Morphological consequence of Gangamopteris McCoy in Glossopteris flora

The leaves of Gangamopteris McCoy are the dominant constituent of Glossopteris flora in Lower Permian sequences of Gondwana. Morphologically leaves are similar with Glossopteris Brongniart in having reticulate venation pattern but differ in the absence of midrib. Large number of plant fossils collected from the carbonaceous shale samples of Barakar coal seams (Lower Gondwana) of Satpura Gondwana Basin, India indicates the presence of number of specimens of Gangamopteris belonging to sixteen species including two new species viz., Gangamopteris sethiaensis sp. nov. and Gangamopteris satpuraensis sp. nov.The morphological diversity, stratigraphical distribution and character affiliation of Gangamopteris demonstrate its organizational involvement towards the development of Glossopteris and signify the evolutionary lineage in Glossopteridales.     

Morphometric analysis of the genus Omphalocyclus from the Late Cretaceous of Turkey: new data on its stratigraphic distribution in Mediterranean Tethys and description of two new taxa

Omphalocyclus is an orbitoidal taxon poorly known from the Late Cretaceous benthonic foraminiferal inventory of the Tethyan realm. Apart from its debatable diagnosis only in the late Maastrichtian of western Tethys, the genus has also been discovered in much older beds in association with Orbitoides and Lepidorbitoides having rather primitive developmental stages. The morphometric analysis of A-forms in successive assemblages, ranging in age from (late) Campanian to terminal Maastrichtian, enables the documentation of phylogenetic changes for the first time. The most conspicuous change is found to be the general increase in the size of the embryon, which on average doubles by the end of the Maastrichtian. This trend is followed by the increase in the number of epi-embryonic chamberlets, which is however, not as significant as the former parameter. Omphalocyclus in the stratigraphically lowermost populations has mainly three to four primary epi-embryonic and no accessory epi-embryonic chamberlets. With the introduction of radial stolons, which seems to have taken place in horizons referable to the Gansserina gansseri Zone, only several accessory epi-embryonic chamberlets arise from the tritoconch. Instead, epi-embryonic chamberlets become rather larger in size and they also cover a wider portion of the embryon along its thick outer wall. Considering the suitable change in embryon size, and also some other morphologic features in successive populations, two new species, O. anatoliensis sp. nov. and O. cideensis sp. nov. are erected in late Campanian and late Campanian-early Maastrichtian populations respectively. The most advanced specimens in the late Maastrichtian are attributed to the long-known species O. macroporus [Lamarck, J.B., 1816. Histoire naturelle des animaux sans vertèbres, vol. 2. Verdière, Paris, pp. 1–568]. Thus, a tentative subdivision scheme comprising three successive species, O. anatoliensis – O. cideensis – O. macroporus, is proposed.     

Pseudorhapydionina bilottei sp. nov., an endemic foraminifera from the post-Cenomanian/Turonian boundary (Pyrenees,NE Spain)

A new species of the foraminiferal genus Pseudorhapydionina is reported from the Santonian shallow-water carbonate and mixed deposits of La Cova Unit, in the Montsec and Pedraforca thrust sheets (Southern Pyrenees, NE Spain). Pseudorhapydionina bilottei sp. nov. differs from the Cenomanian species of the genus in its larger test size and the number of chambers in its early planispiral-involute stage. The discovery of P. bilottei sp. nov in the Santonian indicates that the genus Pseudorhapydionina escaped extinction during the Cenomanian-Turonian boundary (CTB) event in the Pyrenean bioprovince. A new subfamily Pseudorhapydionininae is described.     

Latest Campanian and Maastrichtian Siderolitidae (larger benthic foraminifera) from the Pyrenees (S France and NE Spain)

The siderolitids from the uppermost Campanian and Maastrichtian deposits of the Pyrenees have been re-studied. This has revealed a high diversity and rapid replacement of taxa, confirming the group as a good tool for high resolution biostratigraphy. Two genera have been found in the uppermost Campanian–Maastrichtian interval in the Pyrenean deposits: Siderolites Lamarck, and Wannierina Robles-Salcedo. Siderolites, with canaliferous spines or denticulate periphery, is represented by four species replacing each other from the latest Campanian to Maastrichtian: Siderolites praecalcitrapoides (latest Campanian), S. pyrenaicus sp. nov. (early Maastrichtian), Siderolites calcitrapoides (late Maastrichtian) and Siderolites denticulatus (late Maastrichtian). Wannierina is characterised by well-developed keels and ramified marginal canals. Two species of Wannierina have been identified and they succeeded one another from latest Campanian to early Maastrichtian: Wannierina vilavellensis sp. nov. (latest Campanian) and Wannierina cataluniensis (early Maastrichtian). The species of the genus Siderolites inhabited shallow waters of tropical to subtropical platforms with moderate-to-high water-energy conditions and those of the genus Wannierina are typical of deep–water low-energy environments but still in the eutrophic zone.     

Lacewings (Insecta: Neuroptera) from the Lower Cretaceous Purbeck Limestone Group of southern England

Eight new genera and 12 new species are described from the Lower Cretaceous Purbeck Limestone Group, southern England. Sophogramma wimbledoni sp. nov. (Kalligrammatidae) is described from the Purbeck of Wiltshire. Pterinoblattina peverilensis sp. nov., Pterinoblattina fasciata sp. nov., Purbepsychopsis parallela gen. et sp. nov. (Psychopsidae), Ovalorobius edmondsi gen. et sp. nov. (Prohemerobiidae), Mesosmylidus vulgaris gen. et sp. nov., Osmylochrysa anomala gen. et sp. nov., Osmylochrysa fragilis gen. et sp. nov., Stenochrysa gradata gen. et sp. nov. (Osmylidae), Mesypochrysa minuta sp. nov. (Chrysopidae), Purbemerobius medialis gen. et sp. nov. (?Hemerobiidae), Epimesoberotha parva gen. et sp. nov. (Berothidae) and Pseudocorydasialis alleni (Neuroptera familia incertae sedis) are described from Durlston Bay, Dorset. The species Pterinoblattina penna Scudder, Pterinoblattina pluma (Giebel) (Psychopsidae) Sialium sipylus (Nymphidae) and Osmylopsis duplicata (Osmylidae) are re-examined, described and figured. The genus Valdipsychops Jepson et al. has been synonymized with Pterinoblattina.     

The first record of Ichneumonidae (Insecta: Hymenoptera) from the Upper Cretaceous of Myanmar

A new subfamily of Ichneumonidae, Novichneumoninae subfam. nov., is established based on two new genera with two new species: Novichneumon longus gen. et sp. nov. and Caloichneumon perrarus gen. et sp. nov. These two new species are the first ichneumonids described from the Upper Cretaceous Myanmar (Burmese) amber. A list of all described Mesozoic ichneumonid fossil species with their respective localities and ages is summarized. The distribution of Ichneumonoidea during the Cretaceous indicates that Cretaceous ichneumonids were documented from localities at high latitudes while braconids were distributed worldwide, a pattern consistent with the distribution of extant ichneumonids and braconids.     

New caddisflies species (Insecta: Trichoptera) from the Cretaceous Taymyr amber

Four new Trichoptera species: Kliganigadukia taymyrensis gen. et sp. nov. (Hydrobiosidae), Archaeopolycentra yantardakh sp. nov. (Polycentropodidae), Taymyrodipseudon protopegasus gen. et sp. nov. (Dipseudopsidae), and Siberoclea parapolaria gen. et sp. nov. (Leptoceridae) from Late Cretaceous amber (Santonian, Kheta Formation, 85 Ma) of Taymyr (Siberia, Russian Federation) are described and illustrated. Data on the Cretaceous amber Trichoptera (13 families, 20 genera, 29 species) are summarized and discussed.     

Thoracican cirripedes (Crustacea) from the Hauterivian (Lower Cretaceous) of Hannover,northern Germany

Diverse thoracican cirripedes from the Hauterivian of the Hannover district of northern Germany are described, including seven species, belonging to five genera. Of these, a new genus belonging to the Scalpellidae, Jaegerscalpellum, includes one Hauterivian species, J. elegans sp. nov., an Aptian species, J. comptum (Withers, 1910) and an Albian species, J. politum (Darwin, 1851) are also referred to it. A new Cretiscalpellum, C. mutterlosei sp. nov. is described from the Hauterivian, and C. matrioni sp. nov. is described from the Middle Albian of France. The oldest record of the Unilatera Gale, 2018, Pedupycnolepas pulcher sp. nov. is described from the Hauterivian; this displays typical shell structure of the group, retained by living Verrucidae. Finally, four species of Zeugmatolepadidae, subfamily Martillepadinae, are recorded from the Hauterivian, including Martillepas hausmanni (Koch and Dunker, 1836), M. decoratus sp. nov., M. auriculum sp. nov. and Etcheslaepas borealis (Collins, 1990). The Hauterivian fauna from Hannover shows affinities both with Late Jurassic and later Cretaceous (Aptian-Cenomanian) forms, and includes the earliest scalpellids, unilateran (Pedupycnolepas) and Cretiscalpellum species known. It constrains the age of the Cretaceous cirripede evolutionary radiation to the earliest Cretaceous.     

Discovery of the family Babinskaiidae (Insecta: Neuroptera) in mid-Cretaceous amber from Myanmar

The lacewing family Babinskaiidae (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontoidea) is first reported in mid-Cretaceous amber from Myanmar. Two new genera and three new species are herein described, namely Babinskaia martinsnetoi sp. nov., Burmobabinskaia tenuis gen. et sp. nov., and Electrobabinskaia burmana gen. et sp. nov. The male and female genitalia of Babinskaiidae are described for the first time, and the genital morphology is compared with that of some related families in Myrmeleontoidea, e.g., Nymphidae and Nemopteridae. A brief discussion on the phylogenetic status of Babinskaiidae is given.     

A golden age for ectoparasitoids of Embiodea: Cretaceous Sclerogibbidae (Hymenoptera,Chrysidoidea) from Kachin (Myanmar), Charentes (France) and Choshi (Japan) ambers

Sclerogibbid wasps are obligate parasitoids of webspinners (Embiodea). Both groups have a particularly scarce geological record and are known since the Cretaceous: there are only four species of webspinners known from Burmese amber, and only two sclerogibbids were described from Barremian Lebanese and Cenomanian Burmese ambers. Here we report transferred genus from Aptian Choshi (Japan) amber and new sclerogibbids from Cenomanian Burmese and Charentese (France) ambers. The taxa described from Burmese amber are: Burmasclerogibba aptera gen. et sp. nov., Cretosclerogibba gen. nov. (with C. antennalis sp. nov., C. contractocollis sp. nov., C. neli sp. nov. and C. rasnitsyni sp. nov.) and Edrossia vetusta gen. et sp. nov. The first European fossil sclerogibbid Gallosclerogibba alnensis gen. et sp. nov. is described from Charentese amber. The holotype of Chosia yamadai Fujiyama, from Choshi amber, is re-described; it appears to be the oldest Laurasian sclerogibbid. The significant abundance and variety of Burmese sclerogibbid wasps (60% of fossil species known worldwide), as proxy of their hosts, were probably caused by the protection granted to them by the silk webs and possibly by the limited predation from ornithuromorph birds or crown-group ants. While all three extant sclerogibbid genera have apterous females, genera with winged females (Cretosclerogibba and Edrossia) dominated in Burmese amber. Small silk galleries from hosts may have favored the preservation of wings in females of Cretaceous sclerogibbids. Most new species described in the present paper, in addition to C. yamadai, are characterized by a very slender neck and a very long frontal process concealing the antennal toruli. These characters disappeared in extant species. We suggest that this loss was caused by a change in the fauna of predators, penalizing species with long neck and rostrum.     

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.     

New Aetheogrammatidae (Insecta: Neuroptera) from the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation,China

Two new genera and three new species of the Mesozoic family Aeotheogrammatidae are described from the Lower Cretaceous of Yixian Formation (Liaoning Province, China): Cyclicogramma rotundum gen. et sp. nov. and Aetheogramma bistriatum sp. nov. from Huangbanjigou, and Curtogramma ovatum gen. et sp. nov. from Dawangzhangzi. The hind wing of Cyclicogramma rotundum gen. et sp. nov. differs from that of other species by its smaller size, its overall shape, RP bearing only two oblique radial branches, and its configurations of CuP, AA1, and AA2. Aetheogramma bistriatum sp. nov. is closely related to A. speciosum Ren and Engel, 2008, but distinguished from the latter by its distinctive configuration of RP1, and the narrower and longer AA2 space in the hind wing. Curtogramma ovatum gen. et sp. nov. is distinguished from all other species of the family by the forewing with M forking very far from the wing base.     

New Cretaceous caddisflies from Burmese amber (Insecta,Trichoptera)

Three new caddisflies species are described and illustrated from the mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber: Wormaldia cretacea sp. nov., W. resina sp. nov. (Philopotamidae) and Neureclipsis burmanica sp. nov. (Polycentropodidae). Palerasnitsynus ohlhoffi (Psychomyiidae) is re-described based on new fossils. Wormaldia are common in Burmese amber, and its diversity shows that this genus had very ancient origin and diversified at least during the mid-Cretaceous. N. burmanica sp. nov. is the oldest record of Neureclipsis, revealing this genus originated at least in the mid-Cretaceous. So far, six extinct species representing the small Order Trichoptera have been found in Burmese amber.     

Lamniform sharks from the Cenomanian (Upper Cretaceous) of Venezuela

Sampling of Cenomanian fossil-rich horizons within the La Luna Formation of two localities in the Zulia and Trujillo states (northern Venezuela) yielded numerous shark teeth belonging to various species within the order Lamniformes (Mackerel sharks). Twelve lamniform species were identified including three new species (Squalicorax lalunaensis sp. nov., Squalicorax moodyi sp. nov., Acutalamna karsteni gen. et sp. nov.) and the genus Microcarcharias gen. nov. is proposed to accommodate with the peculiar morphology of the small-sized odontaspidid M. saskatchewanensis. Other taxa reported here include Cretoxyrhina mantelli, Cretolamna sp., cf. Nanocorax sp. and five Squalicorax species left in open nomenclature. This is the first report of chondrichthyans from the mid-Cretaceous of Venezuela and one of the few records of this group from the Cenomanian of South America. The composition of these assemblages suggests some degree of endemism in the La Luna Sea but also possible connexions with the Western Interior Seaway. One of the most striking features of these assemblages is the high anacoracid diversity (eight species) despite the corresponding outer shelf/upper slope palaeoenvironments of the La Luna Formation. The high diversity of these opportunistic predators is probably related to the high diversity of medium to large marine vertebrates that provided food resources.     

The oldest bivalved arthropods from the early Cambrian of East Gondwana: Systematics,biostratigraphy and biogeography

The oldest bradoriid fauna from Australia, occurring in the lower Cambrian Ajax and Wirrapowie limestones of the Flinders Ranges, South Australia consists of eleven taxa, including one new genus and species, Quadricona madonnae gen. et sp. nov. and two new species, Liangshanella circumbolina sp. nov. and Zepaera jagoi sp. nov. In the Ajax Limestone, Liangshanella circumbolina sp. nov. occurs c. 20 m below the FAD of the zonal trilobite Abadiella huoi. This pre-trilobitic occurrence represents the oldest bivalved arthropod hitherto known from East Gondwana and suggests a lower Cambrian (Series 2, Stage 3) age for the assemblage. The recognition of distinct bradoriid assemblages associated with the Abadiella huoi (Atdabanian), Pararaia tatei, P. bunyerooensis and P. janeae (all Botoman) trilobite biozones in South Australia indicates great potential for future regional biostratigraphic correlation. Quantitative biogeographic analysis including new taxonomic data from the lower Cambrian of South Australia, highlights the strong endemism displayed by early Cambrian bradoriid communities and strengthens the close faunal affinities with South China and Antarctica.     

Extreme diversity of decapod crustaceans from the mid-Cretaceous (late Albian) of Spain: Implications for Cretaceous decapod paleoecology

Thirteen decapod crustacean species, eight of which are new, from the mid-Cretaceous (late Albian) limestones of the Koskobilo quarry in northern Spain are described, illustrated, and discussed. They include: Graptocarcinus texanus; Navarrara betsieae gen. nov., sp. nov.; Acareprosopon bouvieri n. comb.; Laeviprosopon hispanicum sp. nov.; L. planum sp. nov.; L. edoi sp. nov.; L. crassum sp. nov.; Viaia robusta; Cretamaja granulata gen. nov., sp. nov.; Koskobilius postangustus gen. nov., sp. nov.; Navarrahomola hispanica; Glytodynomene alsasuensis; and Albenizus minutus gen. nov., sp. nov. Cretamaja and Koskobilius represent the oldest known spider crabs. In total, 36 species are now known from the Koskobilo locality based on 1078 specimens. To discover the magnitude of the diversity of the decapod fauna of Koskobilo, a comprehensive overview of decapod-rich localities and formations from the Cretaceous worldwide was compiled. It appears that Koskobilo is the most diverse decapod fauna from a single locality currently known from the Cretaceous. A rarefaction analysis shows that the maximum number of species is nearly reached. The number of genera, 26, is also unsurpassed for the Cretaceous. Forty-two species are found from localities within the Eguino Formation to which sediments from the Koskobilo quarry are ascribed, which is also unprecedented for a single formation within the Cretaceous. Evidence suggests that the most diverse decapod faunas from the Cretaceous are found in coral-associated limestones. This is consistent with evidence from the Recent, where decapod diversity is high in coral reefs compared to other habitats. This also suggests that the decapod peak diversity in Koskobilo is largely ecological in nature and not caused by a preservational bias. This is one of the most comprehensive studies on Cretaceous decapod diversity so far. Field work in coral-associated strata is expected to yield more decapod-rich faunas.     

Two new striking braconid genera (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) from the mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber

Two new peculiar mid-Cretaceous braconid genera, Megalyrhyssalus gen. nov. (type species Megalyrhyssalus clavicornis sp. nov.) and Stephanorhyssalus gen. nov. (type species Stephanorhyssalus longiscapus sp. nov.), are described and illustrated from Burmese amber. According to the particular morphology and wing venation of Megalyrhyssalus gen. nov. a new subfamily Megalyrhyssalinae subfam. nov. is created. The subfamily Seneciobraconinae is synonymised under Protorhyssalinae (syn. nov.). Additionally, a key to the genera of Braconidae having second recurrent vein (2m-cu) in forewing is provided.     

New Stigmaphronidae and Megaspilidae (Hymenoptera: Ceraphronoidea) from Canadian Cretaceous amber

Three new species within the stigmaphronid genus Tagsmiphron Engel and Grimaldi, 2009, and one new species within the megaspilid genus Conostigmus Dahlbom, 1858 are described from Upper Cretaceous (Campanian) amber originating at the Grassy Lake locality in Alberta, Canada. New taxa include Tagsmiphron spiculum sp. nov., Tagsmiphron leucki sp. nov., Tagsmiphron exitorum sp. nov., and Conostigmus cavannus sp. nov. The new Conostigmus species is a rare discovery. It is the third megaspilid species to be found in Cretaceous amber, with the two specimens described herein effectively doubling the number of known Mesozoic exemplars for the family. We provide the first comprehensive report of known Ceraphronoidea within Canadian amber, and contrast this against other Cretaceous amber assemblages, discussing the potential palaeobiogeographic and palaeoenvironmental implications of the Canadian amber assemblage.     

The Albian fern flora of Alexander Island,Antarctica

The Albian Alexander Island macrofossil flora from the Antarctic Peninsula preserves a diverse community of liverworts (Marchantiophyta), ferns (Polypodiopsida), Lycopodiales, Equisetales, Cycadales, Ginkgoales, seed-ferns (Bennettitales and Pentoxylales), Coniferales, and the first representatives of angiospermous leaves in Antarctica. Despite the presence of angiosperms in this assemblage, ferns are the most diverse element of the flora and are also ecologically dominant, while angiosperms contribute a smaller component to floristic diversity and have low abundance. Here we describe 11 fern taxa from this assemblage. The fossils are assigned to Cladophlebis, Sphenopteris and two newly created genera. The new genera and species are described under Adiantitophyllum serratum gen. et. sp. nov. and Nunatakia alexanderensis gen. et. sp. nov., and the new species are recognized as Cladophlebis dissecta sp. nov., Cladophlebis drinnanii sp. nov., Cladophlebis macloughlinii sp. nov. and Sphenopteris sinuosa sp. nov. In total, there are 24 fern species known from Alexander Island. In comparison to older floras (Jurassic) there is a greater diversity of ferns, while latest Cretaceous floras preserve significantly fewer fern species and more angiosperms. Possible factors that might account for such high fern diversity are high rainfall or generally humid conditions, regular disturbances by flooding and occasionally fire, and the preservation of a diverse range of fern communities that represent several palaeoenvironments.