Detailed investigation of the essentially complete uppermost Miocene through Lower Pleistocene sequence in Deep Sea Drilling Project (DSDP) Hole 603C, western North Atlantic, has revealed the presence of the new dinoflagellate cyst species Lejeunecysta hatterasensis, Lejeunecysta interrupta, Corrudinium devernaliae, and Pyxidinopsis vesiculata, as well as the acritarchs Leiosphaeridia rockhallensis Head new species and Leffingwellia costata new genus and species. Independent magnetobiostratigraphic control of DSDP Hole 603C constrains the ranges of these new species. Lejeunecysta interrupta n. sp. appears to range no higher than lowermost Pliocene at 5.2 Ma, Pyxidinopsis vesiculata n. sp. has a range top at about 4.5 Ma in the Lower Pliocene, Corrudinium devernaliae n. sp. has a well-defined range of 4.7–4.1 Ma within the Lower Pliocene, and Leiosphaeridia rockhallensis n. sp. has a similarly well-defined range of 4.4–3.9 Ma within the Lower Pliocene. The presence of Leiosphaeridia rockhallensis n. sp. in the Ramsholt Member of the Coralline Crag Formation, eastern England, supports an Early Pliocene age for this member.

Vase-shaped microfossil (VSM) assemblages from early diagenetic carbonate nodules in >742 ± 6 Ma black shales of the Chuar Group, Grand Canyon, provide evidence for affinities with testate amoebae. Not only are VSMs exceptionally preserved in Chuar rocks, they exhibit a much higher degree of morphological diversity than was previously known. Using the taxonomy of modern testate amoebae as a guide, nine new species and eight new genera of VSMs are described, augmenting the eight species and two genera already recognized. Taxa described here are Melanocyrillium hexodiadema Bloeser, 1985, Trigonocyrillium horodyskii (Bloeser, 1985) n. comb., T. fimbriatum (Bloeser, 1985) n. comb., Cycliocyrillium simplex n. sp., C. torquata n. sp., Bonniea dacruchares n. sp., B. pytinaia n. sp., Trachycyrillium pudens n. sp., Palaeoarcella athanata n. sp., Hemisphaeriella ornata n. sp., Bombycion micron n. sp., and Melicerion poikilon n. sp. All of the test characters observed in VSM taxa (e.g., collars; indentations; hexagonal symmetry; lobed, triangular or invaginated apertures; curved necks) occur in modern testate amoeban taxa, though not always in the same combinations. Some VSM species have characters found today in diverse extant taxa, making it difficult to assess their relationships. A few species, however, have character combinations that closely approximate those found in specific genera of both lobose and filose testate amoebae, suggesting that at least stem group, and possibly crown group, representatives of these taxa were present ∼742 Ma.

These fossils indicate that ecosystems were diverse and complex, that eukaryotic biomineralization had already evolved, and that the last common ancestor of animals+fungi had already appeared by ∼750 Ma.

Culturing experiments of the intermediate morphotype of the cosmopolitan coccolithophore Calcidiscus leptoporus, indicate that the size of its coccosphere and of its coccoliths are affected only in a minor way by temperature. The changes observed in clones growing under different temperature and light conditions are within the range defined for this morphotype in the plankton and Holocene sediments. This outcome suggests that the three morphotypes of living C. leptoporus may be reproductively isolated species rather than stages in a life cycle of a single species or ecophenotypic adaptations of a single species with considerable morphological plasticity. Numerous extinct morphotypes of C. leptoporus have been recorded from marine sediments deposited during the last approximately 25 Ma. In the light of our experiments, these may in fact represent genetically distinct species, which experienced rapid evolution.

Limestone beds intercalated within a succession of sandstones, siltstones, and shales of the subsurface Deadwood Formation, cored in two wells in Alberta and Saskatchewan, yielded twelve species assigned to eight genera of organophosphatic brachiopods (Subphylum Linguliformea). The nine species recovered from the Alberta well are Marjuman (late Middle to early Late Cambrian) in age. Three of these species, Neotreta davidi Popov, Berg-Madsen, and Holmer, 1994; Picnotreta debilis Henderson and MacKinnon, 1981; and Stilpnotreta magna Henderson and MacKinnon, 1981, are associated with the Mindyallan (early Late Cambrian) of Queensland, and are previously unknown from Laurentia. This brachiopod fauna occurs with a diverse fauna of paraconodont species. The Saskatchewan well yielded three species of Linnarssonella, belonging to the upper Steptoean to the lower Sunwaptan (middle Late Cambrian). One new subfamily, Neotretinae, is erected, and two new species, Rhondellina albertensis, and Linnarssonella tubicula are described. Linnarssonella elongata Bell, 1941, is reinstated as a valid species. This fauna occurs with a diverse fauna of paraconodont species and is overlain, 226 feet higher, by conodonts of the Early Sunwaptan Proconodontus Zone.

A moderately diverse crinoid fauna from the Early Mississippian, Tournaisian, part of the Bahram Formation is reported from exposures in the vicinities of Hutk and Shams Abad, north of Kerman in southeastern Iran. Conodonts from the crinoid-bearing beds represent two faunas and indicate an age of Upper Siphonodella crenulata Biozone to Gnathodus typicus Biozone. Recognition of a Tournaisian age for this part of the Bahram Formation revises the previously assigned Famennian age and indicates that Famennian strata are much thinner, if present, in southeastern Iran.

The fauna occurs in thin-bedded marls and limestones at the top of a shaley slope-forming sequence that grades upward into resistant cliff-forming limestones. Most crinoid specimens are crowns (many retaining part of the proximal stem) that have been flattened by compaction. At the genus level the crinoids include five camerates, three cladid dendrocrinids, ten other cladids, three flexibles, and one articulate. In addition, loose arm fragments and occasional cup fragments are common, along with abundant pluricolumnals and columnals in the fauna. Dominance of cladids over camerates probably reflects the argillaceous sediment in the mixed carbonate/siliciclastic platform environment of the fauna.

This is the most diverse Tournaisian fauna reported from the northern margin of Gondwana and represents an equatorial fauna living at approximately 20°S latitude. Stronger affinities are with North American and European crinoid faunas than with Chinese and Australian faunas. Shallow-shelf conodonts from the crinoid-bearing beds are dominated by species of Polygnathus. Palaeoniscoid fish remains and shark teeth from the same beds support a shallow-shelf environment.

New taxa proposed are Dichocrinus shamsensis new species; D. labyrinthus new species; Springeracrocrinus conicus new species; Atelestocrinus hutkensis new species; Zangucrinus abadensis new genus and species; Glossocrinacea new superfamily; Gelasinocrinus revimentus new genus and species; Amabilicrinidae new family; Amabilicrinus iranensis new genus and species, A. bahramensis new species; Derorhethocrinus elongatus new genus and species; Corematocrinidae new family; Lorocrinus zanguensis new genus and species; Blothrocrinus yazdii new species; Culmicrinus cylindratus new species; Paracosmetocrinus delicatus new species; Taxocrinus quadribrachiatus new species; Meristocrinus ovatus new species; and Hutkocrinus kermanensis new genus and species.

Revision of the Glossocrinidae also resulted in designation of two new genera not present in the Iranian fauna: Bufalocrinus new genus (type species Catactocrinus? torus Webster and Hafley, 1999, from the Late Devonian, Famennian, of Colorado) and Nudalocrinus new genus (type species Culmicrinus jeffersonensis Laudon and Severson, 1953, from the Tournaisian of Montana).

Field work has greatly increased the number of well-dated papiliophyllid corals available from Nevada. The established range of the family is expanded from Pragian and lower Emsian to Pragian and almost the entire Emsian. Ranges of species are calibrated against Johnson faunal intervals and a revised Pragian and lowermost Emsian conodont zonation proposed by Murphy for Nevada. Study of all reposited material has led to some revision of every member of the family. Eurekaphyllum, previously imperfectly known from a single specimen of vague stratigraphic origin, is shown to be a useful upper Emsian index. Nine reported occurrences of the family in Europe and Asia are re-examined and, except for a possible occurrence on Novaya Zemlya, all are rejected. The three named genera of the family are apparently endemic to the southwestern North American craton. Papiliophyllum elegantulum asymmetricum new subspecies, P. murphyi new species and Eurekaphyllum vescum new species are described by Pedder.

Research on fossil decapod crustaceans has accelerated since the publication of the Treatise on Invertebrate Paleontology dealing with the group. Increase in the number of paleontologists studying the Decapoda, exploration of previously poorly known areas, and major advances in neontological research has made it possible to transform fossil decapods from the category of interesting and beautiful fossils to that of useful subjects for research in paleoecology and paleobiogeography. Classification of fossil decapods has become more refined as new taxa have been recognized in the fossil record and as neontological approaches to classification, including larval anatomy, comparative spermatology, morphology of novel structures, and molecular analysis, are considered in conjunction with fossil evidence. This combination of approaches can now be used to develop testable hypotheses regarding phylogeny of the group. Detailed observational data on living and fossil biotic associations has been coupled with experimental studies to enhance our understanding of organic interactions as well as to understand the biasing factors of taphonomy that affect the fossil record of organisms with organic exoskeletons. Broad studies of distribution of decapods in time and space are now possible, owing to the increase in number of fossil sites studied and taxa described. We can define patterns of biogeographic distribution that can be tested against patterns derived from the study of more commonly preserved organisms, such as the mollusks. As this research continues, it is anticipated that studies of paleobiogeography and paleoecology will increasingly rely on data from the fossil record of the decapod Crustacea.

Re-examination of type material of the hyolithids Hyolithes ardmillanensis Reed, 1909 from the lower Caradoc and H. candidus Reed, 1909 from the lower Ashgill suggests that these species are representatives of the genus Leolites Marek, 1967 to which they are referred with question. Hyolithes subcrispatus Reed, 1909 from the upper Ashgill, and H. sylvestris Reed, 1909 from the lower Llandovery are referred tentatively to Recilites Marek, 1967. These are the first occurrences of these genera outside of Bohemia, and the stratigraphic range of Recilites is extended considerably if H. sylvestris is in fact a representative of that genus. The orthothecid Hyolithes (Orthotheca) thraivensis Reed, 1909 from the upper Ashgill is now referred to the new genus Girvanolithes, to which the Caradocian H. (O.) subexcavatus Reed, 1909 is assigned with question. Girvanolithes thraivensis is exceptional because it is one of a small number of orthothecid species for which intestinal remains are known; equally remarkable is the fact that three such specimens were found, and these are the only hyolith intestines ever reported from Britain. The hyolithid species H. asteroideus Reed, 1909, H. columbanus Reed, 1909, H. girvanensis Reed, 1909, H. immemor Reed, 1909, H. multipunctatus Reed, 1909 and H. penkillensis Reed, 1909, and the orthothecid Hyolithes (Orthotheca) subornatus Reed, 1909 are here deemed unrecognizable owing to incomplete preservation. Ceratotheca? subuncata is reassigned to the gastropod genus Ecculiomphalus Portlock, 1843 with question.

In late Paleozoic solitary Rugosa, the zigzag microstructure as defined by Schindewolf (1942) is related to presence of an elevated magnesium content within biogenic calcite (intermediate magnesian calcite, IMC) and its subsequent loss during diagenesis by microdissolution and neomorphism. This particular microstructure has been recognized with certainty only in some Carboniferous and Permian rugose corals (e.g., Lophophyllidium spp.). Septal and other skeletal microstructures in those corals are dominantly (oblique) sloping-lamellar, which is also interpreted as diagenetic in origin. Two directions of oblique lamellae commonly occur in thickened skeletal elements, forming chevrons that make up zigzag microstructure with its orientation determined by presence of microdolomite blebs within skeletal calcite. Geochemical studies of corals from the Mississippian Imo Formation of Arkansas, the Pennsylvanian Buckhorn asphalt of Oklahoma and Pennsylvanian Kendrick Shale of Kentucky all indicate that magnesium content in skeletal calcite of the corals was elevated, with a maximum in the neighborhood of six to eight mole percent CaCO3, thereby forming intermediate magnesium calcite. Corals with this zigzag microstructure apparently only occurred during the late Paleozoic interval of “aragonite seas”; as a result, this diagenetic behavior of rugose corals can serve as a proxy for secular change in marine chemistry and/or climate.

The Order Lagenida is a monophyletic group of calcareous foraminifers that originated in Middle Pennsylvanian time via acquisition of hyaline-radial wall structure and loss of microgranular wall structure, the latter being characteristic of the close sister group and likely ancestor, the Fusulinida. Early lagenides are delineated into subgroups on the basis of presence or absence of partitioning within their tests, and among partitioned forms, on continuous versus discontinuous growth styles. Partitioned, discontinuously growing forms may be further delineated on the basis of test symmetry and on modifications to chamber shape and apertural complexity. Early lagenides underwent rapid taxonomic differentiation during late Moscovian and early Kasimovian time. Taxonomic differentiation was accompanied by rapid dispersal from the presumed center of origin in the midcontinent-Andean area to tropical and subtropical shelves worldwide. By Early Permian time certain lagenides were adapted to cool water paleoenvironments, as evidenced by their occurrences in high paleolatitudes and even in glaciomarine basins. Early Permian lagenides do not exhibit marked provincialism, but there is evidence for paleolatitudinal control on assemblages. The midcontinent-Andean and present Arctic areas contain similar, diverse faunas from low- to mid paleolatitudes along the western margin of Pangaea. These faunas share many elements in common with faunas from the tropical and subtropical eastern margin of Pangaea (Paleotethys). In contrast, the Europe-Urals, Siberian and Australian areas are characterized by a slightly different faunal association from mid- to high paleolatitudes in both hemispheres. Panthalssan faunas are less well known, but seemingly contain only cosmopolitan taxa.

A brachiopod fauna from the upper part of the Nakazato Formation, southern Kitakami Mountains, northeast Japan, is nearly similar to the fauna from the top of the Yikewusu Formation (upper Eifelian) in the Zhusilenghaierhan region, western Inner Mongolia. The Nakazato fauna is systematically described and consists of 10 species and four indeterminate species assigned to 14 genera. Two new species are designated Maoristrophia subquadrata and Malurostrophia sugiyamai. Brachiopods from the upper part of the Nakazato Formation suggest that the age of the fauna is likely Eifelian.

This paper constitutes the first monographical study of the rich brachiopod faunas from the Early Ordovician Suri and Molles Formations of the central Famatina Range, which form a nearly continuous, more than 2,000 m thick succession of fossiliferous clastic and volcaniclastic rocks. Conodonts from the brachiopod-rich levels of the upper third of the Suri Formation and Los Molles Formation indicate the upper part of the Oepikodus evae Biozone (mid-Arenig). The systematic study of brachiopod faunas reveals the presence of 22 species belonging to 19 genera, three of which are new. The new genera recognized are the orthid Suriorthis, the hesperonomiid Mollesella, and the rectostrophiid Trigonostrophia. The following 12 new species and subspecies are described and illustrated: the clitambonitoidean Tritoechia mollesensis; the skenidioideans Crossiskenidium? stelzneri and Skenidioides kayseri; the orthoideans Paralenorthis suriensis, Paralenorthis riojanus brevis, Panderina? ambigua, Productorthis angulensis, Hesperonomiella arcuata, and Monorthis transversa; the plectorthoideans Ffynnonia famatinensis and Desmorthis? bifurcata; and the porambonitoidean Rugostrophia protoandina. Associated forms are Tritoechia sp., Pinatotoechia acantha Benedetto, 2001b; Protoskenidioides cf. revelata Williams, 1974; Hesperonomia orientalis Benedetto, 1998a; Paralenorthis riojanus (Levy and Nullo, 1973), Famatinorthis turneri (Levy and Nullo, 1973); and Camerella sp. Brachiopods from the Famatina Range display strong affinities with Welsh and Central Newfoundland, Maine and New Brunswick volcanic assemblages forming with them a statistically well defined Celtic cluster. Faunal evidence suggests that the Famatina volcanic belt continues northward into the western Puna belt.

Moderately diverse Middle Ordovician sponge faunas of Darriwilian (late Arenig to early Llanvirn) age have been discovered in outcrops in the Bachu-Kalpin area of the Tarim platform of Xinjiang, China. These are the first reported occurrences of early Paleozoic sponges from Xinjiang, China. These sponges occur in the Yijianfang and Dawangou Formations, which are of nearly the same age, but crop out in different areas of the platform margin. Fossil sponges discovered to date are the anthaspidellid lithistid sponges Archaeoscyphia minganensis (Billings, 1859); Hudsonospongia cyclostoma Raymond and Okulitch, 1940; Calycocoelia profunda sichuanensis Deng, 1990; Calycocoelia sp.; Pseudopalmatohindia sp.; Aulocopium sp.; Annulospongia tarimensis n. gen. and sp.; Rhopalocoelia kalpinensis n. sp.; Rhopalocoelia bachuensis n. sp.; and Zittelella xinjiangensis n. sp. They are preserved in reefal limestones and are associated with Calathium, cyanobacteria, and bryozoans, like in many North American assemblages.

A brachiopod fauna of 16 species belonging to 11 genera and three genera and species indeterminate from the middle and upper parts of the Juripu Formation in the Yarlung-Zangbo (Indus-Tsangbo) Suture zone (=Yarlung-Zangbo River zone), southern Tibet, is described and figured for the first time. A new species, Taeniothaerus zhongbaensis, is described. The fauna is comparable with that in the Kalabagh Member of the Wargal Formation of the Salt Range, Pakistan, and is considered to be most likely Capitanian (late Guadalupian/Middle Permian) to Wuchiapingian (early Lopingian/early Late Permian) in age, as indicated by the majority of the brachiopod species and by being constrained by an underlying fusulinacean fauna (Parafusulina Zone) and an overlying ammonite fauna (Cyclolobus fauna).

The late Early Devonian to Middle Devonian Bird Fiord Formation, which is up to 900 m thick, is exposed along an extensive outcrop belt from stretches from Ellesmere Island to Bathurst Island in Arctic Canada. This formation, which encompasses sediments that accumulated in sabkha, deltaic, and shelf settings, is divided into six members. The Blubber Point, Baad Fiord, Norwegian Bay, and Cardigan Strait members, which include sediments that formed on an open marine shelf, are characterized by a diverse biota of brachiopods, mollusks, corals, trilobites, and sponges. The Cross Bay and Grise Fiord members, which encompass sediments that formed in a sabkha and delta plain settings, respectively, are generally devoid of fossils.

A collection of 47,026 brachiopods, which came from 140 collections made at 34 locations throughout the outcrop belt of the Bird Fiord Formation, contains 22 species of brachiopods that belong to 21 genera. This biota includes six new species: Gypidula mega, Spinatrypa (Isospinatrypa) parva, Desquamatia (Independatrypa) fortis, Nucleospira stelcki, Warrenella grinnellensis, and Cranaena briceae. Four genera (Arcticastrophia Li and Jones, 2002, Borealistrophia Li and Jones, 2002, Grinnellathyris Li and Jones, 2002, and Costacranaena Johnson and Perry, 1976) and 16 species of brachiopods are endemic to the Arctic Canada. Conversely, the fauna also includes European elements such as Nucleospira lens (Schnur), Spinatrypa (Isospinatrypa), and Warrenella. These taxa may indicate that there was some communication between the Canadian Arctic and Europe during Middle Devonian.

Echinochiton dufoei new genus and species is described from the Ordovician age Forreston Member, Grand Detour Formation (Blackriveran) near Beloit, Wisconsin. For a variety of reasons, we regard E. dufoei as a chiton; the species is known from four articulated or partially articulated specimens, one of which has eight plates and two of which have a mucro on the tail plate. Echinochiton dufoei differs from other chitons in having large hollow spines that project from each of the known plates. In plate shape and position, E. dufoei is much like the Upper Cambrian species Matthevia variabilis Walcott, 1885, and the Lower Ordovician species Chelodes whitehousei Runnegar, Pojeta, Taylor, and Collins (1979).

Two new genera and three new species of shallow-marine, warm-water gastropods are reported from outcrops of various Cretaceous formations between British Columbia and Baja California. The potamidid Cedrosia pacifica new genus and species is from Turonian strata on Cedros Island, west coast of Baja California, Mexico. It is the earliest potamidid known from the rock record of the Pacific Slope. Alamirifica corona new genus and species, whose suprageneric relationships are uncertain, is from Turonian strata in southern California. The holotype has a round and rimmed aperture most similar to the photine buccinid Neoteron Pilsbry and Lowe, 1932. The holotype also has a pyramidal spire most similar to some fossil cerithioideans traditionally placed in the potamidid Pyrazus Montfort, 1810, but the type species of Pyrazus does not have a pyramidal spire. Future work might reveal that Alamirifica belongs to a new family.

Four other Pacific Slope species are tentatively assigned to Alamirifica: the Aptian A.? harrissi (Allison, 1955); the Coniacian A.? ursa new species; the late Coniacian to early Campanian A.? harveyi (Whiteaves, 1903); and the poorly preserved Turonian Alamirifica? sp.

As presently known, Cedrosia and Alamirifica were endemic to the study area, but they strongly resemble some Old World Tethyan gastropods. The distribution of A.? harveyi lends support to a relatively northern site of deposition for the Nanaimo Group.

Four new Early Carboniferous athyridid species in three genera, including one new genus, Bruntonathyris, are described from the Qaidam Basin, northwest China: Lamellosathyris qaidamensis, Bruntonathyris amunikeensis, Bruntonathyris? heijianshanensis, and Lochengia qinghaiensis. Based on the new material and also on published information, we also reviewed the taxonomic composition and the stratigraphic and paleogeographic distributions of the three genera. As a result, Lamellosathyris is considered to be indicative of late Famennian to Viséan age, originating in late Famennian in central North America and Armenia of Russia, respectively. Later, the genus appears to have two migratory directions: one branch rapidly dispersed over Mississippi Valley, Oklahoma, Texas and New Mexico of central North America in Tournaisian; alternatively, another branch from Armenia migrated westerly to Belgium, France, Spain, Britain, Ireland, via the Moscow Basin and Ural seaway, eastward to the Tienshan Mountains and Qaidam Basin of northwest China during the Tournaisian to Viséan, and easterly along the southern shelves of the Paleo-Tethys to Iran and western Yunnan of southwestern China in Tournaisian. Both Bruntonathyris and Lochengia are restrictedly Tournaisian to Viséan in age, and probably originated in the Qaidam Basin. Later, Bruntonathyris migrated easterly to South China and Japan, and westerly to Urals, Moscow Basin, Donetsk Basin and Britain; Lochengia migrated easterly to South China and westerly to the Urals seaway and the adjoined Russian Platform (i.e., both the Moscow and Donetsk Basins).

Early Devonian (Emsian) gastropods from the Zhusileng Formation of Zhusilenghaierhan Region, West Inner Mongolia, China, consisting of 18 taxa, including Neimongolidiscus circumumbilicus new genus and species, Pseudopharkidonotus sinensis new genus and species, Nodulospira danmianshanensis new genus and species, Zhusilengospira turbiniformis new genus and species, Zhusilengospira compactum new genus and species, Taemasotrochus nodosa new species, and Scalaetrochus sinensis new species. Endemic forms dominate the fauna, which shows some genus level affinities with Eastern Australia, the Kitikami Mountains of Japan. The fauna does feature small numbers of cosmopolitan taxa.