准噶尔盆地白垩纪轮藻化石组合序列

新疆准噶尔盆地的白垩系发育较好,其中含有丰富的轮藻化石,计有20属1亚属63种1亚种3变种2比较种1新型2未定种,其中包括7个新种。根据轮藻植物群的演化,可在盆地的南缘、腹部和东北缘建立4个化石带1个亚带和1个组合:Clypeator zongjiangensis带(南缘、腹部及东北缘),时代相当于Berriasian-Valanginian;Flabellochara hebeiensis带(南缘),时代为Barremian;Clypeator jiuquanensis带(腹部),时代为Hauterivian-Bar-remian,其中包含Atopochara trivolvis triquetra亚带,时代为Barremian;Atopochara restricta带(腹部),时代为Cenomanian;Aclistochara mundulavar.elliptica-Raskyaechara gobica-Tolypella grambasti组合(腹部、北部及东北缘),时代应为晚白垩世中、晚期。该组合序列的建立,对确定准噶尔盆地白垩系的年代格架以及与国内外有关地层的对比关系具有十分重要的意义。     

Depositional environment of the Upper Cretaceous orbitolinid-rich microfacies in the Kuh-e Mazar anticline (Kerman Province,Central Iran)

This study is focused on the depositional model and paleoenvironmental distribution patterns of orbitolinids-rich microfacies in an Upper Cretaceous carbonate succession in the Kuh-e Mazar anticline in Kerman Province, Central Iran. Twelve microfacies indicating a tidal flat (including intertidal and supratidal) and an inner ramp (consisting of subtidal lagoon and orbitolinid–rudist barrier shoal) belonging to a shallow-water ramp-type carbonate platform were recognised. Generally, the orbitolinid associations in the carbonate ramp are indicative of shallow warm waters with normal salinity. The occurrence and abundance of thick or conical orbitolinids in both shoal and lagoon show that such associations were well adapted to different environmental conditions including different depth, substrate stability and water energy. The slightly discoidal, almost discoidal and discoidal forms were only present in the deeper depths of the environment including the lagoon with muddy and more stable substrates and lower water energy. However, the orbitolinids in the inner part of the carbonate ramp were scarce or almost absent in the deep inner to middle lagoon due to the deep restricted environmental conditions unfavourable for benthic marine life.     

三突起类花粉形态学及其度量和描述

三突起类(Triprojectacites Mtchedlishvili,1961 emend. Stanley,1970)是晚白垩世—古新世北半球广泛分布的一类被子植物花粉,具有重要的孢粉植物分区和地层意义。其主要特征是发育突出于体的突起和其末端的沟状萌发器。由于形态复杂多变,该类花粉在度量和描述中存在不少难点,缺少明确而统一的标准,制约了其分类的进展。本文根据对松辽盆地白垩系三突起类标本的萌发器、极性、突起形态和纹饰等分类性状的观察,结合对前人在三突起类描述、分类中存在问题的剖析,提出了一套形态学术语、度量方法和参数。它们不仅能有效避免各种误差、准确反映和描述三突起类花粉的形态特征,而且还适用于不同位置保存的标本,有助于建立这些标本之间的联系,为三突起类花粉分类系统提供了科学合理的形态学度量和描述基础。     

The latest Ordovician Hirnantia brachiopod fauna of Myanmar: Significance of new data from the Mandalay Region

A new, latest Ordovician brachiopod fauna is systematically described from the Hwe Mawng Purple Shale Member (Hirnantian) of the Naungkangyi Group of the Pa-thin area, Mandalay Region, Myanmar, revealing one of the most diverse representatives of the typical Hirnantia Fauna. Rhynchonelliformean, craniiformean and linguliformean brachiopods studied belong to 23 genera and a few indeterminate taxa, among which the most abundant genus Kinnella, along with the four common genera (Paromalomena, Pseudopholidops, Fardenia, and Dalmanella), and other genera (such as Cliftonia, Draborthis, Hindella, Hirnantia, Leptaena, Mirorthis, Plectothyrella, Skenidioides, and Xenocrania) are recorded for the first time. This high diversity Hirnantia Fauna represents an ecological differentiation within the benthos of the Sibumasu Terrane during the end Ordovician global crisis. The palaeoeco-unit named herein as the Kinnella-Paromalomena Association is assigned to lower BA3. This paper includes a taxonomic revision with the following conclusions: 1) Sinomena Zeng et al. and Yichangomena Zeng et al. are treated as junior synonyms of Eostropheodonta Bancroft; 2) Hubeinomena Zeng et al. is regarded as a juvenile form of Coolinia Bancroft; 3) Paramirorthis Zeng et al. is considered an immature growth stage of Mirorthis Zeng; 4) Shanomena Cocks and Fortey is treated as a junior synonym of Paromalomena Rong; 5) Scenidium? medlicotti Reed is redesignated as the type species of Kinnella Bergström to replace Hirnantia? kielanae Temple. The distribution of the Hirnantia Fauna in Myanmar, Thailand and western Yunnan of the Sibumasu Terrane highlights the distinctive nature of the Mandalay fauna, and the analyses of the Hirnantia Fauna and others of Sibumasu shows that Sibumasu was not located far from the South China and Lhasa palaeoplates during late Middle and Late Ordovician.     

Remodelling of skeletal tissues bone and structural specialisations in an elasmosaurid (Sauropterygia: Plesiosauroidea) from the Upper Cretaceous of Patagonia,Argentina

Elasmosauridae were cosmopolitan Late Cretaceous plesiosaurs with conspicuous morphological diversity. Within this group, vertebral morphology is a criterion for estimating relative age in plesiosaur. On the other hand, the microstructure of plesiosaur bone is considered as indicative of ontogenetic stage. However, knowledge about ontogenetic tissue transformation in different elements of the skeleton is poorly known. Resorption and remodelling of skeletal tissues are required for development and growth, mechanical adaptation, repair and mineral homeostasis of the vertebrate skeleton. This contribution analyses different postcranial elements of a Late Cretaceous elasmosaurid from Patagonia. Characterisation of bone microstructure indicates the presence of compact bone inner organisation in an adult derived plesiosaur from the Cretaceous and that the distribution of bone specialisations depicts conspicuous variations within a single skeleton depending on the skeletal element considered. Bone compactness or degree of remodelling in elasmosaurids is not necessarily correlated with the ontogenetic age of the animal or to costal versus pelagic lifestyles. The available data are still scarce, but we propose a topic of discussion: perhaps the degree of remodelling and compactness also may be related to the activity level and increased mechanical load in different skeletal elements.     

Palaeoenvironmental and palaeobiogeographical implications of fossil seeds and charophytes from the Lameta Formation (Late Cretaceous), Jabalpur,Madhya Pradesh,India

A Late Cretaceous fossil flora composed of five fossil seed genera and two charophyte genera was discovered and reported here from the siltstone and green marl band of the Lameta Formation at the Chui Hill section and the Chhota Simla Hill section in the Jabalpur area. On the basis of comparative studies, including thin-section and XRD analysis, the palaeoenvironment is deduced to be arid to semi-arid fluvial-lacustrine. The recovered flora suggests Laurasian palaeobiogeographic affinity and shows the dispersal route from Europe to India via Africa.     

甘肃玉门旱峡早白垩世孢粉组合

本文研究了甘肃玉门旱峡沟口剖面下沟组,中沟组的孢粉化石,共鉴定孢粉３７属５３种;藻类化石２属２种。根据上孢粉化石建立了Ｃｉｃａｔｒｉｃｏｓｉｓｐｏｒｉｔｅｓ－Ｓｃｈｉｚａｅｏｉｓｐｏｒｉｔｅｓ－Ｃｌａｓｓｏｐｏｌｌｉｓ－Ｊｉａｏｈｅｐｏｌｌｉｓ组合,包括下亚组合,包括下晋组合（下沟组）和上亚组合（中沟组）。鉴定组合地质时代为Ｈａｕｔｅｒｉｖ－ｉａｎ－Ｂａｒｒｅｍｉａｎ。推测气候属于温暖湿润的亚热带     

SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR AND MASS MORTALITY IN THE BASAL CERATOPSIAN DINOSAUR PSITTACOSAURUS (EARLY CRETACEOUS, PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA)

Abstract:  An exceptionally preserved herd of the ceratopsian dinosaur Psittacosaurus was recovered from the Lujiatun Beds of the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation, Liaoning Province, north-east China. This specimen provides the earliest direct evidence of post-nestling gregarious behaviour in this important dinosaur clade. The sediment in which the skeletons occur represents a lahar (volcanic mudflow), indicating that the six individuals present were entombed simultaneously during a catastrophic mass mortality event. Reconstruction of the herd age profile shows it was composed of offspring from at least two clutches, revealing that group fidelity in these dinosaurs extended beyond time spent together in the nest. This demonstrates that sociality appeared much earlier in ceratopsian evolution than is generally acknowledged and that such behaviour preceded the evolution of the elaborate horns and frills seen in derived ceratopsids.     

A NEW TITANOSAUR FROM WESTERN SÃO PAULO STATE, UPPER CRETACEOUS BAURU GROUP, SOUTH-EAST BRAZIL

Abstract: Material from a new titanosaur from the Bauru Basin (Bauru Group), Brazil is described and compared with well‐known titanosaurs. Adamantisaurus mezzalirai gen. et sp. nov. is based on six articulated anterior caudal vertebrae and two haemapophyses collected from the Adamantina Formation, which is considered to be Campanian–Maastrichtian? in age. Adamantisaurus mezzalirai is characterized by the following combination of characteristics: anterior caudal vertebrae with straight or slightly backwardly‐projecting neural spines with strongly expanded distal ends, stout prespinal lamina, very wide pre‐ and postzygapophyseal articular facets, and concave postzygapophyseal articular facets on anterior caudal vertebrae. Although our cladistic analysis has produced equivocal results, Adamantisaurus mezzalirai shares with DGM ‘Series B’ (Peirópolis titanosaur) and Aeolosaurus the presence of postzygapophyses with concave articular facets, and shares with DGM ‘Series B’ the presence of laterally expanded neural spines and stout prespinal lamina. Additionally, A. mezzalirai shares with DGM ‘Series’ C (other titanosaur from Peirópolis) the presence of short neural spines.