from the European mainland across a narrow sea. Several crocodilian fossils of Miocene age are very fragmentary or represented by isolated teeth. In the Middle and Late Miocene of Sardinia, a well-established species, Tomistoma calaritanum is present. Remains of Tomistoma of the same age have been reported in some localities in Tuscany, Apulia, Sicily and Malta. In the Mediterranean area, the genus is known from European and African sites (of older age). The colonisation of Europe by this genus is the result of a dispersion from Africa (or less probably from Asia). During Late Miocene Sardinia and Tuscany belong to the same palaeobioprovince characterized by the Oreopithecus-Maremmia fauna. In Tuscany, a crocodilian identified as Crocodylus bambolii is present in the late Miocene site of Monte Bamboli. If the generic attribution of this form is correct, its ancestors must have arrived from Africa. Another fossil assemblage of Late Miocene age characterizes the Apulia-Abruzzi palaeobioprovince (Hoplitomeryx-Microtia fauna) and testifies complete isolation between the two palaeobioprovinces. In this last area, remains of Crocodylus sp. have been collected in coastal sandstones at Scontrone (Abruzzi) and in several fissure fillings of Gargano of slightly younger age. The ancestors of this species arrived from Africa while no African elements are present among the mammalian fauna. The dispersion of the genus Crocodylus in the Italian palaeoislands may have taken place once, with allopatric differentiation of the two populations (Tuscany-Sardinia and Apulia-Abruzzi) or twice with independent colonisation of each area.     

New Alicornops (Rhinocerotidae) remains from Lower and Middle Siwaliks,Pakistan

Unpublished rhinocerotid remains from the Lower and Middle Siwaliks of Pakistan are described in this paper and recognized as two species of Alicornops. Alicornops complanatum (Heissig) is identified in the Dhok Pathan Formation of the Middle Siwaliks and Alicornops laogouense Deng in the Kamlial Formation of the Lower Siwaliks. The Dhok Pathan Formation levels with A. complanatum are roughly correlated with the late Miocene-Pliocene European mammal zones MN10-15. In turn, levels with A. laogouense of the Kamlial Formation would correlate with the middle–late Aragonian (middle Miocene) European MN5. The recognition of the Chinese species A. laogouense in the Potwar Plateau represents the first discovery of this taxon in Pakistan and increases the geographical and stratigraphic distributions of this species, and adds to the rhinocerotid association from the Siwaliks. In turn, the presence of A. complanatum in the Siwaliks of Potwar Plateau also enlarges its geographic distribution in Pakistan, as it was previously known from the Bugti Hills of Balouchistan. The absence of Alicornops from the Siwaliks in the Chinji and Nagri formations (between late MN5 and MN9 zones) might be due to an inadequate fossil record, as other rhinocerotid species are known from Kamlial to Dhok Pathan formations. However, the two recorded species of Alicornops could also reveal two independent migration waves as supported by the appearance of other taxa in different formations. A summary of fossil Cenozoic rhinocerotids from different areas of Pakistan is also presented.     

New fossil insects from the Anisian (Lower to Middle Muschelkalk) from the Central European Basin (Germany and The Netherlands)

The Palaeozoic–Mesozoic transition is characterized not only by the most massive Phanerozoic mass extinction at the end of the Permian period, but also its extensive aftermath and a prolonged period of major biotal recovery during the succeeding Middle to Late Triassic. Particularly, Anisian insect species from units of the Lower to Middle Muschelkalk from the Central European Basin are rare. The specimens described here originated from the Anisian Wellenkalk facies (Lower Muschelkalk), Vossenveld Formation of the Winterswijk quarry, The Netherlands, and from the orbicularis Member (lowermost Middle Muschelkalk, Anisian) of Esperstedt near Querfurt (Saxony-Anhalt). Thus, the described insect remains from Winterwijk and Esperstedt expand our knowledge about Middle Triassic terrestrial arthropod communities and their palaeodiversity. A new species of Chauliodites (C. esperstedti sp. nov) is introduced.     

Evolution of Devonian biodiversity of radiolarians with two porous spheres and one main spine

Features and major distinctions in the appearance and distribution of radiolarians with two porous spheres and one main spine in the Devonian basins are considered. Four solitary population waves and expansion scenario of radiolarians of this morphotype have been recognized in the Devonian. A new species, Radiobisphaera rozanovi sp. nov., from the Upper Emsian, Upper Eifelian, and Middle Frasnian of the southern Ural Mountains, from the Upper Eifelian of the Prague Basin (Barrandian), from the Middle-Upper Frasnian of the Rudnyi Altai, and from the Lower Famennian of the Timan-Pechora Basin and the Polar Ural Mountains is described.     

Trilobites Asteropyginae dévoniens d’Iran

Ten species of trilobites belonging to 4 genera of the sub-family Asteropyginae DELO are described from the Devonian (Givetian-Frasnian) of Iran. Three of which are new: Neocalmonia lutensis nov. sp., Neocalmonia yazdii nov. sp. and Radiopyge sardarensis nov. sp. The study of this material have required the revision of Heliopyge sharudensis(PILLET, 1974) from the Givetian of the Eastern Alborz Mountains and of Neocalmonia quadricosta PILLET, 1969, type-species of the genus Neocalmonia, from the Frasnian of Afghanistan. The recognition of genera and species in common with the Givetian and the Frasnian of Afghanistan emphasizes the close relations between these two regions. The genera Bradocryphaeus, Heliopyge, Neocalmonia, Radiopyge, represented by related species, are likewise present in Iran, Afghanistan and Western Europe. Their presence confirms that these regions belong, during the Devonian, to the North Gondwanian domain.