Composition and preservation of the Chengjiang fauna –a Lower Cambrian soft-bodied biota

The Lower Cambrian Chengjiang fauna is reviewed and shown to be closely comparable with the younger Burgess Shale fauna. but with various differences in detail. A diverse group of more or less annulated lobopod animals including 'armoured lobopods' are regarded as representatives of the phylum Onychophora. 'Trilobitomorphs' include several new types. Probable protaspides of the trilobitomorph Naraoia are described. No molluses or deuterostomes have been identified. The preservational orientations of the various taxa are reviewed and compared with orientations of the Burgess Shale taxa. Orientation in the sediment is found to be closely correlated to the original shape of individuals. Several new genera and species are described: the segmented. worm-shaped Yunnanozoon lividum gen. et sp.n., the 'armoured lobopods' Onychodictyon ferox gen. et sp.n. and Cardiodictyon catenulum gen. et sp.n. and the arthropods Saperion glumaceum gen. et sp.n., Sinoburius Iunaris gen. et sp.n., and Xandarella spectaculum gen. et sp.n.     

A Remarkable New Family of Jurassic Insects (Neuroptera) with Primitive Wing Venation and Its Phylogenetic Position in Neuropterida

Background

Lacewings (insect order Neuroptera), known in the fossil record since the Early Permian, were most diverse in the Mesozoic. A dramatic variety of forms ranged in that time from large butterfly-like Kalligrammatidae to minute two-winged Dipteromantispidae.

Principal Findings

We describe the intriguing new neuropteran family Parakseneuridae fam. nov. with three new genera and 15 new species from the Middle Jurassic of Daohugou (Inner Mongolia, China) and the Early/Middle Jurassic of Sai-Sagul (Kyrgyzstan): Parakseneura undula gen. et sp. nov., P. albomacula gen. et sp. nov., P. curvivenis gen. et sp. nov., P. nigromacula gen. et sp. nov., P. nigrolinea gen. et sp. nov., P. albadelta gen. et sp. nov., P. cavomaculata gen. et sp. nov., P. inflata gen. et sp. nov., P. metallica gen. et sp. nov., P. emarginata gen. et sp. nov., P. directa gen. et sp. nov., Pseudorapisma jurassicum gen. et sp. nov., P. angustipenne gen. et sp. nov., P. maculatum gen. et sp. nov. (Daohugou); Shuraboneura ovata gen. et sp. nov. (Sai-Sagul). The family comprises large neuropterans with most primitive wing venation in the order indicated by the presence of ScA and AA1+2, and the dichotomous branching of MP, CuA, CuP, AA3+4, AP1+2. The phylogenetic position of Parakseneuridae was investigated using a phylogenetic analysis of morphological scoring for 33 families of extinct and extant Neuropterida combined with DNA sequence data for representatives of all extant families. Parakseneuridae were recovered in a clade with Osmylopsychopidae, Prohemerobiidae, and Ithonidae.

Conclusions/Significance

The presence of the presumed AA1+2 in wings of Parakseneuridae is a unique plesiomorphic condition hitherto unknown in Neuropterida, the clade comprising Neuroptera, Megaloptera, Raphidioptera. The relative uncertainty of phylogenetic position of Parakseneuridae and the majority of other families of Neuroptera reflects deficient paleontological data, especially from critical important periods for the order, earliest Triassic and latest Triassic/earliest Jurassic.     

Potrerilloxyela menendezi gen. et sp. nov. from the Late Triassic of Argentina: The oldest representative of Xyelidae (Hymenoptera: Symphyta) for Americas

Potrerilloxyela menendezi gen. et sp. nov. from the Potrerillos Formation, Cuyo Basin, early Upper Triassic, Mendoza Province, Argentina is described. It is included in the living family Xyelidae and tentatively placed in Liadoxyelini of Xyelinae, which is otherwise known only from the Jurassic of Asia. This record is the first for Hymenoptera in the Triassic of the New World and provides new evidence about the close faunal connections between Laurasia and Gondwana during Mesozoic times. The phylogenetic position of the new genus is discussed.     

New Genera and Species of Psychodoid Flies from the Lower Cretaceous Amber Lebanon

Until now, only two Psychodoidea were known from Lebanese amber. We describe two new genera and species of Phlebotomidae ( Mesophlebotomites hennigi gen. et sp. nov., Libanophlebotomus lutfallahi gen. et sp. nov.) and four new genera with six new species of Psychodidae ( Paleopsychoda solignaci gen. et sp. nov., Paleopsychoda jacquelinae sp. nov., Protopsychoda nadiae gen. et sp. nov., Protopsychoda hammanaensis sp. nov., Libanopsychoda abillamai gen. et sp. nov., Cretapsychoda inexpectata gen. et sp. nov.) from the Lower Cretaceous amber of Hammana/Mdeirij, Lebanon. These fossils are included in a phylogenetic analysis of the subfamilies of Psychodoidea. This superfamily was probably as diverse in the Early Cretaceous as now.     

New Euthycarcinoids and an Enigmatic Arthropod from the British Coal Measures

Two new species of euthycarcinoids (Arthropoda), Kottixerxes anglicus sp. nov. and Smithixerxes pustulosus sp. nov., are described from the Coal Measures of Westhoughton, Lancashire and Coseley, West Midlands (Westphalian A and B respectively). Both genera are previously known from Mazon Creek, USA (Westphalian D). An additional, enigmatic arthropod with possible euthycarcinoid affinities, Arthrogyrinus platyurus gen. et sp. nov., is described from Coseley. Hypotheses concerning the phylogenetic position of euthycarcinoids are critically reviewed.     

Megadraconema cornutum, a new genus and species from Korea, with a discussion of its classification and relationships within the family Draconematidae (Nematoda, Desmodorida) based on morphological and molecular characters

A new genus and species of Draconematidae Filipjev, 1918, Megadraconema cornutum gen. nov., sp. nov., inhabiting subtidal sediments in Jejudo, Korea is described. Megadraconema cornutum gen. nov., sp. nov. is mainly characterized by a long body (1630-2220 μm), presence of a transverse circle of well-developed papillae-like cuticular protrusions at the base of the lip region, a head capsule with reticular structure of subcuticle, an amphid with a pore-like opening, and an internal, bar-shaped fovea. The diagnosis of the family Draconematidae is emended and a key to genus is provided based on their major differential diagnostic characteristics, summarized in a table. Phylogenetic relationships of all the genera within the Draconematidae are discussed for the first time, based on molecular analyses and morphological features. The phylogenetic position of the new genus and relationships within the family Draconematidae based on analysis of molecular sequence data are examined. Analysis of 18S rRNA gene sequences does not support the currently accepted classification, and indicates paraphyly of the subfamily Draconematinae.     

Vetulicolians from the Lower Cambrian Sirius Passet Lagerstätte,North Greenland,and the polarity of morphological characters in basal deuterostomes

Abstract: Vetulicolians are problematic Cambrian fossils with a debated phylogenetic history. Here, we describe two vetulicolian specimens from the Lower Cambrian Sirius Passet locality in North Greenland. One of the specimens is assigned to Ooedigera peeli gen. et sp. nov, whereas the other is retained under open nomenclature. The mode of tail flexibility has been debated in the literature, and we argue here that the tail normally flexed laterally to generate power strokes rather than dorsoventrally. The phylogenetic relationships of vetulicolians are discussed in the light of current knowledge of deuterostome phylogeny and morphology, and it is concluded that the best hypothesis on currently available evidence is that vetulicolians are a clade or paraphyletic assemblage of stem‐Deuterostomata. The presence of a voluminous, sediment‐filled anterior chamber suggests that the atrium may be a synapomorphy of deuterostomes.     

Two new species of Constrictoceras nov. gen. (Ammonoidea) from the Early Cretaceous (Aptian) of Hungary

The new genus Constrictoceras is described below, and is represented in Hungary by two new species: Constrictoceras foezyi sp. nov. and Constrictoceras steineri sp. nov. According to morphological similarities, they are provisionally assigned to Acanthohoplitinae, but the lack of sutures cannot keep us from the idea of a possible relationship with Puzosiinae or Silesitidae, therefore its phylogenetic position of Constrictoceras gen. nov. is uncertain. Morphologically similar forms are described from the Aptian of Madagascar (Collignon, M., 1962) and from the Middle Aptian of Colombia (Sharikadze et al., 2004). Stratigraphical and paleobiogeographical use is very limited for the new genus.     

New acrodont lizards (Lacertilia) from the Middle Eocene of southern Mongolia

The problematic lizard family Changjiangosauridae, representatives of which inhabited Asia in the Early Paleogene, is discussed. Six new species of this group, including Acrodontopsis robustus gen. et sp. nov., Agamimus gracilis gen. et sp. nov., Graminisaurus interruptus gen. et sp. nov., Khaichinsaurus reshetovi gen. et sp. nov., Lavatisaurus elegans gen. et sp. nov., and Lentisaurus giganteus gen. et sp. nov., from the Middle Eocene of the Khaichin Uul 2 locality (southern Gobi, Mongolia) are described. It is shown that Changjiangosauridae are probably related to the Late Cretaceous Isodontosauridae and recent Uromastycidae; independent development of a number of dental features in different lineages of Acrodonta (Iguania) is corroborated.     

Earliest South American paucituberculatans and their significance in the understanding of ‘pseudodiprotodont’ marsupial radiations

We describe the oldest Paucituberculata marsupials, from the La Barda and Las Flores localities (Argentina; Late Palaeocene, and Early–Middle Eocene), as well as from the Itaboraí Basin (Brazil; Late Palaeocene). The new taxa are represented by very scarce, although well‐preserved, dental remains. A parsimony analysis was performed in order to evaluate the phylogenetic affinities of these taxa. Representatives of both Riolestes capricornicus gen. et sp. nov. and Bardalestes hunco gen. et sp. nov. appear to be basal paucituberculatans, and their molar features give clues on the early evolution of the representatives of this order. Within the Paucituberculata we recognize two major clades: Caenolestoidea and Palaeothentoidea. We conclude that ‘pseudodiprotodont’ marsupials of the traditional literature (i.e. Polydolopimorphia + Paucituberculata) do not form a natural group. © 2009 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2009, 155 , 867–884.     

Growth of lithotrophic ammonia-oxidizing bacteria on hydroxylamine

Abstract A new obligately anaerobic, extremely thermophilic, cellulolytic bacterium is described. The strain designated Tp8T 6331 is differentiated from thermophilic cellulolytic clostridia on the basis of physiological characteristics and phylogenetic position within the Bacillus/Clostridium subphylum of the Gram-positive bacteria. Strain Tp8T 6331 is assigned to a new genus Caldicellulosiruptor , as Caldicellulosiruptor saccharolyticus gen., nov., sp. nov.     

New mesozoic diving beetles (Coleoptera,Dytiscidae) from China

A new subfamily of predaceous diving beetles, Liadytiscinae subfam. nov., including two genera and four species, Liadytiscus gen. nov. (L. cretaceus sp. nov., L. longitibialis sp. nov., and L. latus sp. nov.) and Liadroporus gen. nov. (L. elegans sp. nov.), from the Late Tithonian-Berriasian (Huangbanjigou, Yixian Formation) of China is described. Two new genera, Mesoderus gen. nov. with two species, M. magnus sp. nov. and M. ventralis sp. nov., and Sinoporus gen. nov. with one species, S. lineatus sp. nov., are also described; their position in the system of Dytiscidae remains uncertain. Relationships of the taxa described with Recent and fossil taxa of the same rank and some presumable ecological features of the new taxa are discussed.     

New durophagous arthrodires from Gogo, Western Australia

Three new monotypic genera of eubrachythorarid arthrodires with crushing toothplates are described from the Upper Devonian Gogo Formation of Western Australia as Bruntonichthys multidens gen. et sp. nov., Bullerichthysfascidens gen. et sp. nov. and Kendrickkhthys cavemosus gen. et sp. nov. Their structure and relationships are discussed within the framework provided by a sketch cladogram. All three are interchangeable with Coccosteus spp. but their phylogenetic relationships are not known in any detail. However, Kendrickkhthys does appear to be immediately related to Dinomylostoma from North America.     

A New Damselfly Family from the Upper Palaeocene of Argentina

A new family of damselflies, based on Latibasalia elongata gen. et sp. nov. and L. quispeae gen. et sp. nov., is erected from the Upper Palaeocene Maíz Gordo Formation, north-western Argentina. Latibasaliidae fam. nov. can be included in the Zygoptera: Caloptera: Eucaloptera: Amphipterygida: Amphipterygoidea. Its phylogenetic relationships within the clade Eucaloptera Bechly, 1996 are discussed. Within Amphipterygoidea, Latibasaliidae could be closely related to Pseudolestidae or to the 'thaumatoneurid' genera Petrolestes and Congqingia because they share the absence of secondary antenodal crossveins of first and second rows and the absence of antesubnodal crossveins. These characters could be potential synapomorphies of these taxa but they are somewhat homoplastic within the Zygoptera.     

A VARVITE ICHNOCOENOSIS FROM THE DWYKA SERIES OF NATAL

Arthropod trails and resting impressions are described from an horizon in the Dwyka Series of northern Natal. The sediments have been deposited in freshwater periglacial lakes and are of late Carboniferous or early Permian age. All the trails and resting impressions appear to have been made by crustacean arthropods, and it is suggested that syncarids or peracarids were probably responsible. Numerous fish traces are also present in this ichnocoenosis but these are still being studied by several workers and are not described below. The trace fossils described herein are Umfolozia sinuosa gen. et sp. nov., Diplichnites govenderi sp. nov., Diplichnites sp., Protichnites sp. A, Protichnites sp. B, Gyrochorte sp., Isopodichnus sp., Kingella natalensis gen. et sp. nov., and Gluckstadtella cooperi gen. et sp. nov.     

云南禄丰、元谋晚中新世古猿地点始鼠科化石

<正>始鼠科(Eomyidae)是一类绝灭了的啮齿类动物,渐新世和中新世时广布全北区,但亚洲远没有欧洲和北美常见。中国含始鼠类化石地点不多,发现的属只有渐新世的Eomys、Eomyodon和Pseudotheridomys,以及中新世的Keramidomys和Leptodontomys(Zheng and Li,1982;Falhbusch et al．,1983;Wang and Emry,1991;Qiu,1996;Wang,2002)。本文描述的云南始鼠类化石,系1983年在禄丰石灰坝和1999、2000年在元谋雷老两个古猿地点采集到的。材料不多,但至少代表始鼠科的两个新属,为我国惟一采自南方,并与古猿类共生的稀少啮齿类动物。新种的模式产地均为禄丰石灰坝。     

Diving ducks from the Middle Miocene of western Mongolia

Medium-sized diving ducks from the Middle Miocene of the Sharga locality (western Mongolia) are described. Sharganetta mongolica gen. et sp. nov. and Nogusunna conflictoides gen. et sp. nov. are evolutionary more advanced than the thoroughly studied Early Miocene genus Mionetta, but more primitive than Anatinae and Oxyurinae. The humeral morphology gives evidence of an aberrant position of the two new genera. Another taxon, Protomelanitta gracilis gen. et sp. nov. presumably belongs to basal Mergini.     

A new subfamily of Trichomycteridae (Teleostei, Siluriformes), lower loricarioid relationships and a discussion on the impact of additional taxa for phylogenetic analysis

The Copionodontinae is described as a new subfamily of the neotropical catfish family Trichomycteridae. It comprises two new genera and three new species from north-eastern Brazil: Copionodon gen. nov. (including C. pecten sp. nov. and C. orthiocarinatus sp. nov. ) and Glaphyropoma gen nov. (including G. rodriguesi sp. nov. ) The Copionodontinae can be diagnosed externally by the anterior position of the dorsal fin, the presence of a well-developed adipose fin, and the strongly spatulate shape of the jaw teeth. The subfamily is hypothesized as monophyletic on the basis of several synapomorphies in internal and external anatomy. Copionodontines have the plesiomorphic condition of several characters, relative to all other trichomycterids, including the presence of ductus pneumaticus; the possession of separate pterosphenoids, sphenotics and prootics; the presence of the intercalarium; the complete infraorbital latero-sensory canal; the presence of the interhyal; and the wide lateral opening of the swimbladder capsule. Elsewhere within trichomycterids, these primitive traits are found only in Trichogenes. These and other characters support the hypothesis that copionodontines are the plesiomorphic sister group of all other trichomycterids, and that Trichogenes is their next successive sister group. Contrary to the currently accepted hypothesis, the monotypic Nematogenyidae is proposed as the sister group of the Trichomycteridae, and not of all remaining loricarioids. This change is to a major extent induced by the inclusion of copionodontines and Trichogenes in the analysis of lower loricarioid relationships. The present case is given as an example of the impact that undiscovered taxa, fossil or Recent, may have upon hypotheses of phylogenetic relationships.     

中国内蒙古道虎沟中侏罗世蚊蝎蛉科(昆虫纲,长翅目)昆虫化石

描述蚊蝎蛉科1新属和3新种:新属Decoribittacus gen.nov.,新种美脉华美蚊蝎蛉Decoribittacus euneurus sp.nov.,斑点华美蚊蝎蛉Decoribittacus stictus sp.nov.和长翼卡拉蚊蝎蛉Karattacus longia latus sp.nov..同时修订了卡拉蚊蝎蛉属Karattaus的属征.所有的化石标本都来自内蒙古宁城县道虎沟中侏罗世九龙山组地层,模式标本现在保存于首都师范大学生命科学学院.     

A revision of the Cossulinae of Costa Rica and cladistic analysis of the world species (Lepidoptera: Cossidae)

The Cossidae are an economically important family of moths consisting of six subfamilies and more than 700 species globally. Their larvae are often of serious concern to forestry and horticulture in that they are known to bore in the branches and trunks of a wide range of trees and shrubs. Cossulinae is one of the six subfamilies of Cossidae and is restricted to the New World. As a result of this revision, the Costa Rican Cossulinae has been found to consist of five genera and 18 species. The phylogenetic relationships of all Cossulinae genera were analysed using the computer programs WinClada and NONA. Glandular organs new to Cossidae and the Lepidoptera have also been discovered. Four genera, Biocellata gen. nov. , Magulacra gen. nov. , Simplicivalva gen. nov. and Spinulata gen. nov. , and the following nine species are described as new: Biocellata bifida sp. nov. , Biocellata davisorum sp. nov. , Cossula buspina sp. nov. , Cossula duplexata sp. nov. , Cossula longirostrum sp. nov. , Cossula minutiloba sp. nov. , Simplicivalva ampliophilobia sp. nov. , Spinulata oblongata sp. nov. and Spinulata quasivinnea sp. nov. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 154 , 222–277.