西欧地中海地区中新世以来的植被演化和现代地中海植被的形成

从距今2500万年的中新世初到更新世,欧洲地中海沿岸地区的植被是从东亚型的热带——亚热带常绿阔叶林逐渐过渡为旱生性的蒿——藜草原。古热带和亚洲、北美成份从晚中新世起逐渐消失,少数一直延续到中更新世。孢粉分析表明,地中海成分从中上新世起有明显增加,地中海常绿硬叶林的发展与北极冰盖的形成密切相关。     

泥河湾盆地发现短喙象化石

本文记述泥河湾盆地河北蔚县两个地点发现的化石,它们被鉴定为短喙象类的?Anancus和Pentalopodon两个属。     

Resolution of the long-standing controversy over the type species of the genus Pseudotypotherium (Notoungulata,Typotheria, Mesotheriidae)

Mesotheres (Notoungulata: Typotheria) are among the most common mammals found in upper Miocene to Pliocene deposits of central Argentina, including the classic type Monte Hermoso locality, which defines the Montehermosan South American Land Mammal “Age”. Nevertheless, the correct name for the mesothere species from this site has been shrouded in uncertainty for well over a century due to questions of taxonomic priority, specimen provenance, and ontogenetic changes in dental formula. Since the mesotheres from Monte Hermoso were named, three distinct species have been formally considered as the type species of the genus: (1) Pseudotypotherium bravardi; (2) “Pseudotypotherium” maendrum; and (3) Pseudotypotherium exiguum. However, none of these species is a nominal species of the Pseudotypotherium genus; all three were originally referred to Typotherium. Article 67.2 of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN, 1999) indicates that only species considered as nominal species are eligible to set the type; in the case of Pseudotypotherium, these include: P. pulchrum, P. carlesi, P. hystatum, and P. carhuense. We conclude that Pseudotypotherium pulchrum F. Ameghino, 1904 (holotype MACN A 10299, Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales “Bernardino Rivadavia”, Ameghino Collection), is the type species of the mesotheriid notoungulate genus from Monte Hermoso. According to Article 68.2, F. Ameghino fixed the type by original designation in 1904 when he described P. pulchrum and included “n. g., n. sp.”. Two of the other species previously considered species P. (= T.) bravardi and P. (= T.) exiguum are invalid as type species according to Article 70.2, since their designations overlooked the previous type fixation. The third species (M. (= T.) maendrum) represents a different mesothere genus (Mesotherium) that only occurs in younger (Pleistocene) deposits. Our analysis puts an end to a historical debate that has been ongoing for more than a century regarding the identity of this well-represented late Miocene–Pliocene mesotheriine genus (Pseudotypotherium). This study provides a solid taxonomic foundation for future studies on intraspecific and ontogenetic variation of Pseudotypotherium pulchrum.     

丹江库区晚新生代三种兔形类化石

记述了丹江库区周围发现的三种兔形类化石：产在丹江二级阶地基座岩层中的淅川跳兔（新种）Alloptoxxichuanwnsissp．nov．个体小,形态较早中新世中期的A．minor原始,其时代可能是早中新世早期,同时详细讨论了Alloptox的进化和分类;发现于台子山林场裂隙堆积物中的进步上新五褶兔（新种）Pliopentalagusprogressivussp.nov.个体为该属已知各种中最大者,形态较已知种更接近于现生的Pentalagus,它的时代可能为上新世末或更新世初;产于郧县曲远河口汉水Ⅳ级阶地的复齿拟鼠兔Ochotonoidescomplicidens与蓝田金丝猴发现于同一阶地,推测其时代为早更新世晚期。     

Critical events in the evolutionary history of calcareous Nannoplankton

Calcareous nannofossil diversity, and rates of speciation and extinction are calculated for five million year intervals from their first appearance in the Late Triassic through to the Present Day. Important evolutionary events are as follows: first appearance in the Late Triassic, Triassic‐Jurassic boundary extinctions, Tithonian radiation (and the first occurrence of nannofossil carbonates), Late Cretaceous diversity maximum, Cretaceous‐Tertiary boundary extinctions, Palaeocene radiation, mid Eocene to Oligocene diversity decline, and early Miocene diversity rise. These events are related to possible causal factors of which climate appears to be the most fundamental. Other factors may include biogeographical isolation, sea level change, and the configuration of Mesozoic oceans.     

Quantifying the completeness of the bat fossil record

Bats (Chiroptera) are one of the most successful extant mammalian orders, uniquely capable of powered flight and laryngeal echolocation. The timing and evidence for evolution of their novel adaptations have been difficult to ascertain from the fossil record due to chronological gaps and the fragmentary nature of most fossil bat material. Here, we quantify the quality of the bat fossil record using skeletal and character completeness metrics, which respectively document for each taxon what proportion of a complete skeleton is preserved, and the proportion of phylogenetic characters that can be scored. Completeness scores were collected for 441 valid fossil bat species in 167 genera from the Eocene to the Pleistocene. All metrics record similar temporal patterns: peak completeness in the Lutetian stage reflects the presence of Lagerstätten, while subsequent stages have very low completeness, except an Aquitanian high and a Pleistocene peak in skeletal completeness. Bat completeness is not correlated with intensity of sampling through geological time but has a weak negative correlation with publication date. There is no correlation between taxonomic richness and completeness, as the bat record predominately consists of diagnostic but isolated teeth. Consequently, bat skeletal completeness is the lowest of any previously assessed tetrapod group, but character completeness is similar to parareptiles and birds. Bats have significantly higher character completeness in the northern hemisphere, probably due to heightened historical interest and presence of Lagerstätten. Taxa derived from caves are more complete than those from fluviolacustrine and marine deposits, but do not preserve highly complete specimens.     

The Tertiary history of the northern temperate element in the northern Latin American biota

The time of origin of cool-to-cold-temperate plants of northern affinities in the Latin American biota is unsettled. Two models have been proposed-a Paleogene origin from a once widespread temperate rain forest, and a Neogene origin by introductions from the north which is best supported by new evidence. Fourteen palynofloras of Tertiary age are now available from Mexico and Central America, in addition to numerous others from the southeastern United States and northern South America. Pollen of cool-temperate plants occurs in the Eocene of southeastern United States, but not in northern Mexico, central Panama, or northern South America. In the Miocene this pollen is sparse in deposits from Mexico and Guatemala, rare in Panama, and absent from northern South America. In the Pliocene pollen representing a diverse northern temperate element of ten genera is present in the Pliocene of southeastern Veracruz, Mexico, five in northeastern Guatemala, and two (Myrica, Salix) first appear in northern South America; Alnus and Quercus are added in the Pleistocene. This north-to-south and early-to-late pattern is consistent with the appearance of highlands in southern Central America and northern South America in the Neogene, closure of the isthmian marine portal between 3.5 and 2.5 Ma (million years ago), and the late Cenozoic cooling trend evident in the O/O-based paleotemperature curve.     

The invertebrate fauna of the sandstone caves of the Cape Peninsula (South Africa): patterns of endemism and conservation priorities

The temperate sandstone caves of the Cape Peninsula, South Africa, support 85 cavernicolous invertebrate species across six phyla. Six of these, including two blind and depigmented species of insects (Dermaptera) and spiders (Araneae: Hahniidae) were previously unknown. Twenty-one species are endemic to the Peninsula. Thirteen of these are presumed troglobitic Gondwanan relicts, including highly specialized, phylogenetically unique, rare species with restricted distributions and specialized habitat requirements. According to the criteria listed in the IUCN Red List Categories (1994), the onychophoran Peripatopsis alba and crustacean Spelaeogriphus lepidops should be considered Critically Endangered, their extents of occurrence being less than 100km². Furthermore, Data Deficient species, such as the freshwater shrimps Protojanira leleupi and Paramelita barnardi, the spider Hahnia sp.nov., the earwig Dermaptera sp.nov. and the centipede Cryptops stupendus, are likely to be additional Critically Endangered species on account of their exceptional rarity or restricted distributions. The remaining endemic cavernicoles are considered Endangered on account of their limited distributions (extent of occurrence <5000km²). Therefore, conservation considerations are clearly an urgent priority and appropriate recommendations are provided. Management-orientated research, long-term population monitoring and the conservation of pseudokarst areas, are urgent requirements for the conservation of these rare and threatened evolutionary relicts in their isolated island-like habitats.     

A new genus of rodents (Remyidae, Mammalia) from the Iberian Eocene

Abstract:  In this article, a new genus, Frontanyamys , is defined based on the new species F. russelli . The genus is recorded from the lower Upper Eocene (Bartonian) beds AT Sant Jaume de Frontanya (NE Spain). This genus shows clear affinities with the previously described genera Zamoramys, Remys and Pairomys. They are therefore assembled in the family Remyidae (new rank). The remyids are characterised by the precocious development of high-crowned molars and retain a morphologically primitive dental pattern. The oldest remyids are found in the middle Eocene of Spain ( Zamoramys ) and are probably derived from a morphologically primitive protrogomorph rodent such as Corbarimys paisi . The last representatives of the family such as Remys and Pairomys developed a fully lophodont dental pattern.