<Emphasis Type="Italic">Compsaster formosus</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">Worthen &; Miller</Emphasis> (Asteroidea; Echinodermata): A Carboniferous homeomorph of the post-Paleozoic Asteriidae

All adequately known post-Paleozoic asteroids are either assignable to surviving families or closely related families whereas no Paleozoic species assignable to a surviving order has been recognized. The Mississippian speciesCompsaster formosus is similar enough to various Recent taxa in overall form as well as in the form and arrangement of body wall ossicles to raise the issue of affinities: IsC. formosus nested within a phylogenetic branch hitherto known only from post-Paleozoic strata or is it only homeomorphic?The nature of the ambulacral system is critical to interpretation of echinoderms, and post-Paleozoic asteroids share three fundamental ambulacral characters or character suites: dorsal podial pores, staggered positioning of ambulacrals and adambulacrals, and complex articular structures between these two ossicular types.Calliasterella americana, a Carboniferous asteroid, shares the three ambulacral features, although it is distinctive from post-Paleozoic asteroids in other ways.Compsaster formosus exhibits at least two of the three ambulacral characters, although presence of staggering has not been finally established. LikeC. americana, C. formosus differs from post-Paleozoic species in details of ambulacral anatomy as well as aspects of ventral body surface ossicular arrangement. Although approaching crown-group organization,C. formosus nevertheless represents a branch basal to the crown group.Because asteroids are generalists, understanding of life habits ofCompsaster is sketchy in spite of morphological similarities between it and younger genera.Compsaster probably was epifaunal and its overall form is strongly reminiscent of that of Recent predatory asteriids but it is also similar to small-particle feeding echinasterids.     

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.     

New evidence of nearshore Mid-Triassic <Emphasis Type="Italic">Zoophycos</Emphasis>: morphological and paleoenvironmental characterization

Zoophycos is a well-known trace fossil common throughout the Phanerozoic. Paleozoic forms show important differences in morphology and habitat distribution with respect to the Jurassic, Cretaceous, and Cenozoic ones. Therefore, Early–Middle Triassic is considered a crucial time-span for the understanding of the evolution of this trace fossil. So far, Early Triassic Zoophycos is unknown and Middle Triassic forms were recorded only in deposits from Thuringia. The morphology and paleoenvironment of Zoophycos from the middle–upper Muschelkalk of the Iberian Range is herein described. The best-preserved trace fossils occur in a dolomicritic bed Ladinian in age, and are represented by small forms with a subcircular, slightly lobed outline and very little penetration depth. They were deposited in a very shallow, quiet-water environment with transition to supratidal/emerged areas. The low diversity of both trace fossils and skeletal remains point to stressful conditions related to strong salinity variations and/or poor water circulation. A comparison was made with Zoophycos from Anisian deposits of the Muschelkalk in Germany. This showed that both forms are quite simple and penetrate only the shallowest tiers, although they are different in whorl outline and lobe shape. This confirms that, notwithstanding the morphological variability of this group, Zoophycos still maintained a quite simple structure in the Triassic. A shallow-water environment was deduced for both localities, confirming that at least until the Early Jurassic Zoophycos had not definitively migrated toward deep-water areas.     

New insects (Insecta: Eoblattida,Embiida) from the Permian of Russia and the Triassic of Kyrgyzstan,with observations on the origin of webspinners

Locustoblattina segmentata gen. et sp. nov. and L. marginata gen. et sp. nov., new members of the family Mesorthopteridae (Eoblattida) are described from the Middle Triassic of the Madygen locality (Ladinian Stage of the Kyrgyzstan). New members of the Alexarasniidae (Embiida), Alexarasnia limbata Aristov, sp. nov. and Nestorembia shcherbakovi sp. nov., are described from the Upper Permian Isady locality in the Vologda Region and the Madygen locality, respectively. Parastenaropodites fluxa Storozhenko, 1996 (Mesorthopteridae) is redescribed from Madygen. The origin of webspinners from within the Permian eoblattids and the composition of the superorder Blattidea are discussed.     

The first representative of the suborder Mesotitanina from the Paleozoic and notes on the system and evolution of the order Titanoptera (Insecta: Polyneoptera)

A new subfamily, genus, and species (Deinotitaninae subfam. nov., Deinotitan orenburgensis gen. et sp. nov.) of the family Mesotitanidae (Titanoptera) are described from the Severodvinian (Upper Permian) of the Orenburg Region. This family belongs to the suborder Mesotitanina; both are recorded in the Paleozoic for the first time. The present finding and unpublished data suggest that the Mesozoic stage of the evolution of the superorder Orthopteroidea might start in the Late Permian. Taxonomy and early evolution of the order Titanoptera are discussed. Minititan nom. nov. is proposed for Microtitan Gorochov, 2003 (nec Microtitan Granger et Gregory, 1943).     

Upper Triassic (Norian) hypercalcified sponges from the Musandam Peninsula (United Arab Emirates and Oman)

Supercalcified sponges, including sphinctozoans, inozoans, chaetetids, spongiomorphids, occurring in Upper Triassic (Norian-Rhaetian) shallow-marine limestones of Musandam Mountains in United Arab Emirates (UAE), are described. The following taxa were determined: sphinctozoans: Hajarispongia osmani Senowbari-Daryan and Yancey, Nevadathalamia arabica n. sp., Nevadathalamia conica n. sp., Fanthalamia milahaensis n. sp., Iranothalamia incrustans (Boiko), Cinnabaria regularis n. sp.; inozoans: Cavsonella triassica n. sp., Molengraaffia regularis Vinassa de Regny, Peronidella? sp., Circopora cf. caucasica Moiseev, Circopora? sp.; spongiomorphids: Spongiomorpha sp.; chaetetids: Lovcenipora chaetetiformis Vinassa de Regny, Lovcenipora musandamensis n. sp., Lovcenipora sp., chaetetid sponge gen. et sp. indet. The most abundant sponge in the studied material is Nevadathalamia arabica n. sp. The described sponge association of the Arabian shelf (Musandam Mountains) shows close affinity to the sponge association known from age-equivalent terranes in the Panthalassa Ocean (Sonora Mountains in Mexico; Pilot Mountains in Nevada, USA), but is remarkably different from sponge associations in carbonates bordering the Tethys. This difference goes along with the biogeography of wallowaconchid bivalves and is most likely attributed to climatic, palaeogeographic or oceanographic factors.     

Revision of some spiriferide and spiriferinide brachiopods from the historical type area of the Tournaisian stage (Carboniferous,southern Belgium)

Spiriferides, and to a lesser extent the spiriferinides, rank among the major elements of the Tournaisian brachiopod fauna from the mixed argillaceous–carbonate succession of the Tournai area (Hainaut sedimentation area, southern Belgium), along with productides (chonetidines and productidines) and athyridides. Based on well-preserved and silicified material from the Tournai Formation (Ivorian), representatives of the families Ambocoeliidae (Crurithyris goldfussiana), Strophopleuridae (Voiseyella roemeriana), Mucrospiriferidae (Tylothyris laminosa), and Cyrtinidae (Cyrtina koninckiana, C. sp. indet.) are described. Cyrtina hibernica is reported for the first time in the Visean of Visé (Visé Formation, Belgium). Biotic interactions between spiriferides and diverse organisms are illustrated, notably the diverse epizoans fixed on brachiopods (e.g., microconchids, cornulitids, crinoid holdfasts), single and multiple drill holes, and regeneration traces after predator attacks.     

New species of the bristletail family machilidae (insecta,microcoryphia) from Abkhazia

Six new species are described from Abkhazia: Charimachilis abchasica sp. n., Lepismachilis abchasica sp. n., Trigoniophthalmus longitarsus sp. n., T. nematocerus sp. n., T. abchasicus sp. n., and T. subalpinus sp. n. Species of the genus Lepismachilis and the subgenus Trigoniophthalmus s. str. (T. longitarsus sp. n.) are described from the Caucasus for the first time. A key to the species of the genus Trigoniophthalmus from the Caucasus is given.     

New species of scelionids (Hymenoptera,Scelionidae) of the Israel fauna

Four new species of Scelionidae of the genera Telenomus (subgenus Telenomus) and Macroteleia (Telenomus (T.) ordanus Kononova, T. (T.) lunatus Kononova, Macroteleia israiliensis Kononova, and M. simutniki Kononova) from Israel are described. T. (T.) ordanus differs from the species of the subgenus Telenomus in the presence of short rugae on abdominal tergite II, smooth and shiny abdominal stem, and yellow legs. T. (T.) lunatus, similar to T. (T.) clavatus Kozlov et Kononova, can be distinguished by the smaller size, finer body sculpture, and sculpture of abdominal tergite II. Macroteleia israiliensis differs from M. rufa Szelényi in the more slender body and its coloration, as well as in the structure of the propodeum. M. simutniki differs from M. aurea Kozlov et Kononova in the wider abdomen and in the antennal structure (the 2nd antennal segment is wider, segments of the antennal club are as long as wide).     

New data on the taxonomy of ground-beetles (Coleoptera,Carabidae) from Palaearctic Asia

Synonymy of two genus-group names is substantiated: Tricholicinus Poppius, 1912 (type species: Tricholicinus setosus J.R. Sahlberg, 1880) = Martyr Semenov et Znojko, 1929 (type species: Martyr praeteritorum Semenov et Znojko, 1929), syn. n. and Psammodromius Peyerimhoff, 1927 (type species: Psammodromius noctivagus Peyerimhoff, 1927) = Xanthomelina Iablokoff-Khnzorian, 1964 (type species: Apristus zajtzewi Eichler, 1924), syn. n. Synonymy of the following names of the species-group taxa is established: Calosoma (Callisthenes) elegans (Kirsch, 1859) = C. (Callisthenes) declive (Dohrn, 1884), syn. n., lectotype of the latter is designated; Carabus (Semnocarabus) erosus erosus Motschulsky, 1866 = C. (Semnocarabus) erosus karascharensis (Eidam, 1931), syn. n., lectotype of the latter is designated; C. (Semnocarabus) cicatricosulus pseudoerosus Mandl, 1955 = C. (Semnocarabus) bogdanowi semnocosulus Deuve et Tian, 2013, syn. n.; Chlaenius (Dinodes) viridis (Ménétriés, 1832) = Ch. pallidicornis Ballion, 1871, syn. n.; Licinus (Tricholicinus) setosus (J.R. Sahlberg, 1880) = Licinus mongolicus Reitter, 1900, syn. n. = Martyr praeteritorum Semenov et Znojko, 1929, syn. n. = Martyr alter Semenov et Znojko, 1929, syn. n.; Psammodromius zajtzewi (Eichler, 1924), comb. n. (transferred from the genus Xanthomelina Iablokoff-Khnzorian, 1964) = Psammodromius pallidicolor (Mandl, 1973), syn. n. = Psammodromius damanabii Morvan, 1977, syn. n.Calosoma (Callisthenes) rostislavi Semenov, 1906, stat. resurr. is resurrected from synonyms of C. (Callisthenes) declive (Dohrn, 1884).     

A new subgenus of the longicorn genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phytoecia</Emphasis> Dejean, 1835 (Coleoptera,Cerambycidae) from the Palaearctic region

Paracoptosia subgen. n., with type species Saperda compacta Ménétriés, 1832, is established as a subgenus of Phytoecia for Coptosia sensu auct. nec Fairmaire, 1865. Coptosia Fairmaire, 1865, syn. n., is a junior objective synonym of Oxylia Mulsant, 1863.     

A new commensal ostracod <Emphasis Type="Italic">Asterositus ohtsukai</Emphasis> n. g., n. sp. (Paradoxostomatidae) on the sea star <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sclerasterias euplecta</Emphasis> (Fisher) (Asteriidae) and its feeding habits

A new commensal ostracod Asterositus ohtsukai n. g., n. sp. (Podocopida: Cytheroidea: Paradoxostomatidae) is described. This new taxon occurs on the ambulacral grooves and wreath of pedicellariae around superomarginal spines of the sea star Sclerasterias euplecta (Fisher) (Asteroidea: Forcipulatida: Asteriidae). Although the family Paradoxostomatidae Brady & Norman, 1889 contains four ectoparasitic or commensal genera, the association with asteroideans has never hitherto been reported. Morphological observations suggested that A. ohtsukai n. g., n. sp. is closely associated with the host sea star as it typically has distal hooks on the antenna and fifth to seventh limbs, and specialised mandibula and maxillula structures that are considered adaptations to a commensal life-style. In addition, this study discussed the feeding habits of A. ohtsukai n. g., n. sp. based on comparison with previous works. The extremely reduced palp and endites of maxillula of A. ohtsukai n. g., n. sp. imply that they have unique feeding habits that are not based on the feeding function of maxillula. From morphological comparisons with siphonostomatoid copepods, we suggest that A. ohtsukai n. g., n. sp. may feed on the body of host sea star by injuring them with styliform needle-like mandibular coxa and sucking the tissues, body fluid, or mucus with the suctorial disc on the oral cone.     

Life cycles of 17 riffle-dwelling mayfly species (Baetidae,Heptageniidae, and Ephemerellidae) in central Japan

We described the life cycles of 17 riffle-dwelling mayfly species in a central Japanese stream. Both species of Baetidae (Alainites yoshinensis Gose and Baetis thermicus Uéno) and two of nine species of Heptageniidae (Ecdyonurus scalaris Kluge and Epeorus latifolium Uéno/l-nigrus Matsumura) in this stream were multivoltine (more than one generation per year). Seven other heptageniid species (two unidentified species of Cinygmula, Epeorus aesculus Imanishi, E. curvatulus Matsumura, E. ikanonis Takahashi, E. napaeus Imanishi, and Rhithrogena japonica Uéno) and all six species of Ephemerellidae [Cincticostella elongatula (McLachlan), C. nigra (Uéno), Drunella basalis (Imanishi), D. ishiyamana Matsumura, D. sachalinensis (Matsumura), and D. trispina (Uéno)] were essentially univoltine.     

New Triassic beetles (Coleoptera) from northern European Russia

Beetle remains from the Triassic Khey-Yaga locality, Nenets National District, Korotaikha Basin, Nyadeita Formation, Olenekian-Anisian are described. Only isolated elytra have been found. Tetracoleus tshalyshevi gen. et sp. nov. and T. minimus sp. nov. are described and assigned to Tricoleidae, and six new species are described in formal taxa. Tetracoleus is close to Permian tricoleids just found in the Newcastle Group of Australia and the Vyatkian Aristovo locality of northern European Russia. The composition of elytra in the locality is closer to that of Lower Triassic localities than other Middle Triassic localities and characterizes the beginning of a recovery after the Permian-Triassic ecological crisis. Longxianocupes Hong in Liu, Liu et Hong, 1985 is shown to be a junior synonym of Sogdelytron Ponomarenko, 1969. The species Palademosyne ovum Ponomarenko, 2004, P. elongatum Ponomarenko, 2004, and P. latum Ponomarenko, 2004 are transferred to the genus Pseudochrysomelites Handlirsch, 1906.     

Brachiopods of the suborder Delthyridina Ivanova (order Spiriferida) from the Lower and Middle Devonian of northeastern Russia

New brachiopods of the suborder Delthyridina Ivanova (order Spiriferida) from the Lower and Middle Devonian of northeastern Russia, Ivanothyris costatus sp. nov. (subfamily Delthyridinae), Eoreticularia lata sp. nov., Yania gen. nov. with the type species Y. tumida sp. nov. (subfamily Eoreticulariinae), Reticulariopsis equitans Modzalevskaya, and R. (?) borealis sp. nov. (subfamily Reticulariopsinae) are described.     

Little-Known Weevil Taxa (Coleoptera,Curculionidae) Described by V. I. Motschulsky from the Caucasus

Lectotypes of Orthochaetes caucasicus Motschulsky, 1845 and Opitomorphus brevirostris Motschulsky, 1845 are designated. A new combination and new synonymies are established: Anchonidium caucasicum (Motschulsky, 1845), comb. n. (= Styphlus ulcerosum Aubé, 1850, syn. n., = Anchonidium corticeum Faust, 1886, syn. n.); Stomodes Schoenherr, 1826 (= Opitomorphus Motschulsky, 1845, syn. n.); Stomodes tolutarius Schoenherr, 1826 (= Opitomorphus brevirostris Motschulsky, 1845, syn. n.).     

New and little-known grylloblattids of the family Geinitziidae (Insecta: Grylloblattida) from the Triassic and Jurassic of Europe,Asia, and South Africa

The fossil history of the family Geinitziidae is reviewed. New taxa are described in the family: Shurabia hissarica, sp. nov. (Lower Jurassic of Tajikistan), Sh. shartegica, sp. nov. (Upper Jurassic of Mongolia), Sh. serrata, sp. nov. and Ginitzia sagulensis, sp. nov. (both Lower Jurassic of Kyrgyzstan). The subfamily Stegopterinae Sharov, 1961 is synonymized under Geinitziinae Handlirsch, 1906. The genera Minesedes Fujiyama, 1973 and Ominea Fujiyama, 1973 (Upper Triassic of Japan) are synonymized under Shurabia Martynov, 1937 and Geinitzia Handlirsch, 1906, respectively. Geinitzia varia Bode, 1953 (Lower Jurassic of Germany) and Fletchizia picturata Riek, 1976 (Upper Triassic of South Africa) are redescribed from their holotypes. F. kapokraalensis Wappler, 2001 and F. aleda Wappler, 2001 (both Upper Triassic of South Africa) are transferred to the genus Shurabia.     

New species of the buprestid genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Endelus</Emphasis> Deyrolle (Coleoptera,Buprestidae) from China,India, and Laos

Endelus (Kubaniellus) indicus sp. n. from India, E. (K.) lao sp. n. and E. (K.) khnzoriani sp. n. from Laos, E. (s. str.) sausai sp. n. from China, and E. (s. str.) dembickyi sp. n. from India are described, the two latter species are included in the Endelus bicarinatus Théry, 1932 species-group recently established by the author. E. collinus Obenberger, 1922 is included in this group; lectotype of this species is designated. Keys to species of the subgenus Kubaniellus and of the E. collinus group are provided. E. (K.) kareni Kalashian is for the first time recorded for Shaanxi Prov., E. pacholatkoi Kalashian, E. smaragdinus Desc. et Vill., and E collinus Obenb., for Laos (the latter species, also for Myanmar).