A new fossil spider is described from the early Eocene (Ypresian) Palana Formation (54 to 57 Ma) at the Gurha opencast lignite mine, near Bikaner, western Rajasthan, India. It is the first report of a nonamber fossil spider from India. The fossil is referred to the modern genus Nephila Leach, 1815, but with hesitation because, while its habitus is similar to that genus, it lacks the behavioral synapomorphies that distinguish the genus.

Large collections of Glyptopleura costata (McCoy, 1844) from the Maxville Limestone in central Ohio contain four instars and adults. The juveniles provide a basis for understanding the orderly development of the complex ornamentation of costae characteristic of Glyptopleura. Dimorphism is prominent with heteromorphs and adult tecnomorphs readily identifiable, primarily in adults. Progressive development of the ornamentation in juveniles, significant variation in adult ornamentation, and dimorphism has led to a proliferation of proposed taxa.

Plagioptychids are a conspicuous, although minor, component in uppermost Cretaceous rudist-bearing outcrops of the Caribbean Province, where other rudist families are more abundant and diverse. In the Chiapas Central Depression, the plagioptychid rudist fauna includes the following taxa: Plagioptychus antillarum (Douvillé) and Mitrocaprina sp. from the middle Campanian Suchiapa Formation, Plagioptychus muellerriedi Alencáster from the early Maastrichtian Ocozocoautla Formation, and Plagioptychus fragilis Chubb and Mitrocaprina tschoppi (Palmer) from the late Maastrichtian Angostura Formation. These five species are described in detail and some probable synonymies are discussed. Analysis of the literature on American plagioptychids reveals that the characters of too many taxa are still insufficiently known to attempt any thorough phylogenetic analysis. Other lines of evidence also seem to indicate that American Plagioptychidae diversity is probably higher than recognized today, which might result in a more significant difference to Plagioptychidae of the Mediterranean Tethys.

Vetulicolians are a group of exclusively Cambrian animals characterized by an anterior section with lateral pouches and a posterior section that appears segmented. The precise phylogenetic affinity of vetulicolians is debated because there is a lack of consensus regarding the interpretation of their anatomical features. Their disparate morphology might even cause one to question whether this is a monophyletic taxon. In total, there are 15 species grouped into three families included in vetulicolians. Here we focus on new specimens of Yuyuanozoon magnificissimi Chen, Feng, and Zhu in Chen et al., 2003, a species that was first described from only a single specimen from the Chengjiang Biota (Cambrian Series 2, Stage 3, Eoredlichia-Wutingaspis trilobite Biozone), Yunnan Province, China. The species is notable in being exceptionally large (up to 20 cm long). Morphological observations on the new specimens clarify the nature of the wide circular opening at the presumed anterior end of the animal and the cowl-shaped lateral openings within this anterior section. Taphonomic observations identify wrinkles in the anterior section and twists in the posterior segmented section. In particular, the shape of the anterior opening of Yuyuanozoon magnificissimi suggests significant differences from other vetulicolians. Taxonomic reappraisal of Y. magnificissimi indicates that it belongs within the family Didazoonidae, as that is presently defined.

The Pantolestidae are an extinct family of mammals known principally from the early Paleocene to late Oligocene (from approximately 64 to 30 million years ago) of North America and Europe. Although never particularly abundant, pantolestids are relatively well represented in the Eocene and Oligocene, with several taxa known from exceptionally well-preserved skulls and postcranial material. The early evolutionary history of the group, however, similar to that of many contemporaneous mammals, remains comparatively poorly known. The current study reports on several previously undescribed pantolestids from the early late Paleocene (late middle Tiffanian, Ti4) Roche Percée local fauna, Ravenscrag Formation, of southeastern Saskatchewan, Canada. Aatotomus placochton n. gen. n. sp. resembles the enigmatic pantolestid Paleotomus in having sectorial premolars with well-developed crests and tall, sharp molar trigonids, but differs principally in possessing narrow molar talonids. Besseocetor krausei n. sp. shares numerous similarities with B. thomsoni and B. septentrionalis but differs in being considerably smaller and less robust. Palaeosinopa reclusum n. sp., the oldest species of Palaeosinopa yet discovered, reveals a unique combination of primitive and derived pantolestid features, and supports previous suggestions of a close evolutionary relationship between Palaeosinopa and Bessoecetor. The new taxa document an unusually high diversity of pantolestids in the Tiffanian of western Canada and provide important new knowledge to the evolutionary history of this group during the Paleocene.

The neogastropod genus Pyropsis Conrad, 1860 (family Pyropsidae Stephenson, 1941) is recognized for the first time from Upper Cretaceous shallow-marine siliciclastic rocks in the region extending from Vancouver Island, British Columbia southward to southern California. Four new species were detected: Pyropsis aldersoni (earliest Coniacian, southern California), Pyropsis californica (early Coniacian, northern California), Pyropsis louellae (late Coniacian or early Santonian, northern California), and Pyropsis grahami (late early Campanian, Vancouver Island).

A critical review of the global reports of Pyropsis, a genus that has been commonly confused with other genera (especially Tudicla Röding, 1798), establishes that Pyropsis had an amphitropical distribution and lived in warm-temperate waters adjacent to a broad tropical realm. It is rare to uncommon wherever found, and its geologic range is middle Cenomanian to an age near the Cretaceous/Paleogene boundary (probably earliest Paleocene). It was moderately widespread before the Maastrichtian but was predominantly restricted to the New World during the Maastrichtian.

Metoposaurids are temnospondyl amphibians that are well known from Upper Triassic deposits in North America, Europe, India, and Africa. Two species of metoposaurids, Koskinonodon perfectus and Apachesaurus gregorii, are among the most common fossils found in the Petrified Forest National Park (PEFO) of the southwestern United States. The two are distinguished on the basis of several cranial traits and the morphology of their intercentra, and are more informally distinguished by their overall size and biostratigraphic range. While material of adult metoposaurids is extremely common in Upper Triassic deposits, described material of juveniles is very rare, which limits the study of ontogenetic trajectories that would assist in assessing whether diagnostic traits of the smaller A. gregorii are also ontogenetically influenced traits in juveniles of K. perfectus. Here we report on material from a juvenile specimen of K. perfectus from the Petrified Forest Member (Norian) of the Chinle Formation in the PEFO. This specimen is significant because it represents the highest known occurrence of the species within the PEFO, documents a rare occurrence of a juvenile specimen of a North American metoposaurid, and records a rare North American metoposaurid specimen that includes associated cranial and postcranial material. Additionally, the combination of cranial features diagnostic of K. perfectus and intercentra of proportions intermediate between K. perfectus and A. gregorii in this specimen raises questions about the utility of several characters for species discrimination in North American metoposaurids.

Cicadomorpha guancaishanensis new species, of the extinct family Palaeontinidae, is described from the Upper Jurassic Tiaojishan Formation at Guancaishan, Jianping County, Western Liaoning, northeastern China. It represents the first record of Palaeontinidae from the Tiaojishan Formation and highlights the palaeodiversity of the Late Jurassic palaeontinids. Cicadomorpha Martynov, 1926 previously included three species with extremely limited morphological differences from the Karabastau Formation of Kazakhstan, the Glushkovo Formation, and the Ukurei Formation of Chita, Transbaikalia, and Russia, indicating a correlated stratigraphic relationship. This discovery provides new evidence that closure of the Okhotsk Ocean began in the Middle Jurassic. Thus, there is no distinct geographical barrier between the southern and northern areas of Mongolia-Okhotsk Ocean in the Late Jurassic.

UUID: http://zoobank.org/64531de4-070c-43d4-ae01-106d4338027b.

Recent fossil discoveries from New Zealand have revealed a remarkably diverse assemblage of Paleocene stem group penguins. Here, we add to this growing record by describing nine new penguin specimens from the late Paleocene (upper Teurian local stage; 55.5–59.5 Ma) Moeraki Formation of the South Island, New Zealand. The largest specimen is assigned to a new species, Kumimanu fordycei n. sp., which may have been the largest penguin ever to have lived. Allometric regressions based on humerus length and humerus proximal width of extant penguins yield mean estimates of a live body mass in the range of 148.0 kg (95% CI: 132.5 kg–165.3 kg) and 159.7 kg (95% CI: 142.6 kg–178.8 kg), respectively, for Kumimanu fordycei. A second new species, Petradyptes stonehousei n. gen. n. sp., is represented by five specimens and was slightly larger than the extant emperor penguin Aptenodytes forsteri. Two small humeri represent an additional smaller unnamed penguin species. Parsimony and Bayesian phylogenetic analyses recover Kumimanu and Petradyptes crownward of the early Paleocene mainland NZ taxa Waimanu and Muriwaimanu, but stemward of the Chatham Island taxon Kupoupou. These analyses differ, however, in the placement of these two taxa relative to Sequiwaimanu, Crossvallia, and Kaiika. The massive size and placement of Kumimanu fordycei close to the root of the penguin tree provide additional support for a scenario in which penguins reached the upper limit of sphenisciform body size very early in their evolutionary history, while still retaining numerous plesiomorphic features of the flipper.

UUID: https://zoobank.org/15b1d5b2-a5a0-4aa5-ba0a-8ef3b8461730

Settling rates and behaviors of sediment grains are of particular interest as components in interpreting the hydrodynamics of skeletal carbonate sediments (Maiklem, 1968) and the deposition of skeletons of planktonic organisms (Bé, 1977; Casey and McMillen, 1977). Settling rates and behaviors also are important because even the disarticulated remains of benthic organisms may undergo repeated resuspension and differential settling prior to final burial.

Five new ostracode genera and their type species are described from among 42 taxa obtained from silicified residues from the Quadrithyris brachiopod Zone and the upper pesavis and lower sulcatus conodont Zones of the McMonnigal Limestone at Ikes Canyon, Dianas Punch Bowl quadrangle, Nye County, Nevada. These are the beyrichiaceans Pseudomyomphalus spicatus n. gen., n. sp., and Dolichoscaphoides copelandi n. gen., n. sp., the hollinacean Eurekabolbina torquata n. gen., n. sp., the kloedenellacean Elenamarginia polenovae n. gen., n. sp. and the quasillitacean Prosumia peterseni n. gen., n. sp. Three of the five genera also occur in the partially correlative Windmill Limestone of Eureka County, Nevada, and may prove useful for interbasinal correlation.

A new oromerycid, Montanatylopus matthewi n. gen., n. sp., is described from the early medial Chadronian (early Oligocene, about 36 Ma) of McCarty's Mountain, Madison County, Montana. It is much larger and has higher crowned teeth than other known oromerycids. Montanatylopus is most closely related to Eotylopus from the Chadronian of the High Plains and Trans-Pecos Texas.

The excellent preservation of the molluscan fauna from the Gosport Sand (Eocene) at Little Stave Creek, Alabama, has made it possible to describe the preserved color patterns of 15 species. In this study the functional significance of these color patterns is tested in the context of the current adaptationist controversy. The pigment of the color pattern is thought to be a result of metabolic waste disposal. Therefore, the presence of the pigment is functional, although the patterns formed by the pigment may or may not have been adaptive. In this investigation the criteria proposed by Seilacher (1972) for testing the functionality of color patterns were applied to the Gosport fauna and the results compared with life mode as interpreted from knowledge of extant relatives and functional morphology. Using Seilacher's criteria of little ontogenetic and intraspecific variability, the color patterns appear to have been functional. However, the functional morphology studies indicate an infaunal life mode which would preclude functional color patterns. Particular color patterns are instead interpreted to be the result of historical factors, such as multiple adaptive peaks or random fixation of alleles, or of architectural constraints including possibly pleiotropy or allometry. The low variability of color patterns, which was noted within species and genera, suggests that color patterns may also serve a useful taxonomic purpose.

Larvae of three proetide trilobites are described from the Garden City Formation: Proetide A, Goniophrys prima, and Licnocephala cavigladius. The larvae of Proetide A share a spindle-shaped axis and natant hypostomal condition with other proetide larvae as synapomorphies. The forward-tapering glabella and slender posterior fixigenal area of post-larval cranidia of Proetide A indicate a close affinity to the earliest proetide family (Hystricuridae). The primitive nature of the larvae of Proetide A is further supported by the possession of plesiomorphic features, including four glabellar lobes and bilobed axial lobes (L1/L2/L3). Larval features of Goniophrys prima (a telephinid) such as an elliptical outline and smooth exoskeleton are not consistent with the hypothesis that the genus is the ancestor to younger telephinids. The larvae of Licnocephala cavigladius are typical of the Bathyuridae in having a smooth, ovoid shield and less distinct axial furrows.

The Devonian saw the emergence and subsequent diversification of the clam shrimp. To date, there are no credible records of any clam shrimp prior to the Devonian. Therefore, discoveries and taxonomic studies of early forms, especially the Early Devonian species, are essential to broaden our knowledge of the origin and early evolution of clam shrimp. An Early Devonian clam shrimp community that consists of four species, Cornia cheni n. sp., Pseudestheria cf. P. diensti, Palaeolimnadiopsis zhangi n. sp., and ?Palaeolimnadia sp. is described and discussed in detail in this study. These species are the oldest clam shrimp in China and among the oldest worldwide. This discovery indicates that clam shrimp communities with high diversity existed since the late Early Devonian and that their early forms may have had a profound effect on the origin and evolutionary trends of the following forms.

UUID: http://zoobank.org/ae9d0ab8-0b0e-4103-ad71-601d11a024fc.

Nine assemblages of conodont elements have been found on bedding surfaces of the “Wolfcamp Shale’ from the Midland Basin, Texas. Four of these assemblages have Pa elements assigned to Sweetognathus cf. S. inornatus. The assemblages are classified taphonomically as apparatus (remains or partial remains of a single individual) or coprolitic associations. The two apparatus assemblages indicate that Sweetognathus cf. S. inornatus possessed a seximembrate apparatus comprised of Pa, Pb, M, Sa, Sb, and Sc elements. Five of the seven coprolitic associations contain numerous elements (50–100) and/or multiple pairs of Pa elements representing the presumably ingested remains of two or more conodonts.

The “Wolfcamp Shale’ assemblages are significant because 1) they confirm the polygnathacean affinity of the family Sweetognathidae, 2) they represent the youngest polygnathacean assemblages currently known, and 3) they permit comparison of multielement Sweetognathus with homologous elements of coeval genera such as Hindeodus, Adetognathus, Streptognathodus, and Neostreptognathodus.

The inter-reef Virgin Hills Formation in the Canning Basin of Western Australia contains a diverse and abundant ammonoid fauna. This fauna is comparable in taxonomic diversity and abundance to the rich ammonoid faunas of Europe and North Africa. Of the four Stufen of the Famennian part of the classic German section, three (do II, III, IV, and V) are represented in Western Australia by ammonoids. The similarity of the Western Australian material with that of Europe and North Africa is remarkable, and suggests strongly the existence of an interbreeding relationship between the ammonoid populations of these areas which are now separated geographically by approximately 13,500 kilometers. Of the 36 recognized genera of Devonian goniatites known from Europe, 13 genera are described from Western Australia, as are four of the 32 known genera of clymeniids. Furthermore, the occurrence and nature of the ammonoid fauna indicates a close approximation of a living assemblege, or biocoenose. Several ontogenetic sequences which have long been recognized in Europe, and subsequently redescribed in Famennian strata of the Sahara region of North Africa, are duplicated by the Famennian ammonoids of Western Australia.

Heliolitine corals occur in Upper Silurian strata of the topmost Douro, lower Barlow Inlet, and lower Somerset Island formations in the Boothia Uplift region. The fauna includes Heliolites (nine species), Propora (two species), the stelliporellid genera Podollites (three species) and Stelliporella (one species), and the plasmoporid Squameolites (one species). Species present but not previously reported from the region include Heliolites arcuatus Bondarenko, Heliolites uksunayensis Mironova, Stelliporella ilensis Bondarenko, Podollites assitus new species, Podollites parryi new species, Podollites plectilis new species, Propora tubulata (Lonsdale) and an unidentified species of Propora. All species occur in reef and reef-associated facies of open carbonate shelf and ramp settings. In restricted nonreefal carbonate shelf settings, diversity attenuates to a minimum, exemplified by numerically abundant monospecific assemblages of Heliolites uksunayensis. Six of the 16 morphotaxonomic units recognized compare with species reported previously in Silurian faunas of Kazakhstan and Mongolia. Combinations of characters in the species attributed to Podollites support revision of the genus, possibly to include Derivatolites and Tarbagatailites, in a group morphologically intermediate between Stelliporella and Heliolites.

Two new genera of Upper Silurian stromatoporoids in order Actinostromatida are described. Genus Bicolumnostratum Stock, with type species B. micum (Bogoyavlenskaya), is characterized by two kinds of pillars and nonaligned colliculi, and is assigned to family Actinostromatidae. Genus Acosmostroma Stock, with type species A. ataxium Stock new species, contains irregular micropillars and microcolliculi, and is assigned to family Densastromatidae. Two additional new species are Acosmostroma glascoense Stock and A.? cobleskillense Stock. A fourth species is A. tenuissimum (Parks). Bicolumnostratum is known from Ludlow- and Pridoli-age strata, whereas the occurrences of Acosmostroma are strictly Pridoli in age.

A tectonically undeformed portion of the lower part of La Laja Formation is exposed at Cerro El Molle near San Juan, Precordillera of western Argentina. It consists of shallow-water, variably argillaceous lime mudstone and sporadically interbedded bioclastic grainstone deposited in an inner shelf setting. The El Estero Member and the basal 0.2 m of the Soldano Member contain a trilobite fauna of olenelloids and ‘simple’ ptychoparioids indicative of the early Cambrian (series 2, stage 4; Dyeran stage of Laurentia). The succeeding 50 m of the lower Soldano Member yield trilobites characteristic of the early middle Cambrian (series 3, stage 5; Delamaran stage of Laurentia). In ascending order of occurrence, Amecephalus arrojosensis, Kochiella maxeyi and Eokochaspis nodosa, along with several other taxa, including Ptychobaba n. gen. (type species Ptychoparella buttsi), belong to the traditional lower Plagiura–Poliella Biozone. However, while this fauna is similar to that of the Great Basin, the nominative species of the Eokochaspsis nodosa and overlying Amecephalus arrojosensis biozones recognized in southern Nevada occur in reverse order in the Soldano Member. This suggests that the ranges of these species overlap, thereby reducing the temporal resolution in the Precordillera into a combined Amecephalus arrojosensis–Eokochaspis nodosa Biozone. Argillaceous lime mudstones at the top yield Mexicella mexicana, indicative of the Mexicella mexicana Biozone recognized in the Great Basin, which is equivalent to the traditional Albertella Biozone of Laurentia. Because corynexochids are almost absent, the low-diversity ‘kochaspid’-dominated biofacies appears to typify the platform interior. The fauna is entirely Laurentian in composition, reinforcing notions of a close proximity of Cuyania to Laurentia during the Cambrian that enabled faunal migration and interchange. The absence of a late early Cambrian to early middle Cambrian hiatus correlative with the Hawke Bay Event, however, suggests no close affinity to the Iapetus-facing margin of eastern Laurentia.