New species and biostratigraphic significance of middle Palaeozoic brachiopod genus Linguopugnoides Havliček

Linguopugnoides Havli?ek 1960, originally based on 3 Early Devonian (Lochkovian‐Pragian) species from the Czech Republic, is now construed as embracing at least 25 species distributed over all northern hemisphere continents as well as Australia, and extending from late Llandovery to early Emsian. Species‐diversity peaked during the Lochkovian when the genus was widespread, with 15 species having been reported. Four species are described as new. L. praecarens sp.nov. from the latest Silurian (Pridoli) of the Turkestan Range (South Tien Shan) is considered to be ancestral to the numerous, mainly late Lochkovian‐Pragian forms that appeared during the great diversification of the genus during the early Devonian. Three new species are described from the Lochkovian of the Zeravshan Range, Uzbekistan: L. rectiplicatus, L. diversiplicatus as well as the previously figured but not described L. kimi Rzhonsnitskaya. Species of Linguopugnoides have biostratigraphic and biogeographic significance and have obvious value for inter‐regional correlation.     

Discussion of the Early Devonian rhynchonellid brachiopod genus Borealirhynchia Su, 1976

The Early Devonian brachiopod genus Borealirhynchia was established by Su, 1976. Phylum Brachiopoda (Cambrian to Devonian). In: Paleontological Atlas of North China, Inner Mongolia Volume 1. Geological Publishing House Beijing, pp. 155-227 (in Chinese). It has not been previously described in detail, nor have transverse serial sections of the internal features of Borealirhynchia delerensis, the type species, been published. In this paper Borealirhynchia, along with a few species previously assigned to it, is analysed and discussed. Detailed transverse serial sections of the internal features of B.? lata Su, 1976, are provided, based on well-preserved specimens collected from the Lower Devonian strata of Dong Ujimqin Qi, northeastern Inner Mongolia. Borealirhynchia? gigantea Su, 1976 and Latonotoechia multicosta Su, 1976 are considered to be synonyms of B.? lata Su with the same external and internal characters present in all three species. Some Lower Devonian strata, in which Borealirhynchia was found and reported, from Dong Ujimqin Qi, northeastern Inner Mongolia, are fully described.     

A Lower Devonian hexacrinitid crinoid (Camerata,Monobathrida) from south-west England

The most species-rich and widespread crinoid clade in the type area of the Devonian of south-west England is the monobathrid camerate family Hexacrinitidae Wachsmuth and Springer. These crinoids occur either as thecae (Middle Devonian) or pluricolumnals and columnals (Lower to Upper Devonian). The first new, nominal species of hexacrinitid, probably Oehlerticrinus Le Menn, to be described from this region since the nineteenth century is Oehlerticrinus peachi sp. nov. from the Lower Devonian Looe Basin of southern Cornwall. This specimen is mouldic and somewhat flattened, retaining the proxistele and arms. Diagnostic features include the heteromorphic proxistele with circlets of long, unbranched radices directed towards the crown; the high, box-like (=skyphosiform) theca with a flattened base; a thecal plate sculpture of tubercles and ridges arranged in triangles; and the pinnulate arms. Any uncertainty in identifying this species at the generic level rests with the arms being pinnulate, not ramulose as is common in Hexacrinites Austin and Austin, indicating that O. peachi is closer to Oehlerticrinus Le Menn.     

Restudy of the Early Devonian rugose coral Xystriphylloides from South China

Early Devonian rugose coral Xystriphylloides in South China is restudied from the perspective of its taxonomic definition, biostratigraphy, paleoecology, and implication for the Yujiang Event. The diagnostic characters of the genus are clarified and its taxonomic position is also revised. In particular the septa of Xystriphylloides are shown to be fibrous rather than trabeculate. Xystriphylloides distinctus Yu n. sp. is described. Species of Xystriphylloides are widely distributed in South China and North Vietnam, so they are useful for regional biostratigraphic correlation and regional geological mapping. As an important biostrome builder, Xystriphylloides became extinct below the base of the nothoperbonus Conodont Zone, so it can be considered as one of the important pieces of evidence for recognizing the first episode of the Early Devonian Emsian Yujiang Event, which is also significant for studying paleoecology and event stratigraphy.     

Lanveocia et Candelasphaeridium,genres nouveaux d'Acritarches des gres de Landevennec (Gedinnien inferieur de la rade de Brest - Finistere)

Two new genera of organic-walled microplancton (Acritarchs) are described. All are from the Early Devonian(Early Gedinnian) Grès de Landévennec (Rade de Brest - Finistère). Lanveocia formosa (type species) and Candelasphaeridium insolitum (type species) are described.     

A new genus of Early Devonian plants with novel strobilar structures and vegetative appendages from the Posongchong Formation of Yunnan,China

A new plant, Dibracophyton acrovatum gen. et sp. nov., is described from the Lower Devonian (Pragian) Posongchong Formation of Wenshan District, southeastern Yunnan, China. The plant has creeping axes from which arise vegetative and fertile axes. The vegetative axes helically bear lateral dichotomous appendages with curved or round tips. The fertile axes possess terminal strobili with numerous fertile units arranged in irregular helices. Each fertile unit consists of a stalked long-elliptical sporangium, with dehiscence into two equal valves, and two discrete long-ovate bracts covering sporangium from above–below directions. A new genus and species is thus established based on these characters and is temporarily regarded as incertae sedis of Tracheophyta, although it perhaps closes to the barinophytes in affinity. Detailed comparisons with other plants having a similar architecture, i.e., sporangia closely associated with modified vegetative structures, are made. The discovery of D. acrovatum further enriches the composition of the Posongchong flora and demonstrates great morphological disparity of the Early Devonian vascular plants.     

亚轮生奇异蕨(Adoketophyton subverticillatum)在贵州都匀泥盆系蟒山群的发现及其意义

Adoketophyton subverticillatum (Li et Cai) Li et Edwards (亚轮生奇异蕨)是云南早泥盆世坡松冲植物群中颇具代表性的、研究较为详细的一种植物, 目前对其整体形态特征和解剖结构都有较深入的认识。本文通过系列针修法, 将采自贵州都匀包阳剖面蟒山群下段的一块植物化石新材料归入A. subverticillatum。基于目前对 Adoketophyton时空分布的认识, 认为该属可作为早泥盆世植物群的代表分子, 并据此推断蟒山群下段的时代应为早泥盆世。Adoketophyton subverticillatum在都匀的发现, 表明贵州都匀蟒山群中的植物与云南坡松冲植物群在属、种一级上存在扩散与交流现象。Adoketophyton以及其他相关植物的研究表明, 在高大气CO₂浓度的早泥盆世, 叶性结构如孢子叶、苞片、枝叶复合体等已广泛分布于华南板块。     

New record of Discradisca (Brachiopoda: Discinidae) from the Early Miocene of the Aquitaine Basin,south-western France

The linguliform inarticulate brachiopod genus Discradisca Stenzel, 1964 has been identified for the first time from the Early Burdigalian (Early Miocene) sandy deposits of the Aquitaine Basin, south-western France. The species studied here, D. multiradiata (de Morgan, 1915), originally described from the Middle Miocene of the Loire Basin, north-western France, is characterized by a small size, ornamentation of numerous (up to 100), fine but distinct and beaded tuberculate ribs, and an apex situated subposteriorly to subcentrally. The ecological and taphonomic aspects of this species are also presented. The attribution of some previously described Discinisca Dall, 1871 species from the Tertiary to the genus Discradisca is discussed.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pelekysgnathus jeppssoni</Emphasis>, a new conodont species from the Eifelian Stage of the Bryansk Region,Russia

Distribution of the Devonian conodont genus Pelekysgnathus is considered. A new species, P. jeppssoni sp. nov. from the Mosolovian Regional Stage (Middle Devonian, Eifelian) of the Voronezh Anteclise is described.     

Early Carboniferous spiriferoid brachiopods from the Qaidam Basin,Northwest China: Taxonomy,biostratigraphy and biogeography

Six Early Carboniferous brachiopod species in four genera of the Superfamily Spiriferoidea are described from the Qaidam Basin, northwestern China, including a new genus, Qaidamospirifer, and two new species: Grandispirifer qaidamensis and Qaidamospirifer elongatus. Additionally, a new genus, Triangulospirifer, is also proposed to replace Triangularia Poletaev, 2001 that was preoccupied by a Devonian molluscan genus.On the basis of the new material as well as published information, we have reviewed the taxonomic composition and the stratigraphic and palaeobiogeographic distributions of the three previously established genera from the viewpoint of palaeobiogeography. The study reveals that Grandispirifer has a relatively long stratigraphic range from the late Tournaisian to Serpukhovian. During this interval, the genus attained a wide geographical distribution, reaching Northwest China, western Yunnan of West China, Japan, as well as Iran and North Africa. Angiospirifer first occurred in western Europe in the Viséan, and later migrated to North Africa during the late Viséan. In the Serpukhovian, it migrated eastward, reaching the Donets Basin of Ukraine and the Qaidam Basin in Northwest China. Anthracothyrina evolved from Brachythyrina in North Africa in late Viséan, then dispersed north-westward to western and eastern Europe and, further eastward to the Qaidam Basin during the Serpukhovian.     

A new delthyridoid spiriferid genus from the Dra Valley, Morocco, and its phylogenetic affinities (Brachiopoda, Lower Devonian)

Multiplicatispirifer, a new delthyridoid brachiopod genus with a gently divergent capillate micro-ornamentation and bifurcating costae on flanks, sulcus and fold, has been identified in the Mdâouer-el-Kbîr Formation of the Dra Valley (southern Anti-Atlas, Morocco). Its type speciesMultiplicatispirifer foumzguidensis n. gen., n. sp., at present the only species of this genus, is described. This form has hitherto been determined asFimbrispirifer orStruveina by various authors. In this work, the new genus is compared with the multiplicate and capillate spiriferid genera with bifurcating costae which also have costae in the sulcus and on the fold:Costispirifer andPerryspirifer from North America,Elymospirifer from South China,Borealispirifer from Asia andMultispirifer from Central Europe. The relation ofMultiplicatispirifer to the fimbriateFimbrispirifer, Struveina andVandercammenina, from which it is distinguished by its capillate micro-ornamentation, is discussed. The new genus is hitherto only known from the Moroccan southern Anti-Atlas. Its colsest relatives, taxa ofCostispirifer, occur in the Eastern American Realm (Gaspé, Canada and the eastern United States) and the Nevada Province (western United States).Multiplicatispirifer occurrences are restricted to the Lower/Upper Emsian boundary interval (upper Lower Devonian). The reasons for a possible migration corridor between North America and North Africa before Emsian time are discussed.     

Mid-cretaceous Ornithocheirids (Pterosauria,Ornithocheiridae) from Russia and Uzbekistan

Ornithocheirid remains from 16 localities of Russia and Uzbekistan are reviewed. New material of ornithocheirids from the localities of Mogoito (Barremian-Aptian), Stoilo quarry (Albian-Cenomanian), and Khodzhakul (Cenomanian) is described. The Khodzhakul locality has yielded Ornithocheirus (the first record of this genus in Asia).     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Rheiacardia lerami</Emphasis> n. gen. n. sp., ein hippocardiider Rostroconch aus dem Devon Laurussias

To the most recent revisions of the family HippocardiidaePojeta &; Runnegar (Rostroconchia, Mollusca) the additional, monotypic genusRheiacardia n. gen. is added. The genus belongs to the recently described subfamily HippocardiinaePojeta &; Runnegar and is unambiguously classified and characterized by differentiation from the previously described genera of the subfamily.Rheiacardia n. gen. has a stratigraphic occurrence from Early to Middle Devonian.     

Agelacrinitid Edrioasteroidea (Echinodermata) from the Middle Devonian of the Eifel (Rhenish Massif, Germany)

The few isolated reports of agelacrinitid edrioasteroids (“Timeischytes”) from the Middle Devonian of the Eifel (Rhenish Massif, Germany) are revised. In this context, a specimen-rich but low-diversity edrioasteroid association is described from the threshold of the Eisen and Latistriatus Members of the Junkerberg Formation (Eifelian, Middle Devonian) of the Blankenheim Syncline. Predominantly, the autochthonously preserved edrioasteroids settled fixosessile-epibenthically on the frequent-occurring orthid brachiopod Schizophoria schnuri blankenheimensis and represent a wide spectrum of ontogenetic growth stages. They are associated with epibenthic brachiopods, microconchids, bryozoans, and auloporids—exemplifying synecological interactions. Roundish, shallow concavities with the shape and size of preserved adjacent edrioasteroids within encrusting colonies of the bryozoan Eostenopora clivosa are of special interest. It is suggested that the depressions represent former positions of the adjacent edrioasteroids. The new Bellastrella eifeliana n. gen. n. sp. is described, and genus Krama Bell, 1976 is reported from the Middle Devonian of Germany for the first time.     

On the First Finds of the Genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Djanaliparkinsonia</Emphasis> (Stephanoceratidae,Ammonoidea) in the Upper Bajocian of the Northern Caucasus

The genus Djanaliparkinsonia Kutuzova, 1975 was originally described as an endemic subgenus of the genus Parkinsonia (family Parkinsoniidae of the superfamily Perisphinctoidea) from the Upper Bajocian (middle member of the Degibadam Formation) of the Gissar Range (Uzbekistan). A new species D. alanica sp. nov. is established from the Upper Bajocian Garantiana garantiana Zone (upper member of the Djangura Formation) based on occurrences in the Northern Caucasus (Karachay-Cherkessia). Macroconchs and microconchs of the new species are described from the two localities on the Kuban and Kyafar rivers. Djanaliparkinsonia sp. is identified from the lower subzone of the Parkinsonia parkinsoni Zone of the Kyafar River. The species composition and geographic range of Djanaliparkinsonia are expanded: a species previously described from Germany as Garantiana bentzi Wetzel, 1954 also assigned to the genus. The genus Djanaliparkinsonia is assigned to the subfamily Garantianinae of the family Stephanoceratidae (superfamily Stephanoceratoidea).     

Additions to the silicified upper devonian/lower carboniferous flora from ballyheigue,Ireland

Continuing study of the uppermost Devonian flora from Ballyheigue, County Kerry, Ireland (Tn1a-Tn1b) has resulted in the addition of four taxa. Two plants, Tristichia sp. and cf. Tetrastichia bupatides, are described for the first time from Ireland. Tetrastichia also occurs in Scotland and Tristichia has been described from Scotland and France. New genera include Kerryoxylon hexalobatum gen. et sp. nov. (called “Plant A” in a previous paper), a probable lyginopterid pteridosperm, and Rhizoxylon ambiguum gen. et sp. nov., a new organ genus for seed fern roots similar to Kaloxylon.     

New species of the genus Adelophthalmus (Eurypterida, Chelicerata) found in the Middle Devonian of Khakassia

Two new eurypterid species, Adelophthalmus kamyshtensis sp. nov. and Adelophthalmus dubius sp. nov., are described from the Middle Devonian of Khakassia. The new species are among the earliest known members of the genus Adelophthalmus and the earliest members of this genus known outside Europe and North America.     

A new species and a new combination of the Mesozoic genus Podocarpophyllum Gomolitzky (Coniferales)

Podocarpophyllum Gomolitzky is studied in detail from the type locality Angren (Uzbekistan, Middle Jurassic). Emended diagnoses of the genus and its type species P. singulare Gomolitzky are provided. For the first time, members of the genus are reported from the Lower Jurassic of the Mangyshlak Peninsula (western Kazakhstan), where P. kazachstanicum sp. nov. is described, and from the Middle Jurassic of the eastern Ural Mountains, where P. mesozoicum (Kiritchkova) comb. nov. is established. The epidermal morphology of the genus Podocarpophyllum is compared with that of fossil and modern members of the Podocarpaceae.     

A new nanhsiungchelyid turtle from the Late Cretaceous of Neixiang,Henan Province,China

A new genus and species of Nanhsiungchelyidae (Testudines: Cryptodira), Yuchelys nanyangensis n. g. n. sp., are described on the basis of a partial skeleton from the Late Cretaceous Gaogou Formation of Neixiang, Nanyang Basin, Henan Province. It is the first nanhsiungchelyid record in the east-central part of China and fills the geographical gap between the western (Uzbekistan, Mongolia, Northern and Southern China) and eastern (Japan) distribution areas of the family Nanhsiungchelyidae.