Middle Eocene calcareous algae from Southwestern Kachchh,Gujarat

The Fulra limestone (middle Eocene) exposed in the areas around Jhadwa and Harudi villages, southwestern, Kachchh reveals presence of a rich assemblage of calcareous algae belonging to the Chlorophyceae and Rhodophyceae along with abundant foraminifera. In the present paper, eight species belonging to eight genera of calcareous algae are described. These include Dissocladella longijangensis, Sporolithon keenani, Corallina crossmanni, Arthrocardia sp. Misra et al. 2001, Lithothamnion ishigakiensis, Melobesioideae gen. et spec. indet. 1, Melobesioideae gen. et spec. indet. 2 and Lithoporella melobesioides. Out of these, one taxon belongs to the family Dasycladaceae. Among the remaining taxa, one taxon to the family Sporolithaceae, three taxa to the family Corallinaceae and three to the family Hapalidiaceae. Two coralline species, Corallina crossmanni and Lithothamnion ishigakiensis, are recorded for the first time from India. Another species (Dissocladella longijangensis), though known from other areas of India, is new to the study area.     

New record of coralline algae from the Holocene sediments of Agatti Island,Lakshadweep, India

The present paper examines the coralline algal assemblage recovered from the Holocene sediments of Agatti Island, Lakshadweep, India. The assemblage comprises nine species of coralline algae which include Amphiroa fragilisma, Lithophyllum nitorum, Lithophyllum incrustans, Lithoporella melobesioids, Spongites sp., Porolithon craspedium, Aethesolithon problematicum, Clathromorphum parcum, Melobesoideae gen. et spec. indet. Clathromorphum parcumis an endophytic coralline alga reported for the first time from the Indian subcontinent. Out of these, seven species belong to the family Corallinaceae and the two represent the family Hapalidiaceae of the class Rhodophyceae. Coralline algal association of this area is dominated by Lithophylloideae, Melobesioideae and Mastophoroideae which include encrusting to fragmented growth forms. The associated branching corals are well developed and adapted to shallow, warm water, low turbid, protected lagoonal environment.     

Coralline algae from the Aramda Reef Member of the Chaya Formation,Mithapur, Gujarat

The Quaternary sediments of the Aramda Reef Member of the Chaya Formation exposed in the Mojap coast near Mithapur, Gujarat are characterized by well-developed coralline algal build-ups. These algal build-ups are exceptionally rich in coralline algae and corals. In the present paper, thirteen species belonging to eight genera of coralline algae are described. Out of these, seven species (Titanoderma nataliae, Lithophyllum nitorum, Lithophyllum quadratum, Spongites sp. Brandano et al., 2005, Sporolithon lvovicum, Mesophyllum fructiferum and Lithothamnion praefruticulosum) are the new records for India. Four species (Titanoderma pustulatum, Sporolithon intermedium, Mesophyllum commune and Phymatolithon sp.) are first time recorded from the study area. Among the major framework builders of coralline algae of the Aramda Reef Member are Lithophyllum, Titanoderma, Sporolithon, Mesophyllum and Lithothamnion.     

Non-marine gastropods from the Cretaceous–Paleogene transition in the Pingyi Basin,eastern China

Our results present a taxonomic and palaeoecological study on non-marine gastropods from the latest Cretaceous to Paleocene deposits of the Pingyi Basin, Shandong Province, eastern China. These gastropods are systematically described: three species belonging to three genera including Physa dongtaiensis Gu, 1989, Hydrobia datangensis Yü, 1977, and the newly established species Cyathopoma pingyiensis sp. nov.; two indeterminata genera and species including Truncatelloidea gen. et sp. indet., and Pomatiopsidae gen. et sp. indet. Among them, Truncatelloidea gen. et sp. indet. and Cyathopoma pingyiensis sp. nov. are the dominant species with the longest record. Cyathopoma pingyiensis, sp. nov. is the earliest representative of this widely distributed Asian extant genus. Sedimentological facies analysis of the gastropod-bearing beds suggested that Truncatelloidea gen. et sp. indet. lived in a small pond with a river inlet and a shallow lake, while Ph. dongtaiensis, ?Pomatiopsidae gen. et sp. indet, and ?H. datangensis only thrived in the shallow lake. Cyathopoma pingyiensis sp. nov. inhabited the land area around the shallow lake. Our results showed that no significant species change of the gastropod fauna across the K/Pg (Cretaceous/Paleogene) boundary was observed in the Pingyi Basin.     

Nongeniculate coralline algae from early middle Miocene offshore sequence of Kachchh basin,Western India: Paleoenvironmental significance

The present paper reports five nongeniculate coralline algal species, viz., Lithothamnion valens Foslie, Mesophyllum roveretoi Conti, Phymatolithon calcareum (Pallas) Adey and Mckibbin, Melobesioideae gen. et spec. indet. and Lithoporella melobesioides Foslie form the early middle Miocene Chhasra Formation of Offshore Sequence of Kachchh basin, western India. The present day depth distribution of Lithothamnion and Mesophyllum and growth forms of five nongeniculate coralline algal species points that the two cores belonging to the Chhasra Formation of offshore sequence of Kachchh basin were deposited in inner shelf environment at 60-100m depth in moderate-energy conditions.     

内蒙古赤峰早白垩世昆虫化石的新发现

本文首次描述了内蒙古自治区赤峰市早白垩世九佛堂组的鞘翅目和异翅目昆虫化石４属５种，其中３新属５新种。这些昆虫化石通过与国内、外相关类群的对比，为该区的地层划分、对比和地质时代的确定，提供了最新的依据。由古生态方面分析，该区为湖沼环境，水体充沛，为古黑龙江流域的一部分。文中里阿龙虱科、沼梭科和中生五节蝽科的材料在国内是首次报道。     

A new earwig (Dermaptera: Pygidicranidae) from the Upper Cretaceous Myanmar amber

A new genus and species, Gracilipygia canaliculata gen. et sp. nov., in the family Pygidicranidae of Dermaptera is described from the Upper Cretaceous Myanmar amber. The new species is assigned to the subfamily Pyragrinae mainly based on the following characters: broadly separated cercal forceps without segmentation and the posterior abdominal tergum with mediolongitudinal furrow and lateral ridges. The G. canaliculata gen. et sp. nov. is the earliest record hitherto for the subfamily Pyragrinae, and probably represents a stem taxa of Pyragrinae.     

Discovery of three new mordellids (Coleoptera, Tenebrionoidea) from the Yixian Formation of western Liaoning, China

In this paper one new genus and three new species Bellimordella capitulifera gen. et sp. nov., B. longispina gen. et sp. nov., B. robusta gen. et sp. nov., all placed within the subfamily Praemordellinae of the family Mordellidae, are described and illustrated. The specimens were recovered from the Yixian Formation of Beipiao City, Liaoning Province, NE China. The key to the species of this new genus is given. Furthermore, we discuss evolution of the pygidium and possible food for those ancient mordellids.     

Middle Permian cephalopods from central Peninsular Malaysia: implications for faunal migration through the southern Tethys

A Wordian (Middle Permian) cephalopod fauna consisting of four ammonoid species, Tauroceras aff. scrobiculatum (Gemmellaro), Agathiceras sp., Bamyaniceras orientale n. sp. and Pronoritidae gen. and sp. indet., and two nautiloid species, Tainoceras sp. and Orthocerida fam. indet., were recovered from the Bera South area, southern Pahang, Peninsular Malaysia. The outcrop represents the southernmost extent of the Bera Formation. Bamyaniceras and Tainoceras are recorded in Malaysia for the first time. The presence of T. aff. scrobiculatum suggests a regional correlation with an ammonoid-bearing bed of Sungai Cheroh, western Pahang, and permits global correlations with strata of northeastern Iraq, northern Oman and Sicily (Italy). A possible eastwards faunal migration through the southern Tethys is suggested.     

First Psocodean (Psocodea,Empheriidae) from the Cretaceous Amber of New Jersey

<正>Representatives of the extinct psocid family Empheriidae are known from Eocene Baltic amber, Lowermost Eocene French amber(Oise),and Lower Cretaceous Spanish amber(Alava).We report herein the first discovery of an empheriid psocid from the Cretaceous amber of New Jersey as Jerseyempheria grimaldii gen.et sp. nov.The fossil is figured and described.The new species is distinguished from related taxa.A discussion and checklist of Empheriidae are provided.     

Cenomanian florule of Nammoura, Lebanon

The mid-Cenomanian fish beds of Nammoura, Mont-Liban district, Lebanon contain a diverse fauna of aquatic and terrestrial vertebrates, a few crustaceans and moderately well-preserved plant remains of which a single species,Sapindopsis anhouryi , was previously described by Dilcher & Basson (1990). We add 11 species of ferns, gymnosperms and angiosperms of which Nammouria cretacea gen. et sp. nov, Nupharanthus cretacea gen. et sp. nov., Sapindopsis libanensis sp. nov. and Nammourophyllum altingioides gen. et sp. nov. are new taxa. The florule differs markedly from both Early Cretaceous and Turonian plant assemblages of the Middle East, thereby representing a distinct stage of the regional floristic evolution. Its phytogeographic affinities are with contemporaneous floras of North America, Central Europe and the Crimea. A combination of such features as xeromorphism, the prevalence of compound leaves, and the presence of deciduous angiosperm components and gymnosperms may indicate climatic conditions similar to those of the present day Mediterranean.     

The first finds of cretaceous belemnites from the Magellan Rise, Pacific Ocean

The occurrence of belemnites in Mesozoic sediments of the Pacific guyots is established for the first time (rostra Dimitobelidae gen. et sp. indet. from the late Campanian-Maastrichtian detrital limestone of the DVGI Guyot, Belemnitella? sp. from oolitic limestone of the Gelendzhik Guyot, which are presumably of the Santonian-Maastrichtian age, and Belemnitidae? gen. et sp. indet. from the Maastrichtian oolitic limestone of the Butakov Guyot, the Magellan Rise). In recent years, fossil cephalopods important in stratigraphic and paleobiogeographic aspects have been found at five guyots of that rise. New data on fossil invertebrates from the study region suggest breaks in the sedimentation here at the terminal Maastrichtian, Paleogene, and initial Neogene time. Possible limits of vertical migration in the tropical Pacific are estimated for the Late Cretaceous belemnites based on preliminary results of the oxygen isotope analysis.     

A Changhsingian (Late Permian) brachiopod fauna from Son La, northwest Vietnam

A small brachiopod fauna is described from the upper part of the Yenduyet Formation near Son La, northwest Vietnam. The fauna includes the following species: Peltichia kwangtungensis (Zhan), Acosarina minuta (Abich), Rhipidomella hessensis King, Schuchertella cf. cooperi Grant, Derbyia sp., Waagenites soochowensis (Chao), Spinomarginifera chenyaoyanensis Huang, and a Marginiferinae gen. and sp. indet. The fauna is most closely correlated with brachiopods from the lower Changhsingian Stage of South China and the lyttoniid fauna from the Huai Tak Formation of northwest Thailand. In view of these correlations, an early Changhsingian (Late Permian) age is proposed for the Son La brachiopod assemblage.     

New Mesozoic Mesopsychidae(Mecoptera)from Northeastern China

<正>The Mesozoic family Mesopsychidae Tillyard,1917 presently consists of seven described genera and 13 species from the mid-Triassic to the Early Cretaceous of Australia,South Africa and Eurasia.In the present paper one new genus and three new species of fossil mesopsychids are described that add significant distributional and stratigraphic extensions to the family.This finding documents the first formal record of fossil Mesopsychidae in China.Both Lichnomesopsyche gloriae gen.et sp.nov.and L.daohugouensis gen.et sp.nov. were found from the Middle Jurassic Jiulongshan Formation of Inner Mongolia,whereas Vitimopsyche kozlovi sp. nov.,of mid Early Cretaceous age,was collected from the Jehol Biota of northern Hebei Province.This new,well-preserved material from China reveals complete and previously unknown body features,including head, antennae,mouthparts,legs and abdomen.The delicate and long proboscides of these new taxa indicate that they were feeding on externally exposed,nutrient-rich fluids of gymnospermous ovulate fructifications,and incapable of piercing surface epidermis-attributable principally to the absence of stylets.These proboscides originated, perhaps multiply,among basal Mecoptera and are functionally and structurally convergent with equivalent mouthparts borne by fossil and extant Diptera,Lepidoptera,Neuroptera and Coleoptera.     

Fossil caddisflies (Insecta: Trichoptera) from the Early Cretaceous of southern England II

The following new fossil trichopteran insects are described or revised from the Purbeck Limestone Group and Wealden Supergroup of southern England: Pteromixanum inviolatum gen. et sp. nov., P. ruderatum gen. et sp. nov., P. purbeckianum (Handlirsch) gen. et comb. nov. and P. poxwellense gen. et sp. nov. (Necrotauliidae);Purbimodus minor gen. et sp. nov., P. medius gen. et sp. nov., P. rasnitsyni gen. et sp. nov. and P. saxosus gen. et sp. nov. (Vitimotauliidae);Palaeoludus popovi gen. et sp. nov. (Dysoneuridae);Palaeotarsus desertus gen. et sp. nov. (Plectrotarsidae);Eucrunoecia ridicula gen. et sp. nov. (Lepidostomatidae);Palaeocentropus placidus gen. et sp. nov. (Calamoceratidae) and Helicophidae gen. et sp. incertae sedis. The general composition of the fauna is compared with Early Cretaceous faunas of Asia. The early appearance of several living families is noted.     

Three New Stoneflies (Insecta: Plecoptera) from the Yixian Formation of Liaoning, China

Three new genera and species Archaeoperla rarissimus gen. et sp. nov. （Perlidae）, Liaotaenionema tenuitibia gen. et sp. nov. （Taeniopterygidae） and Parvinemoura parvus gen. et sp. nov. （？Nemouridae） are described and illustrated. All of them were collected from Yixian Formation of the western Liaoning, China. Hitherto, A. rarissimus is the oldest species possessing typical characters of Perlidae; the finding of L. tenuitibia indicates taeniopterygids once lived in the northeastern China in the late Mesozoic, but frequent volcanic activities, climate changes, or other environmental changes might have resulted in the disappearance of Taeniopterygidae in northern China after Mesozoic. Ancestral groups of Nemouridae have been abundant from Middle Jurassic, and male genitalia of P. parvus gen. et sp. nov. has been developed and similar to extant Nemouridae in the late Mesozoic. The stonefly fossils found from Yixian Formation are not divers at the species level, but rich at the family level. The diversity of stonefly implies different microclimate existed in the northeastern China at that time. A large old lacustrine basin existed in the western Liaoning, surrounded by hygrophilous plants on swampland and lake shore, warm and humid; tall arbor and boscage on the hillside nearby, mild and dry; mountains in the distance, rivulets running among the mountains, cool and wet. Many insects, prefer cool climate （e.g. stonefly, raphidiopterans, et ai.）, lived in the mountains with rivulets.     

New lacewings (Insecta: Neuroptera) from the Lower Cretaceous Wealden supergroup of Southern England

Eight new genera and thirteen new species of lacewings (Neuroptera) are described from the Lower Cretaceous Wealden Supergroup, Weald Sub-basin: Principiala rudgwickensis sp. nov. (Ithonidae), Stenomylina medialis gen. et sp. nov., Protosmylina bifasciata gen. et sp. nov. (Osmylidae), Cretapsychops corami gen. et sp. nov., Micropsychops parallelus gen. et sp. nov., Valdipsychops logunovi gen. et sp. nov., V. brigidae gen. et sp. nov., V. maculosus gen. et sp. nov., V. proudlovei gen. et sp. nov., V. minimus gen. et sp. nov., Psychopsites rolandi gen. et sp. nov. (Psychopsidae), Actinophlebioides valdensis gen. et sp. nov. and Protohemerobius perexiguus gen. et sp. nov. (Neuroptera familia incertae sedis). Psychopsidae are shown to dominate the neuropteran fauna, while the presence of Brongniartiellidae has not been confirmed in the Wealden, due to previously thought representatives of this family being in fact psychopsids. This is the first fossil record of Ithonidae and Osmylidae in Britain. The range of Kalligrammatidae has been extended in the Cretaceous of Britain from the mid-Valanginian to early Barremian.     

A New Mesopsychid (Mecoptera) from the Middle Jurassic of Northeastern China

The family Mesopsychidae Tillyard,1917 presently consists of ten described genera from the Early Permian to the Early Cretaceous of Australia,China,Kyrgyzstan,Russia,South Africa,Tajikistan,and Ukraine.Herein,a new genus and a new species of fossil mesopsychid,Epicharmesopsyche pentavenulosa gen.et sp.nov.,is described from the Middle Jurassic Jiulongshan Formation of Inner Mongolia,China,supplementing the family-level diversity.The well-preserved,new material reveals many characters,including antennae,wing venation,shape and genitalia that increase our morphological understanding of the family,although unfortunately the mouthparts and most of the legs are not preserved.Diagnosis of the Mesopsychidae is emended to include a four-or five-branched MP in both the fore-and hind wings.This is the first documentation of a wing coupling structure in the Mesopsychidae,consisting of three to four frenula bristles on the humeral lobe at the base of the costal margin of both hind wings.Asymmetrical shape and size of the left and right wings on a specimen of E.pentavenulosa gen.et sp.nov.,seems to be a common condition for mesopsychid taxa from northeastern China.     

First records of the subfamilies Bethylinae (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae) and Cleptinae (Hymenoptera: Chrysididae) in Upper Cretaceous amber from France

Two new genera and species of fossil chrysidoid wasps belonging to the families Chrysididae and Bethylidae are described from Charentese (Fouras Bois-Vert and Archingeay) lower Upper Cretaceous amber of France. New taxa include: Sphaerocleptes neraudeaui n. gen. et sp., and Nucifrangibulum carentonensis n. gen. et sp. A new bethylid wasp is also described but left in open nomenclature. These findings are the first records of the subfamilies Cleptinae and Bethylinae in these deposits and time interval. The implications of these discoveries, and the features shared with previously known taxa are discussed.