PERMIAN OSTRACODS FROM THE LERCARA FORMATION (MIDDLE TRIASSIC–CARNIAN?), SICILY,ITALY

Abstract: A rich, diverse Permian ostracod fauna has been recovered from the red and grey, laminated shales and quartz‐rich shales of the Triassic Lercara Formation. Forty‐seven species have been identified, 13 of which are newly described here; they belong to 26 genera of which three are new: Anahuacia lercaraensis sp. nov., Aurigerites siciliaensis sp. nov., Bairdia portellaensis sp. nov., Cristanaria? katyae sp. nov., Fabalicypris gruendeli sp. nov., Lethiersa salomonensis gen. et sp. nov., Lethiersia sinusoventralis gen. et sp. nov., Portella trapezoida gen. et sp. nov., Siciliella elongata gen. et sp. nov., Siciliella infernespinosa gen. et sp. nov., Siciliella prima gen. et sp. nov., Siciliella quadrata gen. et sp. nov., and Siciliella spinorobusta gen. et sp. nov. The assemblages contain or are composed of palaeopsychrospheric forms, which are regarded as index fossils for deep environments. The bathymetry of the different associations in life is evaluated.     

新疆吐鲁番盆地桃树园晚二叠世非海相腹足类

提要新疆吐鲁番盆地桃树园地区晚二叠世地层称作下仓房沟群,自下而上分为泉子街组、梧桐沟组和锅底坑组,为河–湖相碎屑沉积,剖面连续,层序清楚,动、植物化石丰富。文中研究的腹足类标本产于桃东沟剖面梧桐沟组下部和中部的介壳灰岩层和灰岩透镜体中,见有2层,计有2科4属6种:Xinjiangospira rotundata Yu et Zhu,Xinjiangospira habita sp.nov.、Hydrobia turpanensis Wei、Hydrobia orientalis sp.nov.、Pseudamnicola taodonggouensis sp.nov.和Valvata complanusa sp.nov.;与腹足类共生的有双壳类、叶肢介、介形类,以及植物和脊椎动物化石等,其中双壳类主要是Palaeanodonta,Palaeomutela和Anthraconauta等属。该腹足动物群由Hydrobiidae和Valvatidae的属种组成,标本数量多,壳体小,保存完好,是迄今已知属种最丰富的古生代淡水腹足类动物群。当前梧桐沟组腹足动物群面貌与准噶尔盆地大龙口剖面小龙口组...     

Precocious sexual dimorphism and the Lilliput effect in Neo‐Tethyan Ostracoda (Crustacea) through the Permian–Triassic boundary

The Elikah River section spanning the Lopingian (Late Permian) to the Griesbachian (Early Triassic) time interval in the Central Alborz Mountains (north Iran) was sampled for ostracod analysis. We report 79 species distributed among 38 genera. Four new species are described: Acratia? pervagata Forel sp. nov., Microcheilinella alborzella Forel sp. nov., Basslerella superarella Crasquin sp. nov. and Cavellina nesenensis Crasquin sp. nov. The ontogeny of 13 species is described and sexual dimorphism in the genus Microcheilinella is here undoubtedly recognized for the first time. Six species show precocious sexual dimorphism of their carapace as early as A‐5 juvenile. The Lilliput effect is for the first time recorded and quantified for two species. Rare long‐time span Palaeocopida species, known throughout the entire Permian, document relatively long‐term evolution, including the size and growth rate modifications associated with the earlier appearance of carapace sexual dimorphism through time. These patterns might be related to the Guadalupian–Lopingian events and/or to climatic modifications occurring during the Permian interval.     

New species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Inoceramus</Emphasis>-like bivalves of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aphanaia</Emphasis> Koninck from the Lower Permian of northeast Asia

Historical development of Permian Inoceramus-like bivalves of the genus Aphanaia Koninck in northeastern Asia is briefly considered. Five new species from the Lower Permian of the western Verkhoyansk Region and Omolon Massif are described: Aphanaia waterhousei sp. nov., A. budnikovi sp. nov., A. kutygini sp. nov., A. dulgalakhensis sp. nov., and A. korkodonica sp. nov.     

Palaeobiology of tanaidaceans (Crustacea: Peracarida) from Cretaceous ambers: extending the scarce fossil record of a diverse peracarid group

Diverse assemblages of tanaidacean peracarid crustaceans from western Tethyan continental deposits suggest that the group was relatively common in or around ancient resin‐producing forests. Here we report the results of an examination of 13 tanaidacean specimens from three Cretaceous (Albian to Turonian) French amber deposits. Two new species of the fossil family Alavatanaidae are placed in the previously described Early Cretaceous genus Eurotanais: Eurotanais pyrenaensis sp. nov. from Cenomanian Pyrenean amber (Fourtou, Aude) and Eurotanais seilacheri sp. nov. from Turonian Vendean amber (La Garnache, Vendée). The remaining specimens are placed in three newly erected genera and species (but family incertae sedis): Arcantitanais turpis gen. et sp. nov. from Albian–Cenomanian Charentese amber (Archingeay, Charente‐Maritime), and Tytthotanais tenvis gen. et sp. nov. and Armadillopsis rara gen. et sp. nov. from Pyrenean amber. These are the first formally described fossils that might be related to the paratanaoidean families Nototanaidae and Paratanaidae, sharing with these some putatively derived features and providing possible evidence for the antiquity and morphological stability of these families and the suborder Tanaidomorpha. The distinctive features and character combinations of these fossil taxa are discussed in connection with possible relationships to the living lineages of tanaidaceans. Propagation phase‐contrast X‐ray synchrotron microtomography was used to obtain high‐quality 3D images for some fossils. A discussion is provided on the putative palaeobiology of tanaidaceans and the French resiniferous forest ecosystem. The discovery of these new tanaidaceans extends the palaeogeographical distribution and stratigraphical range of the family Alavatanaidae and sheds new light on the palaeoecology and diversity of tanaidaceans in pre‐angiospermous woodlands.     

The latest record of mayflies of the family protereismatidae sellards (Ephemerida = Ephemeroptera) and a new species of the family misthodotidae in the Upper Permian of Europe

A new mayfly genus and species, Alexandrinia gigantea gen. et sp. nov., is described in the family Protereismatidae from the Upper Permian locality of Isady (Severodvinian Stage, Poldarsa Formation). Protereisma directum Carpenter, 1979, known from the Early Permian of Oklahoma, United States, is transferred to this new genus. Another new species, Misthodotes tshernovae sp. nov., is described in the family Misthodotidae.     

Problematic megafossils in Cambrian palaeosols of South Australia

Abstract: Red calcareous Middle Cambrian palaeosols from the upper Moodlatana Formation in the eastern Flinders Ranges of South Australia formed in well‐drained subhumid floodplains and include a variety of problematic fossils. The fossils are preserved like trace fossil endichnia but do not appear to be traces of burrows or other animal movement. They are here regarded as remains of sessile organisms, comparable with fungi or plants living in place, and are formally named as palaeobotanical form genera under provisions of the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature. Most common are slender (0.5–2 mm) branching filaments flanked by green‐grey reduction haloes within the red matrix of palaeosol surface horizons (Prasinema gracile gen. et sp. nov.). Other axial structures (Prasinema nodosum and P. adunatum gen. et spp. nov.) are larger and show distinctive surface irregularities (short protuberances and irregular striations, respectively). The size and form of these filaments are most like rhizines of soil‐crust lichens. Other evidence of life on land includes quilted spheroids (Erytholus globosus gen. et sp. nov.) and thallose impressions (Farghera sp. indet.), which may have been slime moulds and lichens, respectively. These distinctive fossils in Cambrian palaeosols represent communities comparable with modern biological soil crusts.     

New stoneflies (Insecta: Perlida = Plecoptera) from the late Mesozoic locality Khasurty,Transbaikalia

From the Lower Cretaceous locality Khasurty, western Transbaikalia, a new genus and species, Rasnitsyrina culonga, gen. et sp. nov. are described in the family Perlariopseidae. R. desiliens (Sinitshenkova, 1987), originally described in the genus Karanemoura Sinitshenkova, 1987, is transferred to the new genus. Two new species belonging to recent families are described: Dimoula khasurtensis sp. nov. (Nemouridae) and Jurataenionema rohdendorfi sp. nov. (Taeniopterygidae). All new species are described from fossils of adults.     

Records of bizarre Jurassic brachycerans in the Daohugou biota,China (Diptera,Brachycera, Archisargidae and Rhagionemestriidae)

Abstract: Four new Brachycera fossils were collected from the Daohugou biota, China. Among these, two impressions demonstrating peculiar wing venation can be designated as two new species of a new genus (Mostovskisargus portentosus gen. et sp. nov. and M. signatus sp. nov.) referred to a new subfamily Mostovskisarginae (subfam. nov.) within Archisargidae. The third impression belongs to a new species (Calosargus (Pterosargus) sinicus sp. nov.) referred to the subgenus Pterosargus Mostovski, 1997 of Calosargus Mostovski, 1997 within Archisarginae, Archisargidae. It is only the second member of the subgenus Pterosargus worldwide. The fourth impression is a nearly complete fly, Jurassinemestrinus orientalis gen. et sp. nov. referable to Rhagionemestriidae. It reveals new morphological data about rhagionemestriids and extends the geographical distribution of this group beyond Europe and Central Asia during the Mesozoic. A correlation for the archisargid composition of taxa in Daohugou and Karabastau formations is discussed. The age of the fly‐bearing strata is briefly reassessed and can be more accurately limited to the Callovian–Oxfordian based on both biostratigraphical correlation and radiometric dating.     

Diverse middle Ordovician palaeoscolecidan worms from the Builth‐Llandrindod Inlier of central Wales

Abstract: Palaeoscolecidan worms are rare, Early Palaeozoic fossils with uncertain affinities within the Ecdysozoa. They are locally abundant in the Cambrian and scattered in the Early Ordovician, but very sparse thereafter. Forty‐four specimens have been collected from the Middle Ordovician of the Builth‐Llandrindod Inlier of Mid Wales and include well‐preserved material assigned to seven new genera, with four additional species in open nomenclature. An additional specimen from the Arenig Pontyfenni Formation of South Wales is also described in open nomenclature. The total demonstrates much greater palaeoscolecid diversity than hitherto suspected for this time. The specimens are preserved as cuticle fragments in shales and siltstones, often of submillimetre size but in many cases with excellent preservation. The level of detail preserved in some is equal to that found in Cambrian phosphatized faunas. The new approach to collecting, and the recognition that this material can yield taxonomically useful information, opens new avenues for palaeoscolecidan research in siliciclastic environments. The new taxa are the following: Radnorscolex bwlchi gen. et sp. nov., Aggerscolex murchisoni gen. et sp. nov., Bullascolex inserere gen. et sp. nov., Wernia eximia gen. et sp. nov., Ulexiscolex ormrodi gen. et sp. nov., Pluoscolex linearis gen. et sp. nov. and Loriciscolex cuspidus gen. et sp. nov. The high diversity, and the taxonomic separation from known groups described primarily from Cambrian carbonates, implies that palaeoscolecidans either diversified significantly during the Ordovician or were taxonomically segregated between carbonate and siliciclastic settings. Palaeobiological findings also include confirmation that some palaeoscolecid basal cuticles were solid and others reticulate, plates (and platelets) could form by lateral accretion, plates were in part primarily phosphatic and in part organic and that in at least some groups, platelet secretion occurred external to plate secretion.     

LATE JURASSIC PALAEONTINIDS (HOMOPTERA: AUCHENOR-RHYNCHA) FROM HEBEI AND LIAONING PROVINCES IN CHINA*

Abstract Two new genera and six new species of Palaeontinidae are named and described: Liaocossus hui gen. et sp. nov., L. beipiaoensis gen. et sp. nov., L. exiguus gen. et sp. nov., L. fengningensis gen. et sp. nov., L. pingquanensis gen. et sp. nov., and Miracossus ingentius gen. et sp. nov., The entire body of these new fossils are perfectly preserved and enable us to fix accurately the body characteristics of primitive palaeontinids. All the specimens were collected from Late Jurassic Yixian Formation of Northern Hebei and Western Liaoning Provinces in China.     

The Feature of Fossil Plants from the Lower Cangfanggou Group of Upper Permian,Northern Xinjiang

This paper deals with the Fossil Plants from Upper Permian in Northern Xinjiang. These plants include 25 species of 15 Genus. Five new species is all described in this paper. These are: ?Supaia serrata sp. nov. Tychtopteris densinervis sp. nov., Ty. obesa sp. nov., Comia Cangfanggouensis sp. nov. and Lepeophyllum ovatum sp. nov. These are all new to science, found in the Lower Cangfanggou Group in Northern Xinjian, of Late Permian in age. Some fossils Lobatannularia multifolia Ken'no, Sphenopteris rotunda Sze and Alethopteris huiana Lee found in this group are known in the Cathaysian Flora. Others are common in the Angara Flora, such as Stellotheca sehtchurowskii (Schmal.) Surange et Prakash, Sphenopteris, adzvensis Zal., Tychtopteris cuneata (Schmal.) Zal. Noeggerathiopsis sp., ect. That indicates in the Lower Cangfanggou Group is a transitional zone between the Angara and the Cathaysian floras.     

New data on molluscs and their shell microstructures from the Middle Cambrian Gowers Formation, Australia

Abstract: Numerous new cases of preserved shell microstructure were discovered in molluscs from the Middle Cambrian Gowers Formation (Ptychagnostus atavus/Peronopsis opimus Zone, Floran Stage) in the Georgina Basin, Australia. The new data provide further evidence that, by the Middle Cambrian, molluscan shell microstructures were diverse, and many molluscs had a complex shell with multiple types of shell microstructure. In addition, many new occurrences of laminar microstructures are described herein. For many, the nature of these laminar microstructures is not known, but in three species the microstructure is foliated calcite, and in at least two the microstructure is more likely to have been calcitic semi‐nacre, a type of microstructure known in brachiopods and bryozoans but unknown in modern molluscs. This commonality among these three closely related lophotrochozoans underscores a similar mechanism of biomineralization. Moreover, these observations suggest a prevalence of calcite‐shelled lineages among molluscs from the Middle Cambrian, a time of calcite seas. In addition, the broad occurrence of laminar, nacre‐like microstructures in many of these fossils reveals how widespread these strong (fracture‐resistant) microstructures were in Middle Cambrian molluscs. Additionally, a few specimens of Yochelcionella preserve imprints of a bilaterally symmetrical pair of muscle scars. New taxa described here include Corystos thorntoniensis gen. et sp. nov., Yochelcionella snorkorum sp. nov., Yochelcionella saginata sp. nov., and Anhuiconus? agrenon sp. nov.     

New fossil mantidflies (Insecta: Neuroptera: Mantispidae) from the Mesozoic of north‐eastern China

Abstract:  Three new genera and four new species of the extinct mantidfly subfamily Mesomantispinae (Insecta: Neuroptera: Mantispidae) are described from the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation of Liaoning and the Middle Jurassic Jiulongshan Formation of Inner Mongolia: Archaeodrepanicus nuddsi gen. et sp. nov., A. acutus gen. et sp. nov., Sinomesomantispa microdentata gen. et sp. nov., (Yixian Formation) and Clavifemora rotundata gen. et sp. nov. (Jiulongshan Formation). The specimens described herein represent the first Mesozoic mantidfly compression fossils to have body parts preserved, including the specialized raptorial forelegs articulated to the prothorax anteriorly, an autapomorphy of the family. These new taxa further confirm the placement of the subfamily Mesomantispinae within the family Mantispidae; however, the monophyly of Mesomantispinae has not been confirmed, and it is likely that it will prove to be paraphyletic.     

The Hawaiian amphibious caterpillar guild: new species of Hyposmocoma (Lepidoptera: Cosmopterigidae) confirm distinct aquatic invasions and complex speciation patterns

Although aquatic caterpillars are a globally rare lifestyle, we have found them in multiple, independent lineages of the endemic moth genus Hyposmocoma across all of the Hawaiian Islands with flowing water. We formally describe 11 new species of Hyposmocoma that belong to four different larval case types: cone, bugle, medium burrito, and large burrito: Hyposmocoma kahamanoa sp. nov. from Oahu Island, Hyposmocoma kamakou sp. nov. from Molokai Island, Hyposmocoma kahaiao sp. nov. , Hyposmocoma waihohonu sp. nov. , and Hyposmocoma moopalikea sp. nov. from Maui Island, and Hyposmocoma aumakuawai sp. nov. , Hyposmocoma eepawai sp. nov. , Hyposmocoma ipowainui sp. nov. , Hyposmocoma kawaikoi sp. nov. , Hyposmocoma uhauiole sp. nov. , and Hyposmocoma wailua sp. nov. from Kauai Island. We also illustrate and describe in detail the aquatic case‐bearing larva of Hyposmocoma kahamanoa. Despite having similar ecologies as algae and lichen grazers at and below the water line of streams, prior research indicates that species with each case type constitute an independent lineage, with terrestrial sister taxa, and therefore the different groups of species bearing unique case types each represent an independent aquatic invasion. The case‐bearing larvae often occur sympatrically, and on Kauai even species with similar case‐types occur together, suggesting complex patterns of speciation and either past periods of isolation or sympatric speciation. Phylogenetic analysis of 2243 base pairs from two nuclear and one mitochondrial gene for 18 species confirm that each species is endemic to a single volcano, and that morphological divergence within case‐types has not been dramatic. Diversification has been complex, and superficially similar case type lineages are not all monophyletic. Kauai, the oldest but smallest of the major high islands, supports more species in the aquatic guild than any other island, thus island age, rather than size, may be important in generating diversity in this group. © 2011 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2011, 162 , 15–42.     

New palaeoscolecid worms from the Furongian (upper Cambrian) of Hunan,South China: is Markuelia an embryonic palaeoscolecid?

Abstract: Three‐dimensional fragments of palaeoscolecid cuticle have been recovered from the Furongian (upper Cambrian) of Hunan, South China. Extraordinary preservation of the fossils shows exquisite surface details indicating a three‐layered structure of the cuticle. One new genus and two new species Dispinoscolex decorus gen. et sp. nov. and Schistoscolex hunanensis sp. nov. are described. The co‐occurrence of these palaeoscolecid remains with those of Markuelia hunanensis allowed us to test the hypothesis that Markuelia, known hitherto only from embryonic remains, is an embryonic palaeoscolecid. The comparative anatomy of Markuelia and the co‐occurring palaeoscolecids shows a number of distinctions, particularly in the structure of the tail; all similarities are scalidophoran or introvertan (cycloneuralian) symplesiomorphies. The available evidence does not support the interpretation of Markuelia as an embryonic palaeoscolecid.     

ISLANDINIUM BREVISPINOSUM SP. NOV. (DINOFLAGELLATA), A NEW ORGANIC‐WALLED DINOFLAGELLATE CYST FROM MODERN ESTUARINE SEDIMENTS OF NEW ENGLAND (USA)1

Modern estuarine environments remain underexplored for dinoflagellate cysts, despite a rapidly increasing knowledge of cyst distributions in open marine sediments. A study of modern estuarine sediments in New England has revealed the presence of Islandinium brevispinosum sp. nov., a new organic‐walled dinoflagellate cyst that is locally common and probably of heterotrophic affinity. Resistance of this cyst to standard palynological processing indicates its geological preservability, although fossils are not yet known. Previously assigned species of the genus Islandinium are characteristic of polar and subpolar environments today and cold paleoenvironments in the Quaternary. The present record of I. brevispinosum extends the ecological and geographical range of this genus into the warm temperate zone, where I. brevispinosum occupies specific environments with reduced salinities and elevated nutrient levels.