Ammotragus europaeus : une nouvelle espèce de Caprini (Bovidae, Mammalia) du Pléistocène inférieur à la grotte du Vallonnet (France)

Ammotragus europaeus: a new species of Caprini (Bovidae, Mammalia) from the Early Pleistocene site of Vallonnet (France). A new species of the genus Ammotragus is described from the assemblage III of Vallonnet cave (Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, Alpes-Maritimes, France). These remains were interpreted as Ovis, but the re-study of the dental collection from the site and a first study of a partial braincase with the basal internal region of the horn-core pedicels, the parietals, the temporals, and the basisphenoid bones, show anatomical differences with the Caprini genera Ovis, Capra, and Hemitragus and the Ovibovini genus Soergelia. At the opposite, anatomical similarities of the Vallonnet material to the extant North-African Caprini genus Ammotragus are observed. The age of Vallonnet cave is dated by palaeomagnetic techniques at about 1.0 Ma. Teeth remains similar to the Vallonnet species have been found at Fuente Nueva-3 (Orce, Andalusia, Spain). To cite this article: P.-É. Moullé et al., C. R. Palevol 3 (2004).     

Macrosiagon deuvei n. sp. (Coleoptera: Ripiphoridae) from the French Eocene amber

Macrosiagon deuvei n. sp., the second fossil representative of this extant genus of Ripiphoridae: Ripiphorinae: Macrosiagonini is described from the lowermost Eocene amber of Oise (France). The new species is compared with the extant species of the genus. Taxonomic position of other two fossil representatives of the family described from France by Perrichot et al. (2004) is discussed. The genus Paleoripiphorus Perrichot et al. 2004 is tentatively transferred from Ripiphorinae to Ripidiinae.     

New fossil Hyaenodonta (Mammalia,Placentalia) from the Ypresian and Lutetian of France and the evolution of the Proviverrinae in southern Europe

The proviverrines from the Ypresian (MP7–MP10) and Lutetian (MP11–MP14) are represented mainly by species recorded in the northern and central parts of Europe (Paris Basin, Belgian Basin, Germany, Switzerland). Here, we describe fossils from southern France: Saint‐Papoul (MP8 + 9; Aude) and Aigues‐Vives 2 (?MP13; Aude). One dentary with secant molars from Saint‐Papoul represents a new genus and species, Preregidens langebadrae. This taxon is possibly present in Avenay (France), the MP8 + 9 reference locality. One of the three dentaries discovered in Aigues‐Vives 2 belongs to the hypercarnivorous Oxyaenoides schlosseri, previously represented by only two isolated lower molars. This dentary appears to be the most derived of the proviverrines. This species is possibly present in Saint‐Martin‐de‐Londres (France), a locality that is considered to be close to the MP13 reference level. The two other dentaries from Aigues‐Vives 2 support the presence of Eurotherium theriodis and provide the first possible evidence of sexual dimorphism in a proviverrine species. A phylogenetic analysis of the proviverrines is performed to resolve the phylogenetic position of the three taxa. This identifies a close relationship between the new genus (Preregidens) and Oxyaenoides. The new fossils allow the age of Saint‐Papoul and Aigues‐Vives 2 to be refined: the first locality is considered to be close in age to Avenay (Ypresian; France), while the second one seems to be close to Egerkingen γ (Lutetian; Switzerland), which is considered to be possibly close in age to the MP13 reference level. Finally, the presence of O. schlosseri and E. theriodis in the southern part of France is compatible with the hypothesis that the mammals involved in the first intra‐Eocene turnover migrated northwards.     

Description of a new species of Gastornis (Aves,Gastornithiformes) from the early Eocene of La Borie,southwestern France

The early Eocene locality of La Borie is located near the village of Saint-Papoul, in southwestern France. It consists of clay deposits that have yielded numerous vertebrate fossils, including remains of the giant flightless bird Gastornis. These remains were initially attributed to the species G. parisiensis, which is otherwise recorded from the late Paleocene and earliest Eocene of the North Sea Basin. New fossil birds collected in the La Borie clay pit in 2018 include an almost complete mandible of Gastornis. We describe a new species of Gastornis based on this mandible and we show that the previously described remains from La Borie must be assigned to this new species. The new species differs from other species of Gastornis in the morphology of the mandible, maxilla and quadrate. The morphological diversity of the genus Gastornis, which existed in Europe for at least 17 million years, is emphasized.LSID of publication: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:10E7938B-C972-4127-94DC-169D35977B11.     

Afrotropical and Nearctic genera of Odonata in the French Oligocene: biogeographic and paleoclimatic implications (Insecta: Calopterygidae,Aeshnidae)

New species of the genera Sapho and Epiaeschna are recorded in the Oligocene of Aix- en-Provence, Bouches-du-Rhône, France. Sapho legrandi n. sp. is the third fossil representative of this recent African genus and Epiaeschna pseudoheros n. sp. is the fifth fossil species of this recent North American genus. The fossil species Triaeschna gossi from the Eocene of England, Epacantha magnifica from the Late Oligocene of Kazakhstan, and Mediaeschna matutina from the Oligocene of China, are considered species of Epiaeschna and the three fossil genera Triaeschna Campion 1916, Mediaeschna Zhang 1989, and Epacantha Martynov 1929 are synonymized with Epiaeschna. The closely related genera Umma and Sapho inhabit warm humid forests of Western Africa. Their presence in two Oligocene deposits of France supports the hypothesis of a warm humid palaeoenvironment for Armissan (Aude, France), and Aix-en-Provence.     

Description de Artareites landii nov. (Ammonoidea) du Barrémien supérieur de Majastre (Sud-Est de la France) et discussion sur les Helicancylidae Hyatt, 1894

In the Majastre area (Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, South-Eastern France), the hemipelagic domain of the Lower Cretaceous is exposed to the favour of the “Décrochement du Poil”. This palaeogeographical and paleotectonic position allowed the harvest of a diversified ammonite-fauna in the level with “small Barremites”. It is precisely dated here for the first time, and takes place between the base of the Barremense subzone and the base the Breistrofferi biohorizon of the Vandenheckei biozone (base of the Upper Barremian). Within this fauna, Artareites landii nov. sp. is considered here as a possible descendant of the genus Dissimilites Sarkar due to its characteristics and stratigraphic position. The genus Artareites nov. gen. is certainly an important milestone of the Helicancylidae towards the Toxoceratoides genus morphology. In this case, in agreement with the morphological, ontogenical, stratigraphical and paleobiogeographical parameters, some North American species could be considered as potential intermediate. Due to their characteristics and their joint origin, genus of small size included in the Helicancylidae represent a coherent set with the rank of a family, and is independent of the Ancyloceratidae. Its content is revised and limited to the genus phyletically associated around the main axis of Acrioceras-Dissimilites-Artareites nov. gen. and Toxoceratoides-Helicancylus, whose elements are connected by a number of forms. In this case, Monodites nov. gen. is created for the Hauterivian and Lower Barremian very specific forms Monodites crevolai (Vermeulen et al.) and Monodites trumpyi (Kakabadze et Thieuloy) which does not seem to be integrated in the taxa already recognized in the literature. The family Monoditidae nov. fam. is proposed to mark this uniqueness.     

Remains of sea turtles from the Ikovo locality (Lugansk Region, Ukraine; Middle Eocene)

Fragmentary remains of sea turtles (Cheloniidae sensu lato: Argillochelys sp., Puppigerus nessovi Averianov, 2005, and Cheloniidae gen. indet.) from the Ikovo locality (Lugansk Region, Ukraine; Lower Lutetian, Middle Eocene) are described. The genera Argillochelys and Puppigerus are recorded for the first time in Eastern Europe. The turtle assemblage from Ikovo is similar at the generic level to West European assemblages (Belgium, Great Britain) of approximately the same age (Lower-Middle Eocene). In the presence of P. nessovi, the Ikovo assemblage is similar to that from the Middle Eocene Dzheroi 2 locality (Uzbekistan).     

Eosialis, a new alderfly genus in French Lowermost Eocene amber (Insecta, Megaloptera, Sialidae)

A new genus and species of Sialidae, Eosialis dorisi nov. gen., nov. sp. is described from the Lowermost Eocene amber of Oise (France). Its phylogenetic affinities within this family remain uncertain.     

Oryctolagus giberti n. sp. (Lagomorpha, Mammalia) du Pléistocène inférieur de Cueva Victoria (Murcie, Espagne)

A new species of leporid (Lagomorpha, Mammalia) is described based on the material from the Lower Pleistocene of Cueva Victoria (Murcia, Spain). This species, named Oryctolagus giberti n. sp., presents several intermediate characters between the first known representative of the genus, O. laynensis, from the Middle Pliocene of Spain, and the modern European rabbit (O. cuniculus), specially at the level of the palate, the mandible, the third lower premolar, the ulna, the coxal and the femur. In this respect, Oryctolagus giberti n. sp. is a firm candidate to occupy the vacant phylogenetic place between these two species. It also questions the results of molecular studies that date the divergence of groups A and B of Oryctolagus cuniculus at about 2 Myr ago.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cyclopertorbitolites</Emphasis>, a new soritid (Foraminifera) from the Lower Eocene of the Eskişehir and Kastamonu regions (Turkey)

The Lower Eocene sediments in the southwestern Seyitgazi (Eskişehir) region include shallow-water rhythmic deposition of claystones, limestones, clayey limestones, and sandy limestones. The Lower Eocene unit in the northwestern Tosya (Kastamonu) region is composed of shallow-water limestones. Both units contain a new soritid foraminiferal genus, Cyclopertorbitolites (with the type species Cyclopertorbitolites tokerae sp. nov.). Cyclopertorbitolites tokerae gen. et sp. nov. is described in the Middle Ilerdian-Lower Cuisian sediments of Seyitgazi and in the Middle Ilerdian limestones of Tosya in this study. It is characterized by the presence of regular annular chambers with rectangular or subrectangular chamberlets at the juvenile stage and a porcellaneous lamina on either side of the test.     

A new species of Ameripodius (Aves: Galliformes: Quercymegapodiidae) from the Lower Miocene of France

The Quercymegapodiidae, primitive galliforms resembling recent megapodes, have been described from the Upper Eocene of Quercy, France. They have also been identified in the Upper Oligocene–Lower Miocene of Brazil, where they are represented by the genus Ameripodius Alvarenga. A new species of this genus, Ameripodius alexis sp. nov., from the Lower Miocene of France, is described here. The occurrence of the same genus on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean emphasizes the similarities between South American and European avifaunas during the early Tertiary. New discoveries indicate that a similar avifauna was also present in North America, and that a characteristic association of taxa can be defined for the group that includes South America, North America and Eurasia. However, so far as is known, the same avifauna does not occur in contemporaneous African avifaunas.     

The first sclerodermine and pristocerine flat wasps in Lowermost Eocene amber of France (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae)

Two new bethylid wasps, one Scleroderminae Paleoscleroderma lamarrei gen. et sp. n. and one Pristocerinae Pristocera alaini sp. n., are described from the Lowermost Eocene amber of Oise (France). Together with the Bethylinae and the three Epyrinae already described from the same amber, they show that this family was already very diverse during the Lower Paleogene.     

Structure et composition chimique élémentaire de quelques coquilles d'œufs de dinosaures du Jurassique et du Crétacé d'Amérique du Nord

Structure and chemical composition of some dinosaur eggshells from Jurassic and Cretaceous of North America. Microstructural analyses of some dinosaur eggshells from Jurassic and Cretaceous sites of North America show a large variability in the state of preservation. Outer and inner surfaces are often hidden by secondary deposits, and the tubercles or ridges and spherolites are not visible. Chemical analyses show that some fragments are strongly enriched in Si. There is a good correlation between the preservation of the structures and the chemical contents. Diagenetic processes are different from those described in the samples from Southern France.     

THE “HYSTRICHOSPHAERID” RESTING SPORE OF THE DINOFLAGELLATE PYRODINIUM BAHAMENSE,PLATF, 19062

Germination experiments demonstrate that the “hystrichosphere” called Hemicystodinium zoharyi, which previously has been found only as a microfossil organism, is the resting spore stage in the life history of Pyrodinium bahamense, a modern bioluminescent, thecate dinoflagellate. The morphology of this spore, together with new details of the thecal structure and ontogeny of P. bahamense, is described, and it is concluded that Pyrodinium is closely related to Gonyaulax but worthy of retention as a discrete genus. The geological history of P. bahamense is traceable to the Eocene through fossil occurrences of its spore, and it is suggested that additional pyrodinioid dinoflagellates which now are extinct were represented in Lower Tertiary seas by another hystrichosphere genus, called Homotryblium. Selected aspects of the physiology and ecology of modern dinoflagellate resting spores are discussed briefly with special reference to Pyrodinium.     

New data on trematosauroid labyrinthodonts of Eastern Europe: 2. <Emphasis Type="Italic">Trematosaurus galae</Emphasis> sp. nov.: Cranial morphology

The cranial morphology of a new species of the genus of Trematosaurus, T. galae sp. nov., represented by fragmentary specimens from the Lower Triassic Donskaya Luka locality (Volgograd Region), is described in detail. The diagnosis of the genus Trematosaurus is amended.     

New records of the conodont genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Polygnathus</Emphasis> from the Lower Famennian of Mugodzhary,Western Kazakhstan

Representatives of the genus Palmatolepis, along with new species of the genus Polygnathus (Po. schinkaryovi sp. nov. and Po. bertchogurensis sp. nov.) are recorded in carbonate deposits of the Burtebayian Formation of the Lower Famennian of Mugodzhary (Western Kazakhstan). They co-occur with Polygnathus polesicus Strelchenko, which is described for the first time in the Lower Famennian of Belarus.     

The first record of dicosmoecinae from the Cenozoic of the Russian Far East with a brief global overview of fossil Limnephilidae (Insecta: Trichoptera)

A new genus and species, Prodicos rasnitsyni gen. et sp. nov. (Trichoptera, Limnephilidae), from the Upper Eocene–Lower Oligocene of Russia is described. The global fossil record of adult Limnephilidae is reviewed.