Morphology of the Coracoid of Late Cretaceous Enantiornithines (Aves: Enantiornithes) from Dzharakuduk (Uzbekistan)

Based on serial material from the Turonian of Dzharakuduk (central Kyzyl Kum, Uzbekistan), the morphology of coracoid of enantiornithines is described in detail. Variants of each morphological element are considered; this allows determination of the taxonomic position of enantiornithines even using small coracoid fragments.     

A new species of the grass fly (Diptera,Chloropidae), Incertella tschernovi sp. n., from the Kyzyl Kum Desert

A new grass fly species belonging to the subfamily Oscinellinae, Incertella tschernovi sp. n., is described from the Kyzyl Kum Desert, Uzbekistan. The new species is closely related to I. brevicosta Nartshuk, 1975, shares short costal vein of the wing and in the vein M sharply bent toward the anterior wing margin.     

Comparative analysis of the flea fauna and its epizootic importance in the deserts of Southern Kazakhstan

Common features and interregional differences in the structure of the flea fauna from Moiynkum (Chu-Talas watershed), Eastern Kyzyl Kum and Betpak Dala are described. The main role of the fleas Xenopsylla gerbilli minax (Moiynkum and Betpak Dala) and X. gerbilli caspica (Eastern Kyzyl Kum) in the transmission of plague microbes is demonstrated. The long-term dynamics of these species population in different desert regions were studied. The main factors responsible for this dynamics are demonstrated.     

Ecology of the geohelminths of Karakul sheep in the Kyzyl Kum

Data on the ecology of geohelminths and epizootiology of main geohelminthiases of Karakul sheep under conditions of desert-pasture biocoenoses of the Kyzyl Kum in the Bukhara and Navoi Provinces of the Uzbek SSR are given. 23 species of geohelminths belonging to 14 genera and 8 families are reported from this zone. Age and seasonal dynamics of the infection rate of Karakul sheep with geohelminths are established. Survival of eggs and larvae of some widely distributed geohelminths in central Kyzyl Kum is determined. On the basis of results of investigations recommendations on the control of main helminthiases of Karakul sheep in Bukhara and Navoi Provinces are worked out.     

First record of the Late Cretaceous giant bird Gargantuavis philoinos from the Iberian Peninsula

Gargantuavis philoinos is a large terrestrial bird, initially described from several bones (synsacrum, cervical vertebra, femora) discovered in the Late Cretaceous deposits of southern France. The synsacrum described here comes from the late Campanian (Late Cretaceous) site of Laño, in north-western Spain, and is similar in all respects to the other synsacra of Gargantuavis philoinos described from France. This is therefore the first specimen attributed to this species to be reported outside France. This find increases the diversity of the fossil assemblage from Laño and the geographical distribution of this bird, which existed on the Ibero-Armorican island, which included southern France and the Iberian Peninsula, during the Late Cretaceous.     

The development of a method for the long-term prediction of sites for the occurrence of plague epizootics among wild rodents

The method for the long-term (3 years) prognostication of epizootic activity of plague is proposed. The method is based on the concept of the cyclic character of epizootics as the result of the superposition of a multitude of periodic components on the assumption that the duration of the periods takes the form of a row of prime consecutive numbers. This method was approbated in 25 areas of the Kyzyl Kum autonomous focus of plague.     

On an Ornithomimid dinosaur (Saurischia, Ornithomimosauria) from the Cenomanian of Fergana

A fragmentary coracoid of Ornithomimidae indet. from the Lower Cenomanian of the Abshir River (Kyrgyzstan) is described. This is the first record of this group in a Cenomanian locality of Fergana. The coracoid from the Abshir locality is similar in the lateral deflection of the glenoid to an endemic group of Asiatic Ornithomimidae that includes Anserimimus, Gallimimus, and taxa from the Cenomanian and Turonian of western Uzbekistan. It is most similar to the unnamed ornithomimid from the Cenomanian of Karakalpakia in having a distinct vertical crest that borders anteriorly a depression for the coracobrachialis brevis muscle. Dinosaurs recorded in the Cenomanian of Fergana are reviewed.     

4种平胸鸟类腰荐部骨骼的比较

对鹤鸵(Casuarius casuarius)、鸸鹋(Dromaius novaehollandiae)、美洲鸵鸟(Rhea americana)和鸵鸟(Struthio camelus)的腰荐部骨骼进行了对比。鸸鹋与鹤鸵在愈合荐骨的数目与构成、腰带的结构方面最为相似,均为开放式骨盆。美洲鸵鸟和鸵鸟均为非开放式骨盆,前者的坐骨大部愈合,后者的耻骨后角左右愈合。与突胸鸟类对比发现:平胸类的愈合荐骨相对较长,髂骨后翼狭窄、几乎垂直伸向下方;突胸鸟类的髂骨后翼宽阔、水平侧向伸展并微微向背方拱起。反映了平胸类结构的原始性。     

Mammalian Faunal Succession in the Cretaceous of the Kyzylkum Desert

Both metatherians and eutherians are known from the Early Cretaceous (Barremian, 125 mya; million years ago) of China, while eutherian-dominated mammalian faunas appeared in Asia at least by the earliest Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian, 95 mya). The approximately 99–93 my old (Cenomanian) Sheikhdzheili l.f. from western Uzbekistan is a small sample of only eutherians, including three zhelestids and a possible zalambdalestoid. The much better-known 90 my old (Turonian) Bissekty l.f. at Dzharakuduk in the central Uzbekistan includes 15 named and unnamed species, based on ongoing analyses. Of these, 12 are eutherians represented by at least the three groups—asioryctitheres, zalambdalestids, and zhelestids—plus an eutherian of uncertain position—Paranyctoides. Zalambdalestids and zhelestids have been argued to be related to the origin of the placental gliriforms (Euarchontoglires) and ferungulates (Laurasiatheria), respectively. Although there are four previously recognized metatherians, we believe three are referable to the deltatheroid Sulestes karakshi and the fourth, Sailestes quadrans, may belong to Paranyctoides. There is one multituberculate and one symmetrodont in the Bissekty l.f. While comparably aged (Turonian) localities in North America have somewhat similar non-therians, they have more metatherians and no eutherians. The next younger localities (early Campanian, ∼80 mya) in North America have both a zhelestid and Paranyctoides, suggesting dispersal of eutherians from Asia. At Dzharakuduk, the approximately 85 my old (late Turonian/Coniacian) Aitym l.f. is much less well known than the Bissekty l.f., but yields nearly identical taxa, with two non-therians, one metatherian, and six eutherians.     

Landscape genetics of Persian walnut (Juglans regia L.) across its Asian range

Persian walnut (Juglans regia L) is an economically important species cultivated worldwide for its wood and nuts. Despite the increasing interest in the development of conservation strategies for walnut germplasm, an accurate and full-scale overview of wild genetic resources of J. regia has not been conducted because natural populations are located in regions of Asia historically difficult to access. In this study, we estimated the genetic diversity and spatial genetic structure of 39 autochthonous Persian walnut populations sampled across its Asian range using 14 neutral microsatellite markers. A landscape genetic overlay approach was applied to detect the areas of current reservoirs of walnut genetic diversity in the Asian range and to evaluate the role of landscape in shaping walnut genetic diversity since the Last Glacial Maximum. Although Persian walnut has been highly manipulated by humans over the last 2,000 years, we determined that patches of high genetic diversity still exist in the Caucasus and mountains of Central Asia where J. regia might have survived after Pleistocene glaciations. We detected a clear separation of Persian walnut into four main genetic clusters centered in (1) western Kyrgyzstan, (2) western and south–central Asia, (3) east–central Uzbekistan, and (4) Xinjiang and Shandong provinces (China). Overlay of maps showed a coincidence between groups of walnut populations and potential barriers to gene flow such as the Hindu Kush, Pamir, Tien Shan, and Himalaya mountains and the Karakum, Kyzyl Kum, and Taklamakan deserts. This study claimed the relevance of the preservation of walnut genetic resources in the Asian range.     

Gargantuavis philoinos: Giant bird or giant pterosaur?

Gargantuavis philoinos was described as a giant terrestrial bird on the basis of various postcranial elements (synsacrum and pelvis, femur) from Late Cretaceous (Campanian-Maastrichtian) localities in Southern France. It has recently been suggested that these remains in fact belong to giant pterosaurs. A detailed comparison between bones referred to Gargantuavis and the corresponding skeletal elements of pterosaurs reveals considerable differences and confirms the avian nature of Gargantuavis. The broad pelvis of Gargantuavis is similar to that of various extinct graviportal terrestrial birds.     

Remains of sea turtles from the Ikovo locality (Lugansk Region, Ukraine; Middle Eocene)

Fragmentary remains of sea turtles (Cheloniidae sensu lato: Argillochelys sp., Puppigerus nessovi Averianov, 2005, and Cheloniidae gen. indet.) from the Ikovo locality (Lugansk Region, Ukraine; Lower Lutetian, Middle Eocene) are described. The genera Argillochelys and Puppigerus are recorded for the first time in Eastern Europe. The turtle assemblage from Ikovo is similar at the generic level to West European assemblages (Belgium, Great Britain) of approximately the same age (Lower-Middle Eocene). In the presence of P. nessovi, the Ikovo assemblage is similar to that from the Middle Eocene Dzheroi 2 locality (Uzbekistan).     

辽宁早白垩世早期—鸟化石

本文记述了发现于辽宁朝阳地区早白垩世早期一新的鸟类。这是继三塔中国鸟(Sinornis santensis)、燕都华夏鸟(Cathayomis yandica)之后报道的辽宁中生代第三种鸟化石,它的脊柱和腰带与始祖鸟和恐龙相似,但其肋骨又具有现代鸟类的性状,这是早期鸟类化石的又一新材料。     

Metadenopsis Matesova, 1966 and similar mealybug genera (Homoptera,Coccinea: Pseudococcidae) from Russia and neighboring countries

Seven mealybug genera, Kalaginella gen. n., Archanginella gen. n., Metadenopsis Matesova, Metadenopus ?ulc, Glycycnyza Danzig, Inopicoccus Danzig, and Volvicoccus Goux, all with a simplified anal apparatus and lacking cerarii, are revised and illustrated. Kalaginella intermedia gen. et sp. n. and Archanginella kyzylkumica gen. et sp. n. are described from the Kara Kum and Kyzyl Kum deserts, correspondingly. Mirococcopsis stipae Borchsenius, 1949 is considered a junior synonym of Volvicoccus volvifer Goux, 1945.     

The parrots (Aves: Psittaciformes) from the Middle Miocene of Sansan (Gers,Southern France)

The occurrence of Archaeopsittacus sp. (Psittaciformes) in the fossil deposits of Sansan (France) is reported, testifying to a survival of this genus in the Middle Miocene, as Archaeopsittacus verreauxi was described from the Early Miocene of Saint-Gérand-le-Puy (France) and was recorded only from its type locality. The data discussed here indicate the presence of two parrot species from Sansan, as it is the type locality of another parrot species, Pararallus dispar, only known from this locality. The differences between the humeri of these two taxa are described in detail, together with the differences from the other European fossil parrot species. The presence of more than one species of parrot in the same locality is not rare, but in Europe it is recorded in Sansan for the second time. Evidence for parrots also confirms the paleoenvironmental reconstruction of Sansan, as parrots are primarily arboreal species. Archaeopsittacus also represents one of the few common elements between the Early and Middle Miocene European bird assemblages.     

Oligocene vertebrate assemblages in central Kazakhstan: Faunas,biogeography and paleoecology

The history of research in Oligocene paleozoology of Central Kazakhstan is described. Continental Oligocene strata may be recognized on the basis of different Oligocene fossil vertebrates, taking into account the stratigraphic occurrence of mammal genera and species, their belonging to subdivisions of the General Stratigraphic Scale as well as statistical determination of assemblage formation time. At least two stratigraphic levels occur in this region. These are: Saryin (Myneskesuyek, Mogila Saty localities), the lower part of Chelkarnura (Shintuzsay) Svitas (upper half of the Lower Oligocene—Upper Oligocene); and the upper part of Chelkarnura (Chelkar‐Teniz) and Betpakdala (Kyzyl‐Kak) Svitas (Upper Oligocene). Apparently the Chelkar‐Teniz vertebrate assemblage originated in several stages. They require future studies of stratigraphic position of fossils.

Origin and ways of migration of mammalian genera from the Oligocene faunistic assemblages of Central Kazakhstan are discussed.

A preliminary paleoecological study suggests that animals of open and rarefied landscapes dominated in the Myneskesuyek region, the faunistic assemblage of which appears to have been the most ancient. Vertebrate inhabitants of partly open and open, as well as forest habitats probably were present in Chelkar‐Teniz. Animals primarily of forest and scattered woodland dwellers predominated in the Kyzyl‐Kak locality.     

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).     

Oldest known Nannopithex (Primates, Omomyiformes) from the early Eocene of France.

Numerous dental remains of Nannopithex zuccolae, n. sp., from the terminal early Eocene locality of Prémontré (Aisne), France, show the lower anterior dentition to be similar to that of other Nannopithex. Similarities include enlarged I1, reduced I2, reduced lower canine, loss of P2, small P3 and large P4. Upper molars, P3 and P4 all present primitive characters, making this species the most primitive as well as the oldest known microchoerid.     

Sauropod teeth from the Upper Cretaceous Bissekty Formation of Uzbekistan

The isolated adult teeth of titanosaurian sauropods from the Upper Cretaceous Bissekty Formation at Dzharakuduk, Uzbekistan, differ little in overall structure but show considerable variation in enamel sculpturing and wear patterns. The crown shape of unworn juvenile teeth ranges from lanceolate to conical. Most specimens have enamel texture resembling crumpled paper or completely smooth enamel. Longitudinal grooves along the mesial and distal edges are present on only a few tooth crowns and might be developed on both the labial and lingual sides. Among 252 worn tooth crowns there are eight variants of wear patterns, all possible combinations of 0–2 apical and 0–2 lateral wear facets. The most common is wear pattern A1L0 (one apical facet, no lateral facets; 62.7%). The next most common variant has two apical and no lateral facets (A2L0, 12.3%). These apical wear facets include the primary wear facets, which are produced by an opposing functional tooth, and secondary wear facets, which are produced by a replacing upper tooth coming into contact with the functional lower tooth at a late wear stage. The relative abundance of tooth crowns with two apical wear facets possibly suggests incipient development of a tooth battery in the Bissekty titanosaur.     

A Scansorial Passerine Bird (Passeriformes,Certhioidea) from the Uppermost Lower Miocene of Eastern Siberia

A new scansorial passerine bird, Kischinskinia scandens gen. et sp. nov., from the uppermost Lower Miocene of the Tagay locality (Olkhon Island, Lake Baikal) is described based on a distal tarsometatarsal fragment. This is the first Asian member of the clade Certhioidea. A tibiotarsal fragment is also tentatively assigned to this taxon. Both bones display adaptations for climbing on a vertical surface. The find of a scansorial passerine bird of the clade Certhioidea is evidence of ecological similarity of Early Miocene avifaunas of southern Eastern Siberia and Western Europe, since a representative of Certhioidea showing a similar level of specialization was described from the Lower Miocene (MN3) of Germany. In addition, Kischinskinia scandens is the earliest reliable member of oscine passerines (Oscines) from Asia.