New Early Cambrian Maikhanellids (Mollusca) from Zhangjiagou Section, South Shaanxi, China

A new maikhanellid genus, Totornatus gen. nov., from the Lower Cambrian (Fortunian Stage) of Zhangjiagou section at Xixiang County, southern Shaanxi Province, South China, is based on a new taxon T. strigatus gen. et sp. nov. Although showing similar morphology with a cap-shaped shell and an oval aperture to other members of the family, the new species differs from previous maikhanellids in its smooth apex. The apical field consists of dense, small, round or oval granules, which gradually merge to bigger, elongated, scale-like protrusions toward the apertural margin. On this basis, we establish Totornatus strigatus, which shows a transverse groove in two-ninths of its shell. This result enriches the diversity of the earliest mollusks and maikhanellids.     

寒武纪早期澄江生物群小细丝海绵属新材料

文章描述了云南寒武纪早期澄江生物群小细丝海绵属一新种——螺旋小细丝海绵（Leptomitella spiralis sp. nov.）。新种 具有横向骨针束围绕海绵体呈螺旋状排列的典型特征，明显区别于属内其他种；此外，在外部形态和骨针类型上与属内其他种 也存在较大差异。新种的发现增加了Leptomitella种间形态结构的多样性，也为海绵动物的早期演化及寒武纪海绵动物辐射演 化研究提供新的化石资料。     

新疆阿克苏地区寒武纪幸运期早期小壳化石

本文报道新疆阿克苏地区寒武纪幸运期最早期的小壳化石组合。化石产自玉尔吐斯组底部,包括：Protohertzina anabarica Missarzhevsky, 1973、Protohertzina unguliformis Missarzhevsky, 1973、Anabarites trisulcatus Voronova and Missarzhevsky, 1969、Anabarites ternarius Missarzhevsky in Rozanov et al., 1969、Cambrotubulus decurvatus Missarzhevsky in Rozanov et al., 1969、Olivooides sp.、Kaiyangites novilis Qian and Yin, 1984以及海绵骨针化石。据此可以在新疆阿克苏地区玉尔吐斯组下部建立Anabarites trisulcatus-Protohertzina unguliformis组合带。该组合带下界以Anabarites trisulcatus、Protohertzina ungulifo...     

三峡地区寒武系纽芬兰统岩家河组小壳化石研究进展

埃迪卡拉纪—寒武纪转换时期小壳化石的突然出现是世人瞩目的重要演化事件之一,它见证了动物的爆发式快速演化过程,标志着以两侧对称动物为特征的寒武纪生态系统的开始。湖北三峡地区寒武系纽芬兰统岩家河组处于幸运阶—第二阶这一关键层段,是研究上述问题的理想地区之一。岩家河组小壳化石研究最近取得的进展,为寒武系纽芬兰统幸运阶/第二阶界线的标定,和寒武纪早期软体动物和刺胞动物的演化及个体发育提供了重要的化石依据,本文对其进行了总结。全球界线层型剖面和点位(GSSP)寒武系第二阶底界划分标志的Watsonella crosbyi和Aldanella attleborensis在岩家河组第5段底部的同时出现,意味着岩家河组第5段已归属寒武系第二阶。这两类软体动物化石均广泛分布于华南、蒙古、西伯利亚和北美等大陆碳酸盐岩相寒武系第二阶地层中,它们均是定义寒武系第二阶底界的有力竞争者。另外,W.crosbyi壳顶下方一对肌肉附着结构的发现提供了重要的软组织结构信息,证实了W.crosbyi为内腹型壳,归属为未扭曲的软体动物太阳女神螺类。新发现六方锥石类Septuconularia yanjiaheensis具侧向压扁、两辐射对称的、14个等大锥面的围鞘,是迄今所描述的六方锥石类中锥面数最多的类型。根据横肋疏密程度,围鞘由下向上可分为三部分,可能代表胚胎期、幼年期和成年期不同的生长阶段。Septuconularia显然由寒武系幸运阶Hexaconularia通过扇面扩增演变而来,证明Hexaconularia可能是Arthrochites和Septuconularia之间的中间过渡类型。新发现的橄榄蛋类Octapyrgites elongatus与幸运阶Olivooides和Quadrapyrgites十分相似,围鞘由方形的壳顶区和波纹状倒宝塔形的远顶区组成。然而Octapyrgites只有8个口折叶,有别于具12个口折叶的Quadrapyrgites。通过与幸运期水母类多种对称方式对比,发现在寒武系第二阶橄榄蛋类数量减少和五辐射对称骨状壳类缺失,表明在幸运期/第二期转换时期,底栖固着型的刺胞动物水母类多样性发生了明显衰落,甚至部分绝灭,而同期的两侧对称动物则迅速辐射演化。     

寒武纪早期澄江生物群小细丝海绵属新材料

文章描述了云南寒武纪早期澄江生物群小细丝海绵属一新种--螺旋小细丝海绵（Leptomitella spiralis sp. nov.）。新种 具有横向骨针束围绕海绵体呈螺旋状排列的典型特征,明显区别于属内其他种;此外,在外部形态和骨针类型上与属内其他种 也存在较大差异。新种的发现增加了Leptomitella种间形态结构的多样性,也为海绵动物的早期演化及寒武纪海绵动物辐射演 化研究提供新的化石资料。     

陕南镇巴筇竹寺期的海绵骨针化石

在陕南镇巴下寒武统西蒿坪段和水井沱组下段的碳酸盐地层中含有大量保存完好、类型多样的海绵骨针化石。基于形态描述法,对海绵骨针化石进行了详细的形态描述及产地与层位判断。结果表明：根据与其共生的小壳化石和三叶虫等生物地层学资料,发现这些海绵骨针化石属于筇竹寺期;该区海绵骨针类型不仅包含有形态规则的二轴四射骨针、三轴六射骨针、三轴五射骨针,而且还有形态不规则的四轴四射骨针、五轴五射骨针、尖头星状骨针、二歧分叉式骨针等;其中的四轴四射骨针、五轴五射骨针、五刺尖头星状骨针、二歧分叉二射式骨针为本次发现的新类型,极大地丰富了海绵骨针的类型。陕南镇巴筇竹寺期海绵骨针化石的数量以及分异度快速增加,充分说明海绵动物在陕南地区寒武纪早期开始大量繁盛并且迅速演化。     

Three Indeterminate Forms of Scalidophoran Worms from the Cambrian Fortunian of South China

A wide variety of scalidophoran worms have been found in the Cambrian Fortunian in recent years, suggesting that scalidophorans diversified during this age. Here, we report new scalidophoran material obtained from the 2nd member of the Kuanchuanpu Formation(Fortunian Stage) in Zhangjiagou Lagerst?tte, Xixiang County, Shaanxi Province, South China. Three indeterminate forms of scalidophoran worms are described in detail. The morphology of these worms differs from that of any coeval worms and may ...     

A unique condition for early diversification of small shelly fossils in the lowermost Cambrian in Chengjiang,South China: Enrichment of phosphorus in restricted embayments

In the earliest Cambrian the major diversification of small shelly fossils (SSFs) was the first episode of the so-called Cambrian Explosion. In order to clarify the background environmental conditions of this event, we examined the lowermost Cambrian strata with bedded phosphorites in the Chengjiang area, South China. The lowermost Cambrian (the Zhongyicun Mb of the Zhujiaqing Fm) in eastern Yunnan is composed of bedded phosphorites and phosphatic limestones with diverse SSFs. We investigated 3 sections within the Chengjiang area at Hongjiachong, Maotianshan, and Xiaolantian. Detailed lithostratigraphic analysis of outcrops and drill cores at Hongjiachong indicates that the Zhongyicun Mb consists of 5 distinct units, A to E in ascending order. The presence of 15 genera of SSFs in 20 horizons shows that the Zhongyicun Mb yields two distinct SSF assemblages of Fortunian age (earliest Cambrian; 541–529 Ma); i.e. the first assemblage with simple-shape SSFs (Anabarites, Protohertzina) from basal Unit A, and the second assemblage with various molluscan shells (Paracarinachites, Ocruranus–Eohalobia) from Units C–E. As well as abundant phosphate grains, all SSFs occur as clastic grains, suggesting that phosphorite was primarily formed in extreme shallow-water settings, as were the small shelly animals. We established that the first occurrence of the second SSF assemblage is at least 5 m lower (ca. 1–2 myr earlier in age) than previously reported in Chengjiang, and we speculate that the major diversification in SSF assemblage likely occurred during the Fortunian, at least before ca. 534 Ma. Judging from the rift-related tectonic setting and relevant paleogeography of western South China, we further speculate that the Zhongyicun Mb was primarily deposited in restricted embayments in the Kangdian rift basin, and that the rapid SSF diversification in the Fortunian occurred in a unique setting in highly phosphorus-rich seawater.     

华南寒武纪碳酸盐岩中最早腕足动物的辐射、发育与分布

腕足动物是寒武纪冠轮动物分支的重要类群,在寒武纪大爆发期间海洋底栖动物群落结构构建中发挥着重要作用。研究表明华南最早的腕足动物出现在寒武系第二统。通过大量酸蚀处理和系统分析,发现华南寒武纪第二世碳酸盐岩相中赋存的腕足动物可分为8属12种和3个未定属种,都属于磷酸钙质舌形贝型,揭示了寒武纪早期磷酸钙质壳腕足动物的多样性及其形态差异。通过全球对比,力求探索寒武纪最早腕足动物的起源、多样性、分布与辐射。通过个体发育研究,揭示了异时发育在乳孔贝形态多样性中发挥的重要作用,同时表明寒武纪舌形贝型腕足动物发育中普遍存在滤食型浮游幼虫和变态发育的过程。因此变态发育的浮游幼虫可能是腕足动物的祖先特征。这与现代舌形贝明显不同,现代舌形贝的浮游幼虫为次级幼虫,演变为直接发育。此外,对比全球不同大陆腕足动物的首现,认为舌形贝型亚门腕足动物可能在寒武纪第二世初起源于东冈瓦纳与华南板块,随后开始向全球扩散。对寒武纪早期腕足动物多样性、个体发育与生物地层的深入研究,有助于增进对关键动物门类的早期起源与系统演化的认识,同时也将推动全球和区域寒武纪生物地层的划分与对比。     

贵州福泉牛蹄塘组蠕虫状化石组合的发现

贵州省福泉桅杆坪地区寒武系底部牛蹄塘组黑色页岩中以炭质印模的形式保存有大量宏观后生动物化石.化石微细特征保存较差,多属于疑难化石.该化石组合以化石个体较大的蠕虫状化石和疑似杆壁虫类化石为优势分子,还常见管状类化石、遗迹化石,以及少量的软舌螺、海绵骨针等化石碎片.该化石组合紧位于镍钼多金属层之上,与遵义等地区的松林生物群(牛蹄塘组下生物群)的层位相当,化石组成基本一致,但优势生物存在明显差异.福泉地区牛蹄塘组蠕虫状化石组合的发现,丰富了寒武系牛蹄塘组的生物群面貌,为研究早期后生动物演化提供了新资料和新信息.对该化石组合的进一步研究,也必将为这种特殊生物群的古环境恢复和埋藏学研究提供有利的古生物学证据.      

Evolutionary Significance of Pylentonemid Radiolarians and Their Late Devonian Species from Southwestern Tianshan, China

A group of radiolarian fossils with a complete morphological gradient of increasing polarization are reported from upper Devonian successions in southwestern Tianshan, China. Specifically, the important transitional mophotypes, Pylentonema transitorum sp. nov., Archocyrtium medium sp. nov. and Quadrapesus transitivus sp. nov, were found. Based on the fact that the new transitional radiolarian fossils resemble more closely to pylentonemids （cyrtoid nassellarians） than to entactinids （spumellarians） in morphology, they are assigned to pylentonemids. Pylentonemids share characters of both the Nassellaria （e.g., horned cephalis, basal opening with pylome） and Spumellaria （e.g., system of trabecular spicules）, and they are thus of evolutionary significance. The evolutionary trend from spumellarians to nassellarians is characterized by （1） internal spicule： from simple trabecular spicules to complicate components （A;Ir,II;D;V;Lr,Li;MB）; （2） polarization of the radiolarian tests due to rearrangment of spine, from radial to an axial symmetry; （3） the gradual formation of a basal opening （aperture, pylome, or podome）; and the transition from a pseudopylome, a primative pylome with a narrow margin on the outer shell, to a true pylome rimmed with a narrow, elevated impermite wall.     

陕西省宁强县早寒武世宽川铺组具瘤突装饰的Olivooides-like胚胎化石新类型

早寒武世梅树村期小壳化石处于＂寒武纪生命大爆发＂的第一幕,对于揭示后生动物起源至关重要。对陕南宽川铺地区早寒武世早期宽川铺组第一个小壳化石组合带中发现的动物球状胚胎化石进行大量观察,发现了两枚Olivooides-like的新型动物胚胎化石。此类化石的胚胎表面并非Punctatus Emeiensis常见的密集分布的典型或非典型的尖刺状结构,而是呈基端具螺旋状环褶、末端较圆滑的锥状突起。新型动物卵的发现暗示了早寒武世梅树村期动物化石卵的多样性很可能发端于新元古代埃迪卡拉纪。     

华南寒武纪早期刺胞动物演化框架

刺胞动物是华南寒武纪早期海洋生态系统的重要组成部分,针对这类化石的研究有助于深入了解寒武纪多幕式爆发事件。本文主要根据寒武纪早期扬子板块陕南宽川铺生物群、湖北岩家河生物群以及澄江生物群产出的刺胞动物,探讨刺胞动物在寒武纪早期的演化框架,取得了以下初步认识。截至目前,所发现的寒武纪早期刺胞动物绝大多数都属于水母超纲,珊瑚纲的化石记录在寒武系幸运阶、第二阶保存较为罕见。其中寒武系幸运阶刺胞动物的化石记录全部属于底栖类型,体型小,且具有多种类型的身体辐射对称形式,绝大多数类型可以确定属于直接发育。第二阶刺胞动物仍以底栖固着类型为主,体形增大,仅见两、四辐射对称形式;而寒武系第三阶刺胞动物仍有底栖固着类型,但游泳的水母开始出现,体型增大明显,代表水母冠群的出现,以及世代交替的复杂生命周期的正式建立。从幸运阶到第三阶刺胞动物体型明显增大,可能与海水氧气含量增加有关。在寒武纪大爆发的背景下,刺胞动物的分异度和丰度在寒武系幸运阶就已经达到顶峰,然后在第二阶、第三阶开始衰减,这种变化可能与两侧对称动物辐射演化有关。华南刺胞动物的化石记录表明,寒武纪大爆发并非纯粹的一幕式爆发,其中充斥着一系列生物群的替代甚至灭绝事件。     

贵州早寒武世早期黑色页岩中生物化石保存及生态学研究

早寒武世早期黑色页岩中以前只发现少量的海绵骨针,但随着研究的深入,各类动物化石被发现。最近,贵州早寒武世早期黑色页岩中发现碳质和薄膜型化石,它们包括大量的简单线状遗迹、碳质膜状高肌虫、完整海绵动物、管虫、薄壳双壳动物、碳质膜状软舌螺以及一些圆形膜状化石等。通过对黑色页岩的粘土矿物定量和定性分析,结合地球化学特征,认为早寒武世早期小壳动物繁盛期之上有一个大型动物繁盛期,随后由于地壳拉张作用,大规模的海底热液和火山喷发作用的加强,海洋环境变成酸性环境,不利于生物生存,发生生物绝灭作用,随后海洋环境逐渐趋于碱性,大量的生物又开始繁盛。     

松辽盆地东部宾县凹陷青山口组介形类生物地层与生态环境

实测松辽盆地东部宾县地区鸟河畔的两条剖面。鸟河剖面上下岩性变化较小,以灰绿色泥岩、泥质粉砂岩为主,含数层黄铁矿薄层及介形虫灰岩薄层。红石山剖面岩性岩相变化较大,下部为灰绿色,黄绿色泥岩,上部出现大套红层。通过介形类组合特征,判断出这两个剖面属于青山口期沉积。其中,鸟河剖面对应青山口组一段上部,含介形类Triangulicypris torsuosus-Triangulicypris torsuosusvar.nota组合带。红石山剖面属于青山口组二段下部,含介形类Cypridea dekhoinensis-Li mnocyrpridea copiosa组合带;及叶肢介Nenestheria sp.、Cratostracus sp.、Dictyestheia sp.,化石富集成层。通过介形类古生态分析,松辽盆地宾东地区在青一段沉积时期为浅湖环境,湖水约为半咸水至微咸水。介形类的属种单调,但优势种Triangulicypris torsuosus极为繁盛。青二段沉积时期为滨浅湖环境,湖水盐度较青一段沉积时期降低,为淡水或微咸水。生物组成以腹足、轮藻、叶肢介以及带瘤介形类的出现为特征。宾县地区在青山口组沉积时期生物具有与松辽盆地其他地区相同的化石面貌和古生态特征。其一致性表明该时期宾县地区同属于松辽盆地。青一段至青二、三段之间微体化石古生态特征发生转变,暗示松辽盆地水体条件在该沉积阶段的演变。     

华南奥斯坦(Orsten)型保存化石的研究进展及展望

奥斯坦(Orsten)型保存化石是一类个体微小却三维保存软躯体的、表皮次生磷酸盐化的以节肢动物为主的化石。和澄江生物群化石不同的是,奥斯坦型保存化石无明显受垂向挤压变形,是一种特殊的保存方式。奥斯坦型保存化石呈现出精美的生物活体时的形态特征,对研究节肢动物的生长模式、系统分类及个体发育提供了重要的形态证据。二十多年来,中国的古生物学家锲而不舍地在寒武纪地层里找寻这类化石。中国的南方是世界奥斯坦型化石重要的产出地之一,其潜在的化石资源有待深入研究,研究前景具有挑战性。     

Skeletal Microstructures of the Chiton Ischnochiton hakodadensis and a Comparison with the Cambrian Halkieria

Halkieria is an Early Cambrian fossil genus with proposed phylogenetic affinities ranging from stem group lophotrochozoan to stem-group aculiferan. Skeletal similarities are often cited as evidence in support of a mollusk interpretation for Halkieria and related Cambrian fossils. The skeletal microstructures of the polyplacophoran mollusk （chiton） Ischnochiton hakodadensis, which bears perinotum elements resembling sclerites of halkieriids and other coeloscleritophoran small shelly fossils （SSFs）, were studied to evaluate the interpretations. There are both similarities and differences between chiton skeletal structures and halkieriid sclerites： 1） the head valve of L hakodadensis and the dorsal shell of Halkieria evangelista share a similar pattern of fine concentric growth lines, but halkieriid dorsal shells lack other polyplacophoran valve characteristics, including V-shaped indentation, radiate ribs; 2） the arrangement of I. hakodadensis perinotum elements in three zones is somewhat similar to the arrangement pattern of halkieriid sclerites; 3） the inner perinotum scales of L hakodadensis （-200 μm in diameter） have a base and a blade, remarkably similar in morphology to halkieriid palmate sclerites （-400 μm in diameter）. However, I. hakodadensis perinotum scales are nearly solid whereas halkieriid sclerites are hollow. These observations add a microstructural dimension to the skeletal comparison between mollusks and halkeriids, and may prove to be useful in resolving the phylogenetic affinity of Halkieria and the Halwaxiidae.     

Genesis of Silica-phosphatic Nodules with Small Shelly Fossils Preserved in the Lowermost Cambrian of South China

Silica-phosphatic nodules are abundant in black shales of the Yanjiahe Formation in the Three Gorges Area of South China, which is correlated to the Fortunian Stage, Terreneuvian Series, Cambrian System. The nodules are rich in small shelly fossils and hence attract the attention of numerous paleontologists and sedimentary geologists. However, the genesis of the nodules and the preservation of the small shelly fossils are poorly understood. Here we analyze morphological, structural, mineralogical and chemical features of the nodules in multiscale using a combination of micro-X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and confocal laser Raman spectroscopy. Results reveal that nodules are concentric in chemical and mineralogical compositions, comprising a silica-phosphatic core encrusted sequentially by a phosphatic zone, a siliceous zone and a very thin pyrite outer rim. The black shales hosting the nodules demonstrate a laminated texture of alternating clayey and silty laminae, which were respectively deposited in sulfidic/less sulfidic, high/low production, intense/weak chemical weathering conditions. The phosphogenesis of the nodules resulted in the phosphatization of small shelly fossils, which prevented the fossils from being dissolved during diagenesis, whereas the silica encrustation sealed the fossils within the nodules and thus protected the fossils from alteration by deep burial and surface weathering.     

Stratigraphic Implications of Skeletal Microfossils from the Cambrian of Korea: A Preliminary Report

Diverse small shelly fossils and other associated fossils were recently recovered from the Cambrian Hanaeri section, southwestern Mungyeong, Korea. The fauna includes conoidal problematica, poriferans (sponge spicules), coeloscleritophorans (chancelloriids), brachiopods, monoplacophorans, trilobite (?) fragments, echinoderms, and conodonts. A preliminary assessment of faunal associations, stratigraphic implications, and the correlation of these skeletal fossils is given, based on occurrences of Actinotheca cf. mira (He), Microcornus sp., Torellela laevigata (Linnarsson), Torellela sp., Archiasterella quadratina Lee, Chancelloria sp., Lingulella sp., Prototreta sp., Phakelodus tenuis (Müller), Phakelodus elongates (An), Hertzina sp., and Furnishina sp.