Rectogerochammina eugubina nov. gen., nov. sp., a new agglutinated foraminifer from the Upper Cretaceous of Gubbio, Italy

We describe the new agglutinated foraminiferal genus and species Rectogerochammina eugubina nov. gen., nov. sp. from the Upper Cretaceous Scaglia Rossa Formation of the Umbria-Marche Basin in Italy. The genus differs from Gerochammina (Neagu, 1990) in the presence of a terminal uniserial part.     

Imantonia rotunda gen. et sp. nov., a new member of the Haptophyceae

Imantonia rotunda, a new member of the Haptophyceae, is described and records of its distribution are given. It is characterised by a distinctive “bicycle-wheel” type of scale and does not bear a haptonema.     

Burmaphlebia reifi gen. et sp. nov., the first anisozygopteran damsel-dragonfly (Odonata: Epiophlebioptera: Burmaphlebiidae fam. nov.) from Early Cretaceous Burmese amber

A new family, genus and species of damselfly, Burmaphlebia reifi gen. et sp. nov. (Burmaphlebiidae fam. nov.), is described as the second fossil odonate from Early Cretaceous Burmese amber. Its phylogenetic position is discussed and the fossil is attributed to a new family at the base of the anisozygopteran grade, probably closely related to the Recent relict group Epiophlebiidae. It is the first record of the ‘anisozygopteran’ grade from amber and the smallest known representative of this group.http://zoobank.org/6EFE7288-BD89-42F9-BFA5-804CE6B904A6     

A new tree fern stem,Heilongjiangcaulis keshanensis gen. et sp. nov., from the Cretaceous of the Songliao Basin,Northeast China: a representative of early Cyatheaceae

A new genus and species of Cretaceous Cyatheacean tree fern, Heilongjiangcaulis keshanensis gen. et sp. nov., is erected for several permineralized stems collected at the Keshan County in Songliao Basin, Heilongjiang Province, Northeast China. The new taxon is characterized by a dictyostelic, erect stem with dense multicellular scales and surrounded by persistent petiole bases and adventitious roots. The stem contains a central pith lacking medullary bundles, which is surrounded by a dictyostele, and the cortex externally. Each meristele of the dictyostelic ring is enclosed by a sclerenchyma sheath. The pith and cortex are parenchymatous. The proximal petiole bases present a frond trace composed of numerous meristeles, arranged in 1 abaxial and 2 adaxial arcs, with internally projecting bundles on the upper and lateral sides. The feature combination of the new genus is nearly identical to the anatomical structures of modern scaly genera of the Cyatheaceae apart from the absence of medullary bundles. It is interpreted as a primitive representative of early Cyatheaceae, that closely resembles the modern scaly genera, which suggests that in the Cretaceous, the tree ferns in this family were already in possession of most of the anatomical characteristics observed in extant taxa. The fossil records of the stems, petioles, and spores indicate that during the Jurassic and Cretaceous, the Northeastern region of Asia may have been one of the distribution centers of early Cyatheaceae.     

Tylerianthus crossmanensis gen. et sp. nov. (aff. Hydrangeaceae) from the Upper Cretaceous of New Jersey

A fossil flower with affinities to the modern families of the saxifragalean complex is described. Fossils were collected at Old Crossman Pit, Raritan Formation, New Jersey, USA. These sediments are dated on the basis of palynology as Turonian (Upper Cretaceous, ~90 million years before present). Fossils are charcoalified and preserved with exceptional three- dimensional detail. The characters observed in these flowers, when compared with those of extant flowers of several families of the saxifragalean complex, suggest a close relationship with extant members of the Saxifragaceae and Hydrangeaceae. Hypotheses on the origin of petals and staminodes and a possible mechanism of pollination are discussed. This new taxon provides additional characters in the floral morphology of the fossil saxifragoids and extends their geographical distribution in the Cretaceous to North America.     

Mamulichthys ignotus gen. et sp. nov., a new actinopterygian from the Middle Permian of the southeastern East Europe Platform

A new actinopterygian genus and species of the family Discordichthyidae, Mamulichthys ignotus gen. et sp. nov., from the upper part of the Urzhumian Stage of the Middle Permian of the southeastern East Europe Platform is described. The fish has a large rounded operculum and dorsal and pectoral fin spines. The side scales are high. The abdomen has longitudinal rows of large, massive, strongly overlapping falciform scales. All dermal bones are ornamented with many hollow tubercles varying in shape and size. At present, representatives of Discordichthyidae are only known from Eastern Europe.     

Appomattoxia ancistrophora gen. et sp. nov., a new Early Cretaceous plant with similarities to Circaeaster and extant Magnoliidae

A new genus and species of fossil angiosperm (Appomattoxia ancistrophora) is established based on well-preserved fruiting units and associated pollen from the Early Cretaceous (Early or Middle Albian) Puddledock locality in the Potomac Group sequence of Virginia, eastern North America. Fruiting units are small, unilocular, and with a single, pendulous, orthotropous seed. The fruit surface is characterized by densely spaced unicellular spines with hooklike tips, which probably functioned in biotic dispersal. Pollen grains adhering to the stigmatic area of many specimens are monocolpate and tectate with granular to columellate infratectal structure, and are similar to dispersed grains assigned to Tucanopollis and Transitoripollis. Comparison of fossil Appomattoxia ancistrophora with extant plants reveals an unusual combination of characters that includes similarities with some magnoliid taxa, particularly Piperales (Piperaceae, Saururaceae) and Laurales (Chloranthaceae), as well as the monotypic ranunculid family Circaeasteraceae. Appomattoxia ancistrophora differs from extant Piperales in having a pendulous rather than erect ovule, and differs from extant Circaeaster in details of the fruit wall, as well as the presence of monosulcate rather than tricolpate pollen.     

New taxa in the Tremellales: Bulleribasidium oberjochense gen. et sp. nov., Papiliotrema bandonii gen. et sp. nov. and Fibulobasidium murrhardtense sp. nov

Two new genera, Bulleribasidium and Papiliotrema, and three new species, B. oberjochense, P. bandonii and Fibulobasidium murrhardtense are described. An integrated analysis of morphological, ultrastructural, physiological, and molecular data indicates that the new taxa belong to the Tremellales (Basidiomycota). Relevant characteristics of the new genera and species are discussed and compared with those of closely related taxa.     

An exceptional cheloniid turtle, Osonachelus decorata nov. gen., nov. sp., from the Eocene (Bartonian) of Catalonia (Spain)

Osonachelus decorata nov. gen., nov. sp., is the first named chelonioid turtle from the Iberian Peninsula. This Eocene turtle was found in the marine sediments of the Vespella Marls Member (Vic-Manlleu Marls Formation, upper Bartonian) that occur in the Osona county (eastern Ebro Basin, Province of Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain). The area is rich in invertebrate, fish, and plant fossils but various vertebrates, including several chelonian taxa, have remained unpublished. This paper is the first dedicated to the fossil turtles of this area. Osonachelus nov. gen. is a large turtle with an impressive, massive skull revealing a specialized diet, a large and well-fenestrated shell (well ornamented dorsally and much lightened ventrally), and large paddles for high-sea locomotion. It is phylogenetically located among relatively advanced cheloniids, just basal to modern forms. Although apparent similarities in shell morphology exist with Allopleuron from the Maastrichtian of Holland, Osonachelus nov. gen. is distinct due to its masticatory apparatus, less usual among cheloniids and seemingly closer to that of the Lutetian Eochelone from Belgium. Based on the deeply concave and smooth lower jaw symphysis, its diet probably consisted of soft animals or plants rather than hard-food items. Therefore, it occupied a specialized ecological niche that is unique for the Eocene of the Iberian Peninsula.     

Sinocarpus decussatus gen. et sp. nov., a new angiosperm with basally syncarpous fruits from the Yixian Formation of Northeast China

An Early Cretaceous angiosperm, Sinocarpus decussatus gen. et sp. nov., is described from the Yixian Formation in Liaoning, China, based on an infructescence fragment. It is probably ebracteate, consisting of one terminal fruit and two pairs of pedicellate lateral fruits arranged decussately. Carpels are probably borne on a small convex receptacle. There are no distinct remnants of a perianth although fragments observed at the base of immature fruits may represent perianth parts. No remnants of androecial parts have been observed, and it is unknown whether the flowers were unisexual or bisexual. The basally syncarpous ovary is superior and composed of 3 or 4 carpels. Each carpel contains about 10 anatropous ovules/seeds borne along the linear placentae. Seeds are flattened and embedded in a thick amorphous material. The character combination of Sinocarpus indicates a systematic position among the basal grade of eudicots or the basal core eudicots, and particularly shows similarities to extant Ranunculaceae, Buxaceae, and Myrothamnaceae, but based on the available data the fossil cannot unambiguously be placed in any modern family.     

Desertiguana gobiensis gen. et sp. nov., a new lizard (Phrynosomatidae, Iguanomorpha) from the Upper Cretaceous of Mongolia

A new lizard, Desertiguana gobiensis gen. et sp. nov., is described based on a left mandibular fragment from the Upper Cretaceous of Mongolia. Comparative analysis of mandibular structures shows that it belongs to the family Phrynosomatidae sensu Frost et Etheridge, 1988. Some questions of relationships of this family with other Iguanomorpha (Iguanidae sensu lato) are discussed.     

A new dasycladalean alga from the Lower Cretaceous of the Eastern Carpathians (Romania): Andreiella rajkae nov. gen., nov. sp.

Lower Cretaceous limestones from Bicaz Gorges (Eastern Carpathians, Romania), developed in Urgonian facies, frequently contain dasycladalean algae. In limestone samples collected from the eastern sector of the Bicaz Gorges, we have identified a large dasycladalean alga that we assign here to a new species and genus: Andreiella rajkae nov. gen. nov. sp. The general morphological features and the calcification pattern distinguish this new alga from previously known dasycladaleans with two orders of laterals.     

A new lycopod, Novgorodendron conophorum gen. et sp. nov., from the Lower Carboniferous of the Moscow Syneclise

A new lycopod, Novgorodendron conophorum gen. et sp. nov., is described from the Upper Visean deposits of the Kamenka River, near the town of Borovichi (Novgorod Region). The morphology of the leaf cushions of the new plant implies its intermediate position between the families Sublepidodendraceae Chaloner et Boureau and Lepidodendraceae Endlicher. The bases of the leaf cushions have peculiar conical appendages, a previously unknown morphological feature not recorded from other lycopods. We propose the term basal conical appendages for them. The interpretation of some epidermal elements in the leaf cushions of the Lepidodendraceae is revised. The structures of the leaf cushions that were previously treated as either stomata or cells with cystoliths are shown to be sunken multicellular trichomes.     

Wangella harbinensis gen. nov., sp. nov., a new member of the family Micromonosporaceae

A novel endophytic actinomycete, designated strain NEAU-J3^T, was isolated from soybean root (Glycine max (L.) Merr) and characterized using a polyphasic approach. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences suggested that strain NEAU-J3^T fell within the family Micromonosporaceae. The strain was observed to form an extensively branched substrate mycelium, which carried non-motile oval spores with a smooth surface. The cell walls of strain NEAU-J3^T were determined to contain meso-diaminopimelic acid and galactose, ribose and glucose were detected as whole-cell sugars. The major menaquinones were determined to be MK-9(H₄) and MK-9(H₆). The phospholipids detected were phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine. The major cellular fatty acids were determined to be C_16:0, C_18:1 ω9c, C_18:0, C_17:0, C_17:1 ω7c, anteiso-C_17:0, C_16:1 ω7c and C_15:0. The DNA G + C content was 62.5 mol%. On the basis of the morphological and chemotaxonomic characteristics, phylogenetic analysis and characteristic patterns of 16S rRNA gene signature nucleotides, strain NEAU-J3^T is considered to represent a novel species of a new genus within the family Micromonosporaceae, for which the name Wangella harbinensis gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Wangella harbinensis is strain NEAU-J3^T (=CGMCC 4.7039^T = DSM 45747^T).     

Prosthecobacter fusiformis nov. gen. et sp., the fusiform caulobacter

Four strains of heterotrophic, fusiform caulobacters have been isolated from freshwater sources. A single prostheca extends from one pole of mature cells, and cells attach to various substrata by means of a holdfast located at the distal tip of the appendage. Thus, superficially these bacteria bear a strong resemblance to bacteria in the genus Caulobacter. However, unlike Caulobacter these bacteria do not exhibit a dimorphic life cycle of motile, non-stalked daughter cells and immotile, stalked mother cells. Instead both mother and daughter cells are immotile, and at the time of cell separation the daughter cells are essentially identical mirror-image replicas of the mother cell. In addition, the prosthecae of these fusiform caulobacters do not have crossbands, they are somewhat wider than the stalks of Caulobacter and the pseudostalks of Asticcacaulis, and they terminate in a bulbous tip. The deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) base composition ranges from 54.6–60.1, well below the 62–67 range for the genus Caulobacter. Based upon these and other differences, a new genus and species, Prosthecobacter fusiformis, is proposed for the fusiform caulobacters.