The cephalopods from Union y Progreso represent the first fossil assemblage described from the Parras Shale in Coahuila, Mexico. Pseudoschloenbachia (Pseudoschloenbachia) aff. P. (P.) mexicana (Renz, 1936), P. (P.) mexicana (Renz, 1936), Baculites haresi Reeside, 1927, and Menabites (Delawarella) vanuxemi (Morton, 1830) have a geographically restricted occurrence. Didymoceras juv. sp., Menuites juv. sp., Polyptychoceras juv. sp., Pseudoxybeloceras (Parasolenoceras) juv. sp., and Scaphites sp. ex gr. S. hippocrepis (DeKay, 1828) are represented by juveniles and could not be determined to species level. Desmophyllites diphylloides (Forbes, 1846) is the only long-ranging, cosmopolitan species described from this assemblage. Three new species are described: Eutrephoceras irritilasi n. sp., Hypophylloceras (Neophylloceras) arturoi n. sp., and Tetragonites silencioensis n. sp. The morphotype Baculites n. sp. is also inferred to be distinct. The faunal composition of this assemblage indicates a late early Campanian age. This assemblage shows a high degree of endemism. The causes for this endemism are currently unknown and difficult to assess. Nevertheless, the generic composition of the Union y Progreso ammonite assemblage suggests a short-term early Campanian endemic event.

Megaloptera is a small order of insects that is very rare in the fossil record. Jurochauliodes ponomarenkoi n. gen. n. sp. belonging to Chauliodinae (fishflies) within Corydalidae is described based on three larvae preserved in tuffaceous siltstones from the Middle Jurassic of Daohugou, China. It is not only the first fossil Megaloptera from China, but also the earliest Corydalidae. It differs from Cretochaulus lacustris Ponomarenko, 1976 in having a large body, head much longer than mandibles, mandibles wide, with a small apical tooth, meso- and metathorax half as long as prothorax, profemora apically widened, abdominal segment IX short, and lateral gills shorter than hind legs. This discovery indicates that fishflies originated at least in the Middle Jurassic.

The genus Stephanomys (Muridae, Rodentia) is one of the most common elements in the late Miocene to Early Pleistocene mammal faunas from the Ibero-Occitan region. Its geographic distribution is limited to this area with only two mentions in the late Miocene of Italy (de Giuli, 1989) and Algeria (Coiffait et al., 1985). The genus has been subject of numerous studies, some of them suggesting different interpretations on the phylogenetic relationships between the various described species (Gmelig-Meyling and Michaux, 1973; Cordy, 1978; Adrover, 1986; Bachelet and Castillo-Ruiz, 1990; Aguilar et al., 1993). The most extensive and significant study of the genus is the Ph.D. dissertation of Cordy (1976), who studied in detail several samples of Stephanomys, analyzed the changes observed in successive populations and defined four species (S. medius, S. michauxi, S. thaleri and S. progressus), which are considered as nomina nuda because this work was never published. Only one of these species, S. thaleri from the French locality of Seynes, was validated later by López-Martinez et al. (1998).

The Amphoracrinidae Bather, 1899 is redefined, and all genera of this family are diagnosed with objective characters. Dilatocrinus Webster and Lane, 1987 and Pimlicocrinus Wright, 1943 are transferred into the Amphoracrinidae. Type specimens that define Displodocrinus Webster and Lane, 1987 and Dilatocrinus Webster and Lane, 1987 are clarified. The emphasis here is on genus definition, and comprehensive species-level systematics is not attempted. However, Amphoracrinus blairi Miller and Gurley, 1896a and Amphoracrinus jessieae Miller and Gurley, 1896b are designated nomina dubia; Sampsonocrinus sp. Webster and Lane, 1987 is reassigned to Amphoracrinus rupinus Webster and Lane, 1987; Amphoracrinus divergens var. multiramosus (Meek and Worthen, 1866) is reassigned to Dilatocrinus multiramosus (Meek and Worthen, 1866); and Sunwaptacrinus nevadensis Webster and Lane, 1987 is reassigned to Displodocrinus nevadensis (Webster and Lane, 1987).

Tiny, pelagic arthropods from the Anisian Luoping Biota exposed in two quarries near Luoping, Yunnan Province, China, represent the numerically most abundant organisms in the assemblage. They form the basis for definition of two, and possibly three, species referred to the order Lophogastrida, family Eucopiidae. Yunnanocopia grandis new genus new species and Y. longicauda n. gen. new species represent the oldest occurrence of mysidaceans in the fossil record. Their anatomy allies them with the Ladinian species Schimperella acanthocercus Taylor, Schram, and Shen, 2001, from Guizhou Province, China, which previously was thought to be the oldest lophogastrid, and with extant species of Eucopiidae. Their appearance in the Anisian represents one additional element of the early faunal radiation within the Luoping Biota following the end-Permian extinction event. Presence of well-preserved oostegites, along with other morphological features, documents a conservative bauplan expressed in Eucopiidae.

The extreme rareness of Sardinian fossil sites older than Middle and Late Pleistocene makes the Monte Tuttavista karst complex (E Sardinia, Italy) very important. Remarkable lagomorph material, recovered from several fissure infillings of Monte Tuttavista referable to the Capo Figari/Orosei 1 and Orosei 2 faunal sub-complexes (early Pleistocene, ~2.1/1.9–1.1 Ma), allowed us to describe a new endemic insular leporid, Sardolagus obscurus n. gen. n. sp. The new taxon is characterized by a peculiar combination of an advanced p3 (Lepus-type) and a primitive P2 lacking deep flexa. The origin of such discrepancy, unprecedented among continental and insular endemic European leporids, is unclear. It could be the result of: (1) an independent evolution of p3 from an ancestor bearing the primitive P2/p3 (e.g., Alilepus, Hypolagus), or (2) a selective reversal morphocline from an Oryctolagus/Lepus-like leporine. The lack of data about the phylogenetic origin of the new taxon makes any inference about its possible arrival to Sardinia problematic. Crossing the European leporid records and evidence of migrations to Sardinia, we hypothesize three possible ages in which the ancestor of Sardolagus obscurus could have arrived in Sardinia, restricted to the late Miocene–early/late Pliocene (~8–3.6 Ma). The phylogenetic relationship between Sardolagus obscurus n. gen. n. sp. and the oldest Sardinian leporid, recorded from Capo Mannu D1 and dated at the early/late Pliocene boundary (~3.6 Ma), is unclear at present, however it is quite likely that they pertain to the same lineage.

UUID: http://zoobank.org/ca8e0023-7c9d-4b00-a294-d166c37c5c71

Proetid trilobites of Lower Devonian (Pragian) age are known principally from fragmentary material from the type area in the Czech Republic and Morocco. We describe well-preserved, articulated specimens from the Ihandar Formation of the Anti-Atlas, Morocco, which include species of previously little known genera, and help to clarify their morphology. Eight new species are described: Dalejeproetus sagaouii, D. owensi, Lepidoproetus maharchianus, L. lahceni, L. splendens, Podoliproetus mirdani, P. sinespina, and Proetina ihamadii.

A revision of the Cenozoic Ampullinidae and Naticidae from a wide range of localities and stratigraphic units in Patagonia revealed the occurrence there of thirteen species referable to these families. Ampullinid species described are Tejonia? tapia (Feruglio, 1935); Tejonia arroyoensis n. sp. and Pseudamaura dubia (Petersen, 1946). Naticids are represented by the following valid species: “Natica”entreriana Borchert, 1901; Euspira patagonica (Philippi, 1845); Notocochlis borrelloi (Brunet, 1995); Bulbus subtenuis (Ihering, 1897); Polinices santacruzensis Ihering, 1907; Polinices puntarenasensis Ihering, 1907; “Polinices”ortmanni Ihering, 1907 (nomen dubium); Polinices mina n. sp.; Glossaulax secundum (Rochebrune and Mabille, 1885); and Darwinices claudiae n. gen. n. sp.

A new genus and species, Aclemus patulus n. gen. n. sp., is described based on a new specimen collected from the latest Middle Jurassic Jiulongshan Formation in Inner Mongolia, China. Based on a combination of characters from this fossil, including a homonomous fore- and hindwing, a 3-branched media vein, wings lacking long cilia on their margins; and a cross-vein absent between subcosta and radius, we establish a new genus assigned to the Eolepidopterigidae. In addition, the diagnosis of Longcapitalis excelsus Zhang, Shih, Labandeira and Ren 2013, is emended based on new fossil material.

The hermatypic scleractinian cryptic coral biota living under mobile rubble in the reef flat and back reef zones of a Fijian fringing reef was surveyed in detail in August of 1984; only 138 days later the reef was struck by the first of two sequential hurricanes (57 days apart). The same sample areas were re-studied in August 1985, thereby providing the first detailed census of pre- and post-hurricane cryptic reef coral populations, and allowing an assessment of hurricane impact on these populations.

The 61 cryptic species (60 corals and Millepora) show 88 percent commonality with the intertidal and shallow subtidal reef surface coral population (68 species), and therefore are a good representation of the surface biota.

A major effect of the hurricanes was a reduction of almost 50 percent in the number of boulders sheltering cryptic coral. However, among boulders that retained coral through the storms, there was only a 5 percent reduction in the mean number of corals per boulder, signifying that damage to the surviving population was minor. The composition of the surviving cryptic coral population is essentially unchanged from its pre-hurricane state (there are differences in absolute abundances), and the relative importance of the species does not show marked change in most cases. Coral morphologies show little change in their absolute and relative percent abundances after the hurricanes. In contrast to what is normally seen in reef surface habitats, therefore, coral colony form did not appear to be an important determinant in survivability for those living under boulders; primary selection by the storms seems to have been on boulder form rather than cryptic coral form.

Cryptic sub-rubble coral populations may function as a preserve for elements of the pre-hurricane reef surface community. For example, delicately-branching forms that are commonly devastated in reef surface habitats during hurricanes may, in some cases, be preserved in great numbers under boulders or in other cryptic habitats. This provides a “recruitment pool” that can greatly accelerate their recovery and re-establishment on the post-hurricane reef surface, and dampen the potentially severe community dislocations arising from intense competition for space in “instantaneous” new reef substrate.

The formal description of a liverwort from the Paraná Basin is presented. The fossil was found in the Rio Bonito Formation, Early Permian (Sakmarian), and is identified as a new species of the genus Hepaticites, named H. iporangae n. sp. The samples studied were collected from the macrofossil-rich roof-shale layer of the Quitéria Outcrop in the municipality of Encruzilhada do Sul, state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. H. iporangae is one of the oldest liverworts reported from South America. The fossil described here provides more evidence of the relative diversity of liverworts in Paleozoic Gondwana despite the severe climatic conditions during the glaciations of the Permo-Carboniferous.

Direct physical evidence for predation upon decapod crustaceans is extremely limited in the fossil record. Although it is well recognized that decapods serve as a food resource for a wide variety of vertebrate and invertebrate predators and that the remains of decapods, in the forms of molts and corpses, are readily scavenged, direct evidence for these activities is limited (Tshudy et al., 1989). Bishop (1975) summarized evidences for predation in the fossil record and, although he frequently referred to decapods as predators, cited only one example (Bishop, 1972) of the group as prey. Thus, the discovery of three specimens of freshwater decapods, referable to the crayfish family Cambaridae, that clearly exhibit the effects of predation is significant.

The discovery of beautifully preserved specimens of a macruran decapod provides the basis for redescription of Hoploparia antarctica Wilckens, a hitherto poorly known species from the Campanian–Maastrichtian of the Austral basin of Southern Patagonia. Analyses of the associated molluscan fauna, trace fossils, and sedimentary structures indicate that the material is mostly preserved in calcareous sandstones and coquinas deposited in shallow, well-oxygenated environments. These new findings of H. antarctica in Maastrichtian deposits of the Lefipán Formation of Chubut expand the geographic distribution of the species and add a new element for the comparison of the Lefipán fauna with that of the austral Wedellian Province.

The Namurian Tsingyuan Formation from Ningxia, China, is divided into three members. The remarkably well-preserved gastropods from the Tsingyuan Formation belong to three assemblages: the Angyomphalus longicostatus—Glabrocingulum tongxinensis assemblage from the Lower Member; an assemblage of some siliceous Bellerophon sp., and Naticopsis sp. from the Middle Member; and the Euphemites hindi—Turbonitella semisulcatus assemblage from the Upper Member. Based on the associated ammonoids and conodonts, these assemblages are considered equivalent to the Eumorphoceras, Homoceras2-Reticuloceras1 and Reticuloceras2 zones of West Europe respectively.

The current classification of scleractinian corals based upon gross morphological features has been found unsatisfactory due to additional information from skeletal microarchitecture and microstructure. It is necessary to investigate microstructural details and limits in morphologic variation within and between different coral clades before a revised classification is constructed. Variations in morphologic characters and microstructural details from a population of Dimorpharaea de Fromentel, 1861 (Family Microsolenidae) from Upper Bathonian (Jumara Dome) strata in Kachchh are described. The data used include the diameter (D) and height (H) of the corallum, number of corallites in the colony (NC), number of septa in the mother corallite at the center of the colony (NS), minimum distance between centers of central corallite and corallite of the inner ring (C1), minimum distance between corallite centers of the outer ring (C2), septal density (DS) and trabecular density (DT). The principal components analysis reveals that most of the variation is explained by “size” related characters (D and H) while corallite density (NC and C1) and septal structures (DS and DT) contribute to the second and third principal component axes, respectively. The microarchitecture and distribution of characters observed in the Kachchh Dimorpharaea require a re-evaluation of familial-specific concepts and suggest that the population belongs to a single species, Dimorpharaea stellans Gregory, 1900, rather than four nominal species (D. stellans, D. distincta, D. continua and D. orbica) as has been assumed.

A diverse labechiid stromatoporoid assemblage that includes 16 species in 8 genera was found in the Upper Ordovician Xiazhen Formation (mid–late Katian) at Zhuzhai, Jiangxi Province of South China. The assemblage is characterized by a combination of (1) North China provincial species succeeding from their origination in the Darriwilian, including Pseudostylodictyon poshanense Ozaki, 1938, Labechia shanhsiensis Yabe and Sugiyama, 1930, Labechia variabilis Yabe and Sugiyama, 1930, and Labechiella regularis (Yabe and Sugiyama, 1930) and (2) South China endemic species, including three new species (Labechia zhuzhainus Jeon n. sp., Labechiella beluatus Jeon n. sp., Sinabeatricea luteolus Jeon n. gen. n. sp.), and four species in open nomenclature (Rosenella sp., Cystostroma sp., Pseudostylodictyon sp., and Labechia sp.). The finding of Labechiella gondwanense Jeon n. sp., Stylostroma bubsense Webby, 1991, Stylostroma ugbrookense Webby, 1991, and Thamnobeatricea gouldi Webby, 1991 in the formation indicates that Tasmania was closely related to South China and had a closer paleobiogeographical relation with peri-Gondwanan terranes than with Laurentia. In addition, the occurrences of Labechia altunensis Dong and Wang, 1984 and Stylostroma species support a close biogeographic link between Tarim and South China through the Middle to Late Ordovician interval, corresponding with the results from other fossil groups such as brachiopods, conodonts and chitinozoans. The diverse labechiids from the Xiazhen Formation improve our understanding of the diversity of Ordovician stromatoporoids in peri-Gondwanan terranes and the biogeographic affinities among Australia (especially Tasmania), Tarim, and South China.

UUID: http://zoobank.org/4f46c91b-fa4c-4fe5-bea9-e409f1785677

Major transitions in trilobite ontogeny have historically been defined based on the number and distribution of trunk segments, and articulation between the trunk and cephalon. This study documents additional morphological change across the meraspid-holaspid transition on the Ordovician phacopid trilobite Calyptaulax strasburgensis. An extensive dataset of silicified cranidia and pygidia collected from the mid-Ordovician Edinburg Formation of Virginia was subjected to a series of multivariate analyses, with a primary focus on the intersections and termini of furrows. Multivariate regression of partial warp scores demonstrates statistically significant change in allometric growth patterns over the course of development. These changes are concentrated in earlier instars, but are coincident in cranidia and pygidia. This sharp decrease in the rate of allometry, present in both tagmata, is expressed as significant breakpoints derived from a segmented regression, with the largest portion of allometric change found in the pre-breakpoint individuals. The term holeidos is proposed to describe the completion of form during trilobite development, independent of the completion of the thorax. The most dramatic change in shape during this period of ontogeny includes lateral glabellar expansion through deflection of the axial and palpebral furrows, possibly reflecting a change in the feeding habit during later development. Other morphological changes include the development of a more angular appearance to the anterior portion of the glabella, and anterior migration of the pygidial anterior margin. The appearance of these growth patterns in Calyptaulax extends the temporal range of these changes, some of which have only been documented in Devonian phacopids.

The adoral surface of a crinoid theca has traditionally been called the tegmen, despite a wide range of morphologies; and, unfortunately, this has obscured the potential to recognize homologies between blastozoans and crinoids. With present recognition of these homologies, the constructional morphology of crinoid oral regions is explored, herein. Two major types of oral regions exist among crinoids: (1) an oral surface with the mouth exposed; and (2) a tegmen, in a restricted definition, with the mouth covered beneath solid plating. A tegmen is constructed by exaptation of oral surface plating and, commonly, other thecal plating. A pseudo-tegmen is an exaptation of aboral cup plates (i.e., radial plates). Tegmens or pseudo-tegmens evolved in all major crinoid clades at least once as an exaptation of oral surface plating. Tegmens evolved iteratively both between and within clades. In some cases, tegmen plates can be homologized with oral surface plates, but in other cases this is not apparent. Examples of tegmens that evolved many times include tegmens with an appearance of oral surface plates cemented in place; tegmens with fixed ambulacral cover plates and primary peristomial cover plates disproportionately enlarged; tegmens composed exclusively, or nearly so, of greatly enlarged primary peristomial cover plates; tegmens with tessellate plating but presumably with some flexibility; and tegmens constructed of innumerable undifferentiated plates. Most tegmens have all ambulacral cover plates fixed; but in some instances, the abaxial ambulacral cover plates remain moveable. Additionally, some lineages that possessed a tegmen evolved an oral surface secondarily, likely as an atavism. Based on this restricted definition of a tegmen, the hemicosmitid blastozoan Caryocrinites also evolved a tegmen. As known, tegmens dominated among camerate crinoids; and oral surfaces were more common among cladids, hybocrinids, disparids, flexibles, and articulates. However, oral surfaces evolved in some camerate lineages; tegmens evolved in some cladid, disparid, and articulate lineages; and pseudo-tegmens evolved in some flexible and articulate lineages.The iterative evolution of tegmens in crinoids and blastozoans is thought to be an adaptive response to cover the mouth and proximal ambulacra to protect this portion of the digestive tract from predation, scavenging, parasites, and disease causing agents.

Early “ptychoparioid” trilobites are likely to play a crucial role in determining the currently unresolved phylogenetic relationships among the numerous Cambrian libristomate clades. However, such phylogenetic analyses are hindered by the fact that many species and genera of early “ptychoparioids” are known from very limited material and are typically defined only on cranidial features. Herein, we report new “ptychoparioid” assemblages from the Saline Valley Tongue, Harkless Formation at Clayton Ridge, Nevada. These middle to upper Dyeran Stage (Cambrian Series 2, Stage 4) assemblages contain well-preserved early “ptychoparioids” that are represented by articulated exoskeletons as well as isolated cranidia, rostral plates, librigenae, thoracic segments, and pygidia, which together provide morphological details for the complete or nearly complete exoskeleton of three new genera and four new species: Anebocephalus silverpeakensis n. gen. n. sp.; Coenoides scholteni n. gen. n. sp.; Harklessaspis rasettii n. gen. n. sp.; and H. parvigranulosus n. gen. n. sp. Pending a formal phylogenetic analysis, it is deemed preferable to assign these taxa to new genera rather than to shoehorn them in to potentially ill-diagnosed existing genera. These new genera are compared to the Cambrian Series 2 taxa Crassifimbra and Eokochaspis, and the Miaolingian Series taxon Elrathina, which are similar in morphology and known from sclerites other than just cranidia.

Also documented in this study are the “ptychoparioids” Crassifimbra walcotti, Cr.? sp. A, Cr. sp. B, and “ptychoparioid” spp. A, B, C, and D from the Saline Valley Tongue and the overlying Mule Spring Limestone and lowermost Emigrant Formation.

UUID: http://zoobank.org/864d4005-2676-4f3f-b676-911efde7d263

Hystricurids are considered to constitute the earliest (early Ibexian or Tremadocian) family of Proetida, based on comparisons of hystricurid larvae with younger proetide and Cambrian ptychopariide larvae. The hystricurid larvae share a fusiform glabella falling short of the anterior margin with other proetide larvae, which were derived from Cambrian ptychopariide larvae with a forward-expanding glabella. Two discrete morphotypes of hystricurid larvae are recognized. The first type is characterized by the development of a pattern of regularly distributed tubercles on the shield and the presence of a preglabellar field. The second is characterized by the presence of glabellar furrows (discontinuous or transglabellar), an indented posterior margin, and a lack of tuberculation. Each of these hystricurid lineages represented by a distinct larval morphotype is considered ancestral (or sistergroup) to a different group of younger proetides. The second larval morphotype is considered a phylogenetic intermediate between the first type and ptychopariide larvae. Several larval features of these primitive proetides are considered to have originated by early onset of post-larval features of the ptychopariides (peramorphic pattern).

Newly described hystricurid species are Hystricurus n. sp. A, Hystricurus? sp. A, Hystricurus? sp. B, ‘Paraplethopeltis’ n. sp. A, ‘Paraplethopeltis’ sp. B, and Hyperbolochilus cf. marginauctum.