New members of the family flemingitidae (Ammonoidea) from the Lower Triassic of South Primorye

New species of flemingitid ammonoids (Flemingites trikamnyaensis sp. nov., F. alexanderi sp. nov., Rohillites? ambiguus sp. nov., Euflemingites extremus sp. nov.) from the Olenekian of South Primorye are described. The shell interior of flemingitid ammonoids is studied for the first time based on Ussuriflemingites abrekensis Shigeta et Zakharov. The usefulness of the early-ontogenetic morphological test (EMT) for substantiation of ammonoid taxa at the family level is discussed.     

Miocene ostracods from the Tremiti Islands and Hyblean Plateau: biostratigraphy and description of new and poorly known species

The main taxonomic and stratigraphical results of a study of ostracods from the middle-late Miocene of the Tremiti Islands and the Hyblean Plateau are presented. The faunas are mostly typical of deep thermospheric or psychrospheric bathyal environments. Excluding a few, mostly juvenile shallow water contaminants, a total of 127 species were recorded. Twenty-four taxa are discussed herein; of these, 13 species (Cytherella dissimilis nov. sp., Cytherella parvula nov. sp., Cytherella subtilis nov. sp., Argilloecia triangularis nov. sp., Retibythere (Retibythere)? claudii nov. sp., Retibythere (Retibythere)? gibba nov. sp., Cytheropteron (Cytheropteron) joachinoi nov. sp., Cytheropteron (Aversovalva) consuetum nov. sp., Cytheropteron (Aversovalva) trimerumense nov. sp., Cytheropteron (Aversovalva) turgidum nov. sp., Loxoconcha julianii nov. sp., Buntonia whatleyi nov. sp., Pterygocythere nuda nov. sp.) and a subspecies (Costa tricostata dorsoarcuata nov. subsp.) are described as new, while six are left in open nomenclature. The stratigraphical distribution of ostracods is expressed in terms of planktonic foraminiferal zones. Information obtained from this study enriches biostratigraphical data on Mediterranean Miocene deep-sea ostracods, especially with respect to the Langhian.     

New seeds of gymnosperms from the Lower Permian of the Ural mountains

New taxa of detached seeds are described from the Kungurian (Lower Permian) of the Middle Cis-Urals: Laevigatospermum compressum gen. et sp. nov., Hirsutospermum paniculatum gen. et sp. nov., Rugosospermum callosum gen. et sp. nov., and Craspedosperma filiferum sp. nov. The systematic position of the new taxa is discussed.     

Revision of the Antillocaprinidae Mac Gillavry (Hippuritida,Bivalvia) and their position within the Caprinoidea d’Orbigny

The rudist bivalve family Antillocaprinidae Mac Gillavry is revised following a study of nearly all available material in museum collections. Based on differences in their myocardinal arrangements, three subfamilies are recognized: the Titanosarcolitinae nov. subfam., the Antillocaprininae Mac Gillavry, and the Parasarcolitinae nov. subfam. Fifteen genera are described, of which ten are new: Eosarcolites nov. gen., Caenosarcolites nov. gen., Clinocaprina nov. gen., Rotacaprina nov. gen., Rudicaprina nov. gen., Stellacaprina nov. gen., Oligosarcolites nov. gen., Polysarcolites nov. gen., Alencasteria nov. gen., and Sawkinsonia nov. gen. Genera, which are placed in monophyletic radiations, are differentiated on minor differences in myocardinal arrangements, morphotype, and presence or absence of tubes. Six new species are described: Eosarcolites radiatus nov. gen., nov. sp., Caenosarcolites scholaris nov. gen., nov. sp., Rudicaprina planus nov. gen., nov. sp., Sawkinsonia maldonensis nov. gen., nov. sp., Alencasteria macrotubularis nov. gen., nov. sp., and Stellacaprina gunteri nov. gen., nov. sp. Cladistic analysis was performed on selected genera from the Caprinoidea, justifing the division of the Antillocaprinidae into three subfamilies, although extensive paraphyletic groupings exist in the lower part of the strict consensus tree. Weighting myocardinal characters produces a strict consensus tree largely consistent with current subfamily- and family-rank taxonomy, and is consistent with the order of appearance of taxa in the fossil record. The Antillocaprinidae show a major evolutionary radiation reaching a first peak in the middle Campanian, a decline in the late Campanian, and a second peak just before the rudist extinction at the end of the Cretaceous.     

New species of the family Heliodiscidae Haeckel (radiolaria)

The family Heliodiscidae Haeckel, 1881, which includes five genera, is reviewed. New methods of investigation are applied to the inner structure of Cretaceous spherical radiolarian skeletons, which reveal numerous taxa with an eccentric microsphere. Three new species, Astrophacus marinae sp. nov., Excentrosphaerella kovalenkovi sp. nov., and Excentrosphaerella kurilovi sp. nov., are described. The eccentric position of the microsphere suggests that these forms are nontypical Mesozoic radiolarians or new representatives of the family Heliodiscidae Haeckel, 1881, which was previously recorded in the Cenozoic.     

Permian ammonoids of the Kolyma-Omolon Region: Ogonerian association

The Ogonerian association of Early Permian ammonoids from the Upper part of the Munugudzhakian Formation (upper part of the Ogonerian Horizon) contains Uraloceras omolonense Bogoslovskaya et Boiko, U. kolymense Bogoslovskaya et Boiko, Neoshumardites munugudzhensis sp. nov., N.? nassichuki sp. nov., and Bulunites gracilis sp. nov. These taxa suggest the Sakmarian-Artinskian boundary beds examined are geochronologically older than the level with Neoshumardites triceps Ruzhencev in the South Ural Mountains.     

New hyaenodonts (Mammalia) from the late Ypresian locality of Prémontré (France) support a radiation of the hyaenodonts in Europe already at the end of the early Eocene

We describe three new hyaenodonts from the late Ypresian locality of Prémontré (Aisne, France; close to MP 10 reference level). The new species – Lesmesodon gunnelli nov. sp., Cynohyaenodon smithae nov. sp., and Eurotherium mapplethorpei nov. sp. – represent the oldest occurrences of these three European genera. Lesmesodon gunnelli nov. sp. is also reported from the locality of Cuis (Marne, France; Ypresian, ~MP 10). We further present the dentition of two specimens of Lesmesodon edingeri from Messel (Hessia, Germany; type locality of the genus) based on µCT scans. Cynohyaenodon smithae nov. sp. and Lesmesodon gunnelli nov. sp. support the presence of small (300–400 g) hyaenodonts in the late Ypresian of the Paris Basin. Estimates of dental indices indicate that these hyaenodonts had an insectivorous diet. The third species – referred to Eurotherium – may have weighed 4–5 kg and, based on dental indices, likely incorporated more vertebrate prey into its diet. We also performed a phylogenetic analysis in order to test the relationships of these new taxa. These newly discovered species imply that the Proviverra/Allopterodon, Cynohyaenodon, and Eurotherium clades appeared in Europe earlier than previously known (i.e., Lutetian, MP 11). They reinforce the hypothesis that the hyaenodonts radiated during the middle-late Ypresian (MP 8/9–10) in Europe and adapted at that time to diverse ecological niches that they still occupied in the Priabonian (MP 13–14).     

New nematocerans (Insecta: Diptera) from the Late Jurassic of Mongolia

New nematoceran taxa are described based on isolated wings from the Late Jurassic Shar Teg locality (Mongolia): ?Nannotanyderus incertus sp. nov. (Tanyderidae), Crenoptychoptera liturata sp. nov. (Ptychopteridae), Chaoburmus amphilogos sp. nov., Mesocorethra cincta sp. nov. (Chaoboridae), Rasnicynomma additum gen. et sp. nov., and Palaeoperissomma ornatum sp. nov. (Perissommatidae).     

New radiolaria of the family Pseudodictyomitridae from the Coniacian-Santonian of the Perapedhi Formation of southern Cyprus

A new genus of Late Cretaceous radiolarians, Cyprodictyomitra gen. nov., comprising two new species, C. longa sp. nov., C. elegantissima sp. nov., and a new species, Pseudodictyomitra crassa sp. nov. are described. These new taxa come from rich Coniacian-Santonian radiolarian associations of the Perapedhi Formation of Southern Cyprus.     

Jurassic Scaphopoda from the Russian platform: Pulsellidae and Gadilidae

The scaphopod families Pulsellidae and Gadilidae from sandy and clayey beds of the Jurassic (Callovian?Volgian) of European Russia are investigated. In Pulsellidae, the following taxa are described: Annulipulsellum with two subgenera, Annulipulsellum (species A. ambiguum sp. nov., A. rugosum sp. nov.) and Mesopulsellum subgen. nov. (A. alternoides sp. nov., A. calloviense sp. nov., A. hirtistriatum sp. nov., A. medium sp. nov.), Gracilipulsellum gen. nov. (G. iodaense sp. nov.), Gardneridentalium gen. nov. (G. primitivum sp. nov., G. reticulatum sp. nov.), and Mesoentalina gen. nov. (M. fabulosa sp. nov.). New taxa of the family Gadilidae include the genus Mesoantalis gen. nov. with the species M. clava sp. nov., M. expolitum sp. nov., and M. volgense sp. nov.     

New radiolarian genera and species from the Lower Permian of the Southern Urals and Northern Mugodzhary

Two new genera and five new species of Lower Permian radiolarians, Arcoclathrata alekseevi gen. et sp. nov., Entactinia pinrasensis sp. nov., Microporosa rozhnovi gen. et sp. nov., M. aktastensis sp. nov., and Somphoentactinia saecularis sp. nov., from the Southern Urals and Northern Mugodzhary are described. The new spherical radiolarian taxa belong to three orders: Entactiniata, Cancelliata, and Spongiata of two classes, Sphaerellaria and Spumellaria.     

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.     

New and little-known Eoblattida (Insecta) from the Paleozoic of Russia

New taxa of the insect order Eoblattida from the Upper Carboniferous of Russia are described, including Narkemina kata sp. nov., Narkeminopsis inversa sp. nov., Carbonokata storozhenkoi gen. et sp. nov., Tshunoptera ampla gen. et sp. nov., and Evenkiophlebia collucata gen. et sp. nov. from the Chunya locality (Krasnoyarsk Region), Narkemulla sibirica gen. et sp. nov. from the Chunya and Izykhskie Kopi localities, Khakassia (all Cnemidolestidae), and Izykhia tridentis gen. et sp. nov. from Izykhskie Kopi (?Spanioderidae). Narkeminuta permiana gen. et sp. nov. (Cnemidolestidae) is described from the Kedrovka locality (Kemerovo Region; Lower Permian), and Issadische maximum gen. et sp. nov. (Eoblattida incertae familiae) is descriobed from the Isady locality (Vologda Region; Upper Permian). Permeoblatta borealis Rasnitsyn et Aristov, 2010 (Idelinellidae) from Isady is redescribed.     

New gall midge taxa of the subfamilies porricondylinae and lasiopterinae (Diptera,Cecidomyiidae) from the Rovno amber

Five new gall midge taxa of the subfamilies Porricondylinae and Lasiopterinae are described from the Late Eocene Rovno amber: Adsumyia integra gen. et sp. nov. (Dicerurini), Gratomyia inexigentis gen. et sp. nov. (Holoneurini), Winnertzia recusata sp. nov. (Winnertziini), Kovaleviola injusta gen. et sp. nov., and Spungisiola insuperabilis gen. et sp. nov. (Brachineurini).     

Three new Verrucidae (Crustacea: Cirripedia) from the Upper Eocene of the Euganean Hills (Northeast Italy)

Marls with pillow lavas of Late Eocene age from Castelnuovo in the Euganean Hills (Padua, NE Italy) have yielded three new verrucid cirripede species, Verruca veneta nov. sp., Costatoverruca? seguenzai nov. sp., and Metaverruca euganea nov. sp. The stratigraphic distribution of these taxa is discussed in light of previous verrucid records and their geologic context is established. They represent the oldest known verrucids from Italy.     

Late Norian (Triassic) Radiolaria from the Kotel’nyi Island (New Siberian Islands,Arctic, Russia)

Two radiolarian assemblages were recovered from upper Norian strata of the Kotel’nyi Island (Russia); the first assemblage, from the Monotis zabaikalica Subzone (lower part of Upper Norian), is represented by Betraccium inornatum Blome, Dumitricaella (?) parva Sugiyama, Ferresium titulense Blome and 24 other species; the second assemblage, from the Monotis subcircularis Subzone (upper part of Upper Norian), is represented by Crucella sp. cf. C. angulosa Carter, Kahlerosphaera acris Bragin, K. sp. cf. K. parvispinosa Kozur & Mostler, Pseudohagiastrum crassum (Carter) and 11 other species. Both assemblages have common taxa with Upper Norian and Rhaetian radiolarian assemblages of British Columbia and they display clear Boreal features: low taxonomic diversity, abundance of taxa known from high-latitude regions, absence or rare presence of taxa known from low-latitude areas. The presence of early representatives of nassellarian genera Droltus and Parahsuum is very distinctive. Six new species are described: Pseudohagiastrum spinosum nov. sp., Cantalum boreale nov. sp., Plafkerium carteri nov. sp., Droltus guttaeformis nov. sp., Laxtorum blomei nov. sp., L. glacialis nov. sp.     

New and little known orthopteroid insects (polyneoptera) from fossil resins: Communication 2

New taxa of the suborder Blattina (order Dictyoptera), possibly belonging to the family Corydiidae (Erucoblatta semicaeca gen. et sp. nov., Miocene; Proholocompsa gen. nov., Eocene; and Holocompsa nigra sp. nov. and H. abbreviata sp. nov., Miocene) and belonging to the family Ectobiidae (Plectoptera electrina sp. nov., Miocene; Agrabtoblatta symmetrica gen. et sp. nov. and ?Symploce rete sp. nov., Pleistocene) are described. The taxonomic position of the enigmatic genus Raphidiomimula Grimaldi et Ross from the Upper Cretaceous is discussed.     

Three new species of Sporidesmiella from southern China

Sporidesmiella rosae sp. nov., S. machili sp. nov., and S. archidendri sp. nov., occurring, respectively, on dead branches of Rosa chinensis, Machilus grijsii, and Archidendron clypearia, were collected from subtropical forests in southern China. They are described, illustrated, and compared with similar taxa. A dichotomous key to Sporidesmiella species is provided.     

Previously Unrecognized Ornithuromorph Bird Diversity in the Early Cretaceous Changma Basin,Gansu Province,Northwestern China

Here we report on three new species of ornithuromorph birds from the Lower Cretaceous Xiagou Formation in the Changma Basin of Gansu Province, northwestern China: Yumenornis huangi gen. et sp. nov., Changmaornis houi gen. et sp. nov., and Jiuquanornis niui gen. et sp. nov.. The last of these is based on a previously published but unnamed specimen: GSGM-05-CM-021. Although incomplete, the specimens can be clearly distinguished from each other and from Gansus yumenensis Hou and Liu, 1984. Phylogenetic analysis resolves the three new taxa as basal ornithuromorphs. This study reveals previously unrecognized ornithuromorph diversity in the Changma avifauna, which is largely dominated by Gansus but with at least three other ornithuromorphs. Body mass estimates demonstrate that enantiornithines were much smaller than ornithuromorphs in the Changma avifauna. In addition, Changma enantiornithines preserve long and recurved pedal unguals, suggesting an arboreal lifestyle; in contrast, Changma ornithuromorphs tend to show terrestrial or even aquatic adaptions. Similar differences in body mass and ecology are also observed in the Jehol avifauna in northeastern China, suggesting niche partitioning between these two clades developed early in their evolutionary history.