An amphibian trackway collected in minespoil from the Cross Mountain Formation in the Cumberland Mountains of East Tennessee represents the first known Middle Pennsylvanian (Westphalian) amphibian trackway from the southeastern United States. The tracks are impressed onto the upper surface of a bed of fine-grained, cross-laminated sandstone and siltstone, deposited in an upper delta plain environment.

The trackway was made by an amphibian with a long glenoacetabular distance and low pace-angulation. The imprints show five digits on the pes and four on the manus. Average measurements for the trackway are: stride, 8.4 cm; pace angulation, 76.1° (manus), 63.1° (pes); track width, 5.5 cm (manus), 6.7 cm (pes); glenoacetabular distance, 16.7 cm. The manus impression averages 2.8 cm long by 3.1 cm wide, and the pes averages 3.8 cm long by 3.1 cm wide. A tail drag is conspicuous along the entire length of the trackway and has a minimum radius of curvature of 9 mm.

The trackway is assigned to Matthewichnus caudifer n. ichnosp. on the basis of similarities to published material. The trackmaker was probably a temnospondyl labyrinthodont, considering the size of the animal (thus excluding lepospondyls) and the fact that it had a four-digit manus (thus excluding reptiles and anthracosaurian labyrinthodonts).

Tectatodinium rugulatum (Hansen, 1977) McMinn, 1988, from the lower Danian of Denmark, is considered conspecific with, and a junior synonym of, the extant thermophilic species Tectatodinium pellitum Wall, 1967. However, the Danian material, based on holotype and topotype specimens, appears to show a degree of morphologic variability not seen in younger material. The accepted stratigraphic range base of Tectatodinium pellitum is now extended to the lower Danian, where this species appears to be a useful biostratigraphic marker in the Danish North Sea basin.

The Dayton, Osgood, and Laurel Formations and the Euphemia, Springfield, and basal part of the Cedarville Dolomites near the axis of the Cincinnati Arch in northeast Preble County, Ohio, belong in the uppermost part of the Ozarkodina sagitta rhenana to lower part of the Ozarkodina? crassa Chronozone and are late early to middle Wenlockian in age. The Dayton–Cedarville succession on the eastern flank of the Cincinnati Arch in north-central Greene County, Ohio, belongs in the uppermost part of the Pterospathodus celloni to upper part of the Ancoradella ploeckensis Chronozone and is late Llandoverian to early middle Ludlovian in age.

The sea transgressed across the exposed and eroded Brassfield Formation to begin deposition of the Dayton Formation on the eastern flank of the Cincinnati Arch in Greene County, Ohio, during the late Llandoverian and completely flooded all of west-central Ohio by the late early Wenlockian. The region remained covered by a sea of fluctuating depth during deposition of the Dayton Formation–Cedarville Dolomite succession from the Wenlockian through early middle Ludlovian.

Kockelella walliseri (Helfrich) evolved from K. ranuliformis (Walliser) during the middle Wenlockian (upper part of Ozarkodina sagitta rhenana Chronozone) by development of a lateral process adjacent to the cusp on the Pa element and by minor modification of the Pb element and some of the ramiform elements. Specimens from upper Llandoverian and lower Wenlockian strata previously assigned to K. walliseri belong to a different species, Kockelella sp. A Fordham, 1991. The evolutionary trends in the K. walliseri lineage, progressive restriction of the basal cavity and increasing development of the length of the lateral processes in the Pa element, parallel the trends in the K. amsdeni–K. stauros–K. variabilis lineage and resulted in the divergence of Kockelella cf. K. stauros Bischoff, 1986, from the main lineage in the middle Wenlockian.

Analysis of high resolution diversity data for Mississippian corals in the western interior United States yielded mild latitudinal diversity gradients despite the small geographic area covered by samples and a large influence on diversity patterns by geographic sampling intensity (sample bias). Three competing plate tectonic reconstructions were tested using the diversity patterns. Although none could be forcefully rejected, one reconstruction proved less consistent with diversity patterns than the other two and additional coral diversity data from farther north in Canada would better discriminate the two equivalent reconstructions.

Despite the relatively high sampling intensity represented by the analyzed database, diversity patterns were greatly affected by sample abundance and distribution. Hence, some effort at recognizing and accounting for sample bias should be undertaken in any study of latitudinal diversity gradients. Small-scale geographic lumping of sample localities had only small effects on geographic diversity patterns. However, large-scale (e.g., regional) geographic lumping of diversity data may not yield latitudinally sensitive diversity patterns. Temporal changes in coral diversity in this region reflect changes in eustacy, local tectonism, and terrigenous sediment flux, far more than they do shifting latitude. Highest regional diversity occurred during the interval when the studied region occupied the highest latitude. Therefore, diversity data from different regions may not be comparable, in terms of latitudinal inference. Small-scale stratigraphic lumping of the data caused a nearly complete loss of the latitudinal diversity patterns apparent prior to lumping. Hence, the narrowest possible stratigraphic resolution should be maintained in analyzing latitudinal diversity gradients.

Flea beetle (Chrysomelidae) egg deposition has been found on three impressions of alder (Alnus parvifolia) leaves collected at a roadcut in Republic, Washington. These fossils were discovered by Wes Wehr (University of Washington, Burke Museum) during investigations of fossil plants from the Republic, Washington, area. These impressions represent a yet to be determined species, belonging to the genus Altica GeofFroy (1762). They represent the first member of this genus to be described from the Eocene of North America. The fossils were found in lacustrine rocks from the lower part of the Klondike Mountain Formation. Figure 1 represents the Republic fossil locality and the distribution of this Formation. A brief description of the geologic history of this region can be found in Wolfe and Wehr (1987). The Klondike Mountain Formation has a radiometric age that ranges from 42.3 ± 2.0 to 50.3 ± 1.7 m.y. (Pearson and Obradovich, 1977).

Four new species are assigned to Vogelgnathus Norby and Rexroad because of the close similarity of their Pb and ramiform elements to those of the type species, V. campbelli (Rexroad). Recognition of the four new species requires that the generic diagnosis, based almost exclusively on the morphology of V. campbelli, be modified, chiefly to accommodate greater variation in Pa element morphology. Vogelgnathus dhindsai n. sp., V. gladiolus n. sp., V. kyphus n. sp., and V. pesaquidi n. sp. all possess abbreviated, carminiscaphate Pa elements. Spathognathodus postcampbelli Austin and Husri is reassigned to the genus.

The origins of Vogelgnathus are uncertain but V. gladiolus first appeared in the early Viséan and gave rise to V. pesaquidi. The latter species appears to represent the rootstock from which V. kyphus, V. campbelli, and V. dhindsai evolved. Vogelgnathus postcampbelli evolved from V. campbelli during the late Viséan.

Vogelgnathus campbelli and, to a lesser extent, V. postcampbelli have a wide geographic distribution; the four new species, however, are currently known only from Atlantic Canada, northern England, and southwest Scotland.

Two rhabdomesonid cryptostome bryozoans, Rhabdomeson progracile n. sp. and Rhabdomeson rhombiferum (Phillips, 1836), are described from the Lower Carboniferous of the British Isles. A revised familial diagnosis of Rhabdomesidae Vine, 1884, and a revised generic diagnosis of Rhabdomeson Young and Young, 1874, are presented. Taxonomic complications relating to the type species of the genus, which date from 1844, are discussed, and it is suggested that a new type species is required.

Investigations of recently cracked concretions from the Carboniferous Montceau-les-Mines, France, Lagerstätte led to the recognition of two new malacostracan Crustacea: a palaeophreatoicid isopod, Sottyella montcellensis n. g., n. sp., and a gorgonophontid stomatopod, Chabardella spinosa n. g., n. sp. The occurrence of the palaeophreatoicid isopod Palaeocrangon is discussed, and a new specimen of the syncarid Palaeocaris secretanae allows us to clarify some of its morphological characters. The recognition of these taxa increases the faunal inventory of malacostracans in the Montceau-les-Mines Lagerstätte.

Rousseau H. Flower described and figured about 400 new fossil taxa. In addition, he probably described and figured an equal number of other fossils during his long career (Wolberg, 1988). Appropriate disposition of the specimens held within our collections is of major concern to the NMBM&MR. We are most concerned for the long-term care of the fossils and their availability to interested persons. The importance of this material can be seen from the very large number of holotypes included in this second notice of transfer. This note continues the transfer to the Smithsonian Institution of fossil specimens described and/or figured by Rousseau Flower (1964) and housed at the NMBM&MR. This series begins at number 47, and continues the listing from Wolberg (1990). It is obvious that the sheer volume of figured material at the NMBM&MR will require additional notices.

Extensive silicified faunules of Middle and Late Ordovician sphinctozoan sponges have been assembled from the northern part of the eastern Klamath Mountains in northern California. The sponges are from eugeosynclinal rocks that are the westernmost Middle Ordovician to Late Devonian rocks at that latitude in North America. Seventeen new species occur in the assemblages, including 10 porate and 7 aporate forms. New genera of porate forms are Amblysiphonelloides and Corymbospongia, and new porate species include: Amblysiphonella grossa, Amblysiphonelloides tubula, A. reticulata, Imperatoria mega, I. media, I. minima, I. irregularis, Corymbospongia adnata, C. mica, and C.(?) perforata. These are the first reported occurrences of Amblysiphonella and Imperatoria in the Ordovician. New aporate genera are Cystothalamiella and Porefieldia, and new aporate species include: Cystothalamiella ducta, C. craticula, C. tuboides, Porefieldia robusta, Girtyocoelia epiporata, and G. canna. This is the oldest known occurrence of Girtyocoelia, which is generally considered a Late Paleozoic form. Cliefdenella obconica n. sp. is characterized by an obconical growth form in contrast to other species of the genus that are more massive or explanate. Cliefdenella is considered here as an imperforate sphinctozoan.

Minor isolated hexactines and hexactine-derived spicules of Hexactinellida were associated with the sphinctozoans. No particular taxa within the class can be distinguished from these individual elements.

Four species of megathyrid brachiopods from the Lower Cretaceous (Berriasian) of Crimea, Ukraine, and one species of megathyrid from the lower Upper Cretaceous (Cenomanian) of England are reinvestigated using scanning electron microscopy. The species are variously assigned to one existing genus, Praeargyrotheca Smirnova (P. hexaplicata (Smirnova) and P. megatrema (J. de C. Sowerby)) and two new genera, Krimargyrotheca (K. concinna (Smirnova) and K. balkii n. gen. and n. sp.) and Evargyrotheca (E. alta (Smirnova)). Taxa are distinguished principally on differences in shell shape, plication, and, in particular, surface microornament. The shell microstructure of all five species is investigated with particular emphasis on endopunctation and microornament. Dental plates are present briefly early in ontogeny. Based on the possession of transient dental plates, a septalium, and conspicuous microornament, Praeargyrotheca is removed from the family Megathyrididae and assigned, along with the two new genera, to a new family Praeargyrothecidae. Scanning electron microscopy study of loop development in both fossil and Recent terebratelloids and megathyrids supports a recent immunological study of living taxa from both groups that suggests that the two groups are not as closely linked phylogenetically as previously maintained. The family Megathyrididae is thus removed from the superfamily Terebratelloidea and assigned, along with the new family Praeargyrothecidae, to a new superfamily Megathyridoidea.

The Upper Triassic Tiki Formation of India has yielded several new cynodont taxa, which are described on the basis of multiple isolated teeth and a jaw fragment. A new species of dromatheriid, Rewaconodon indicus, is defined by a tri- and tetracuspid asymmetric crown, long anterior edge of the major cusp a, cingular cusps d and f, and marked constriction at the crown-root junction. Another new dromatheriid, Inditherium floris n. gen. n. sp., is characterized by a broad, flower-shaped pentacuspid crown, multiple cingular cusps, and a weak lingual cingulum is also described from the same horizon. In addition, a new mammaliamorph taxon, Tikiodon cromptoni n. gen. n. sp., is established on a tooth specimen, which has a shovel-shaped crown, three closely spaced main cusps, a pronounced lingual cingulum with multiple cingular cusps, and a root of incomplete root bifurcation. Such a tooth morphology occupies an intermediate position between the non-mammalian cynodonts and the early mammals, as is evident from the co-occurrence of various cynodont dental morphotypes in the Tiki Formation. Moreover, Late Triassic cynodonts occurred along narrow belts demarcated by paleolatitudes, though the Indian fauna shows both Laurasian and Gondwanan affinities.

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Almost all nassellarians possess some skeletons, comprised of cephalic skeletal elements, at the base of their cephalis. Observations using the scanning electron microscope (SEM) have been made on the internal structures of Jurassic “Eucyrtidium” from manganese carbonate ore deposits in the Mino Terrane, central Japan. Jurassic “Eucyrtidium” possesses only a median bar and apical spine as cephalic skeletal elements. Because this structure is quite different from that of Cenozoic Eucyrtidium, which possess MB, A, V, L, l, and D, a new genus, Monosera, is proposed for the Jurassic forms. One new species, Monosera gujoensis, is described.

The graptolite, Bohemicograptus bohemicus tenuis (Bouček, 1936), was collected with additional hexactinellid sponges from the Roberts Mountains Formation in the Snake Mountains of Elko County, Nevada, and dates the sponge beds as Ludlovian. To the modest fauna of hexactinellid sponges described by Rigby et al. (1991), can be added the new sponge genera and species Divaricospongia dilata and Fistellaspongia inclinata. The new species, Gabelia intermedia, is intermediate in size between the moderately fine-textured Gabelia pedunculus Rigby and Murphy, 1983, and the large Gabelia giganta Rigby et al. 1991. Additional specimens of Gabelia pedunculus were collected in association with well-preserved specimens of Gabelia fasiculata Rigby et al. 1991, which show additional skeletal and canal details. Associated coarse root tufts and patches of protosponge skeletal mesh were also discovered as part of the new collections and are described here, although not generically nor specifically identifiable.

A structured evolutionary pattern emerges from cladistic and stratocladistic analyses of the Calceocrinidae (Echinodermata). These Paleozoic disparid crinoids were dominated by three long-ranging genera, and other genera were derived during endemic radiations in North America and in Europe. Calceocrinid evolution was highly mosaic, including the repetition of morphological transitions, numerous character reversals, and evolutionary independence of characters.

As a family, the calceocrinids make up a highly derived, unique family because the crown is bilaterally symmetrical, is reflexed onto the stem by a hinge between the radial and basal circlets, and was normally situated just above the substratum. The analysis included 23 genera with 17 characters; three were coded as ordered based on previously observed evolutionary trends. Standard cladistic analysis yielded a total of 17,000 equally parsimonious trees. The addition of stratigraphic data through the use of stratocladistic methodology reduced this number to 16 equally parsimonious trees.

Intexalvichnus magnus, new ichnogenus and ichnospecies, is erected for material from the Lower Carboniferous of northwest Ireland. This ichnogenus is characterized by a horizontal primary basal gallery, from which a series of secondary near-vertical shafts originate on either side of the gallery. Intexalvichnus magnus is typified by vertical shafts occurring in offset closely packed pairs on either side of the horizontal gallery, and by their recurved conical morphology. Such material somewhat resembles Phycodes, and in particular “Phycodes” pedum, although overall morphology and mode of construction distinguish I. magnus from Phycodes (including “P.” pedum), warranting separate ichnogeneric status. Although forming monospecific associations, I. magnus occurs within shallow-water deltaic sand-dominated facies with diverse ichnofaunal assemblages. Consideration of ichnofaunas from similar shallow-water paleoenvironments suggests that I. magnus should be globally and stratigraphically widespread. Perhaps because of its relatively large size I. magnus has been overlooked, or referred to other ichnogenera.

“Chiton” carbonarius Stevens, 1858, is reassigned as the type species to Glaphurochiton Raymond, 1910. This species evolved from an unknown Mississippian ancestor, and spread rapidly into the Midcontinent region, Eastern Interior, and Appalachian basins during the Morrowan. Glaphurochiton carbonarius served as the root stock for development of several species: G. concinnus (Richardson) during the Desmoinesian and G. subcircularis n. sp. during the Virgilian in the Eastern Interior basin and G. elimatus n. sp. in the Appalachian basin and possibly G.? riddlei (Frederickson) in the Midcontinent region during the Missourian.

Glaphurochiton is believed to have been essentially restricted to a mud bottom based upon its occurrence and relative abundance. Commonly the only taxon present, often abundantly, in black and gray shales, Glaphurochiton is rare to absent in limestones, algal limestones, reefs, and shales with an abundance of crustose calcareous algae. The latter lithologies commonly support a diverse polyplacophoran fauna essentially lacking Glaphurochiton.

Rare specimens of the Late Cambrian primitive libristomate trilobite “Cedaria” woosteri from the Eau Claire Formation of north-central Wisconsin preserve an unusual and new ocular suture, and the impressions of lens facets. The suture is circumocular, but loops abaxially onto the ocular platform. The portion of the ocular platform that is enclosed by this suture and is fused with the visual surface is here termed the “ocular plate”. The size and arrangement of the lens facets show that “C.” woosteri possessed a holochroal eye, typical of that known in other Cambrian libristomate trilobites. This nearshore assemblage, while low in diversity, contains a disparate array of trilobite morphotypes.

Two new Raninoida crabs from the Cretaceous of Texas are described, Planocorystes robreidi new genus new species, and Texicancer new genus to accommodate Necrocarcinus renfroae. All the previously described raninoid-like decapods from the Pawpaw Formation have been reassigned according to Karasawa et al. (2014). Cretaceous raninoid-like crabs are the dominant taxa amongst the fossil decapods found in the Fort Worth, Texas, area, with hundreds of specimens collected. All of these fossils have been collected from limonitic nodules, and most of them present a good degree of preservation, with articulated pereiopods, pleons, venter and in rare occasions even the gills. The decapod fauna of the Pawpaw Formation represents a diverse population, with a large number of taxa in high abundance. One specimen of P. robreidi appears to exhibit a lethal bite mark.

Brachiopod shell accumulations are abundant and diverse in the lower Cambrian strata of Yunnan Province, South China, but most commonly they are composed of linguloid and acrotheloid brachiopods. Here, we describe the first record of shell beds with high-density accumulations of microscopic acrotretoid brachiopods (usually <2 mm in width) in the muddy deposits of the Wulongqing Formation (Guanshan Biota, Cambrian Stage 4) in the Wuding area of Yunnan Province. The acrotretoid shell beds from the Wulongqing Formation vary from thin mm-thick pavements to more well-developed beds, several centimeters thick. The occurrence of remarkably rich acrotretoid shell beds indicates that microscopic lingulates began to exert an important role in hardening and paving the soft-substrate seafloor during the early Cambrian evolution of Phanerozoic “mixgrounds.” The new Guanshan material is referred to a new species, Linnarssonia sapushanensis n. sp., which differs from other species of Linnarssonia mainly in having a well-developed internal pedicle tube, as well as a relatively longer dorsal median septum. The occurrence of Linnarssonia sapushanensis n. sp. in the Wulongqing Formation in eastern Yunnan extend the oldest record of the genus on the Yangtze Platform of South China back to at least Cambrian Stage 4.

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