Taphonomy and palaeoecology of the gastropod fauna from a Late Cretaceous rocky shore, Sweden

A gastropod fauna comprising 17 species, each represented by a limited number of specimens, is described from a Late Cretaceous, late early Campanian rocky shore at Ivö Klack, southern Sweden. The gastropod fauna is associated with the most diverse ancient rocky shore fauna ever found. However, the low gastropod species diversity compared to the faunas of modern rocky shores is ascribed to taphonomic factors, notably dissolution of the aragonitic shells, but the predominance of epifaunal herbivores is indicative of a guild structure similar to that found on modern rocky shores. The presence of drill holes assigned to the ichnospecies Oichnus simplex suggests the former presence of muricid gastropods which have not been found as body fossils. A single drill hole is referred to Oichnus paraboloides and was probably made by a naticid gastropod. The infaunal mode of life of naticids makes preservation of such drill holes difficult, since the majority of infaunal prey such as burrowing bivalves has aragonitic shells which are not preserved. The relatively high number of species in comparison to many other Late Cretaceous rocky shore faunas, offers an opportunity to compare gastropod guild structure at Ivö Klack with modern counterparts, even though taphonomic processes such as mechanical destruction and aragonite dissolution have played an important role in the fossil gastropod assemblage.     

Early Cretaceous (Valanginian – Hauterivian) belemnites from western Morocco: stratigraphy and palaeoecology

Recent field work in Lower Cretaceous successions of the Agadir-Essaouira region, western High Atlas, Morocco, have resulted in 489 belemnite guards collected bed-by-bed from the lower Valanginian – upper Hauterivian interval. These findings are described and discussed in their biostratigraphic, taxonomic, palaeoecologic and palaeobiogeographic context. The most common belemnite genera, Hibolithes, Vaunagites?, and Duvalia, are of Meditteranean affinities and closely related to Spanish, French, and Bulgarian faunas. Less common taxa include Pseudoduvalia and Berriasibelus. The genus Pseudobelus, however, common in southeastern France and southern Spain, is rare in the Moroccan sections. The palaeoecological interpretation of these observations result in the recognition of three belemnite assemblages, characterizing different marine settings: 1) A Hibolithes - Duvalia assemblage which is typical for inner to middle shelf settings. These are relatively shallow marine environments with a high input of siliciclastics. 2) A Duvalia - Hibolithes assemblage of the outer shelf setting. Duvalia spp. is the most common genus, Hibolithes spp. is less common, while Berriasibelus spp. and Pseudobelus spp. are rare. 3) A Duvalia - Pseudobelus assemblage of hemi-pelagic preference. Duvalia is most common, next is Pseudobelus.     

Identification and characterisation of a novel mono-unsaturated highly branched isoprenoid (HBI) alkene in ancient Arctic sediments

The occurrence of a novel C₂₅ highly branched isoprenoid (HBI) mono-unsaturated hydrocarbon in Arctic marine sediments from the Fram Strait is described. The structure was determined following synthesis from a closely related diene and NMR spectroscopic analysis. The position of the double bond was confirmed by oxidation (RuO₄) and comparison of the mass spectrum of the resulting C₁₉ ketone with that of an authentic sample synthesised previously. The same C₁₉ ketone was also present following oxidation of the Fram Strait sediment extracts. The source of the novel HBI monoene biomarker is not known, but is believed to be certain marine diatoms on the basis of structural similarities with other HBIs from such sources. It does not, however, appear to be biosynthesised by Arctic sea ice diatoms, unlike its regio isomer, IP₂₅, an established proxy for Arctic sea ice. Alternatively, it may represent a diagenetic product of the sea ice diatom biomarker IP₂₅; this seems unlikely, however, on the basis of their respective structures. Since the new HBI monoene and IP₂₅ possess similar gas chromatographic and mass spectral properties, but probably have contrasting sources, we suggest that future paleo sea ice reconstruction studies based on the occurrence of IP₂₅ should pay further attention to the rigorous assignment of this biomarker in marine sediment extracts. Some suggestions for achieving this, based on analytical purification and mass spectrometric measurements, are provided.     

华北晚侏罗世—早白垩世风成砂沉积及其古地理和古生态学意义*

华北晚侏罗世—早白垩世风成砂主要分布于鲁西蒙阴盆地上侏罗统三台组、辽西金—羊盆地上侏罗统—下白垩统土城子组、冀西北尚义盆地上侏罗统—下白垩统土城子组/后城组（原阎家窑组）、鄂尔多斯盆地下白垩统志丹群和甘肃下白垩统河口群。各地风成砂岩均具高角度大型—巨型板状、楔状交错层理及平行层理,分选较好—好,磨圆次棱角状—次圆状等沉积特征。对华北晚侏罗世—早白垩世风成砂赋存层位以及风成砂岩形成时代进行了对比,将风成砂主要划分为3个时期,即基末利期—贝利阿斯期、凡兰吟期—欧特里夫期和欧特里夫期—阿普特期,且从鲁西到甘肃风成砂岩形成时代逐渐变新。通过上述5个地区风成砂的古风向研究发现,当时西北风盛行,古地磁研究显示风成砂岩发育于N25°—N45°之间区域。根据当前全球风带分布特征,认为华北晚侏罗世—早白垩世处于西风带上,为行星风系所控制。通过对比南半球同期风成砂岩古风向研究,提出全球南北半球中纬度地区均处于西风带上。结合风成砂及相应层位沉积特征、沉积环境的研究,初步推测晚侏罗世—早白垩世,华北N30°以北地区为干旱寒冷气候,而N30°以南地区则干旱炎热,华北北部整体处于海拔较高的山地环境,山间盆地发育,火山活动频发。燕辽生物群与热河生物群的演替过程与风成砂沉积相耦合,体现了古地理、古环境对生物群发展的制约作用。     

Knoblochia cretacea,Late Cretaceous insect eggs from Central Europe

The genus Knoblochia is established for fossil insect eggs. The fossils are small, longitudinally ridged, ovoid to round with projections on both ends. Their thin perforated wall is covered by minute papillae, inner surface of the wall is smooth or covered by rectangular files of cells. Fossils assigned here to Knoblochia cretacea were earlier assigned to the genus Spirellea, which encompass a heterogenous complex of small fossils being or resembling angiosperm seeds from the Late Cretaceous. The majority of species of the genus Spirellea clearly represents remains of angiosperms. However, fossils described by Knobloch and Mai (1986) as Spirellea kvacekii are distinct, particularly in having external walls perforated, neither apex nor basal projection showing any absition scar or micropyle in the botanical sense. Attribution of these fossils to insects led us to designate the new name Knoblochia cretacea with a new holotype for fossils of this kind. Comparison of Knoblochia with insect eggs of species of Phasmatodea and Lepidoptera, and seeds of Stemonaceae showed clear affinity to insects. Due to the high amount of extinction among insects since the Cretaceous, the systematic affinity of Knoblochia remains open.     

Late Cretaceous Aquatic Angiosperms from Jiayin,Heilongjiang, Northeast China

Three taxa of Late Cretaceous aquatic angiosperms, Queruexia angulata （Lesq.） Krysht., Cobbania corrugata （Lesq.） Stockey et al. and Nelumbites cf. extenuinervis Upchurch et al. from Jiayin of Heilongjiang, NE China, are described in detail. Among them, Cobbania and Nelumbites from the Upper Cretaceous in China are reported for the first time. The aquatic angiosperm assemblage of Queruexia-Cobbania-Nelumbites appears to imply a seasonal, warm and moist environment in the Jiayin area during the Santonian-Campanian time.     

华南衡阳盆地上白垩统黄土类似物的初步研究

中国新生代黄土序列具有沉积速率高、连续性好等特点,记录了东亚地区持续的古气候动力学演化和重大地质事件信息。受区域构造-地貌和大气环流格局影响,中生代晚期华南发育了众多盆山型古沙漠系统且出露了巨厚的风成砂,但几乎未有学者提及黄土/黄土类似物的存在。本文通过粒度端元解析、野外露头的构型分析等手段,对衡阳盆地上白垩统红花套组进行了初步研究,识别出风成砂丘、砂席和泥滩等环境类型;并在泥滩环境中提取到黄土类似物的粒度组分信号,同时提出了黄土类似物的风成成因,总结了其形成-堆积过程。这项工作旨在探索白垩纪黄土类似物存在的可能性,为未来开展华南陆块中生代风尘记录研究提供契机。     

Late Cretaceous Aquatic Angiosperms from Jiayin, Heilongjiang,Northeast China

Three taxa of Late Cretaceous aquatic angiosperms,Queruexia angulata(Lesq.)Krysht., Cobbania corrugata(Lesq.)Stockey et al.and Nelumbites cf.extenuinervis Upchurch et al.from Jiayin of Heilongjiang,NE China,are described in detail.Among them,Cobbania and Nelumbites from the Upper Cretaceous in China are reported for the first time.The aquatic angiosperm assemblage of Queruexia-Cobbania-Nelumbites appears to imply a seasonal,warm and moist environment in the Jiayin area during the Santonian-Campanian time.     

Mesofossil flora from the Late Cretaceous of New Zealand

This study presents the first report of mesofossils of flowers, fruits and seeds found in the Cretaceous of New Zealand. The specimens were recovered from the Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian, ca. 70 Ma) at Kai Point Mine, South Island in a sequence of floodplain sediments sampled just below the Barclay Coal Seam. Angiosperm flowers, fruits and seeds occur in the sample. The most common form is an actinomorphic flower with two whorls of three tepals. Anther bases are preserved and the ovary develops into a drupe, all features that are consistent with placement in the Lauraceae. Reproductive structures including seeds of conifers are also described, with some allied to the Podocarpaceae. This contrasts with interpretations of the flora based on macrofossils that indicate abundant Araucariaceae and highlights the different perspectives that mesofossil floras give to any assemblage. The results of the present study support a Late Cretaceous flora at this site mainly dominated by conifers with affinities to Podocarpaceae but also including lauraceous angiosperms.     

山东晚白垩世一新的巨龙类恐龙

记述了产自山东诸城上白垩统王氏群中一个较完整的蜥脚类恐龙肱骨(ZJZ-57)。它具有一些进步特征,如肱骨三角胸嵴向远端扩展,肱骨近端外侧1/3处发育隆凸,表明其属于较进步的巨龙类成员。另外,它具有一些独特的鉴定特征组合区别于其他任何巨龙类:近端横向强烈扩展,近端最大宽度与骨干长度之比为0.55;骨干粗壮,粗壮指数为0.39。综合研究表明,ZJZ-57所属个体代表了一种新的巨龙类恐龙:臧家庄诸城巨龙(Zhuchengtitan zangjiazhuangensis gen.et sp.nov.),它可能与Opisthocoelicaudia的亲缘关系较接近。这是山东晚白垩世地层中首次发现的巨龙类恐龙。     

黑龙江三江盆地晚白垩世海浪组孢粉组合

依据东基三井1 226. 0～1 538. 0 m井段的孢粉鉴定结果,结合前人资料,首次将该井段孢粉组合命名为Cyathidites-Taxodiaceaepolleni-Aquilapollenites组合。其组合特征为:裸子植物花粉占48. 10%～78. 58%,蕨类孢子占2. 44%～34. 18%,被子植物花粉占0%～28. 26%;蕨类孢子中Cyathidites百分含量最高(0. 79%～37. 50%),其次是Cicatricosisporites (0%～12. 50%)和Leiotriletes (0%～10. 00%),重要分子有Appendicisporites、Schizaeoisporites、Lygodiumsporites和Lygodioisporites;裸子植物花粉中Inaperturopllenites的百分含量最高(11. 29%～38. 83%),其次是Taxodiaceaepollenites (12. 66%～28. 57%),重要分子有Tsugaepollenites、Parcisporites、Parvisaccites、Ephedripites和Classopollis等;被子植物花粉中Tricolpites的百分含量最高(0%～16. 46%),其次是Betulaepollenites (0%～15. 22%),含量较高的还有Momipites和Tricolporopollenites,重要分子有Aquilapollenites、Fibulapollis和Proteacidites等。该组合可以与松辽盆地嫩江组孢粉组合对比,地质时代为晚白垩世Santonian-Campanian期。鉴于宁安市南团子山、高家等露头区海浪组所产Estherites mitsuishii、E. liuxinensis、Tylestheria cf. shanhoensis、Halysestheria yui、Calestherites sp.和Brachygrapta? sp.等叶肢介化石群,系松辽盆地嫩江组常见分子,故将东基三井1 226. 0～1 538. 0 m井段划归为海浪组,废弃"七星河组"一名。     

A revision of the putative Late Cretaceous triconodonts from South America

Austrotriconodon mckennai and Austrotriconodon sepulvedai, from the Campanian Los Alamitos Formation, Patagonia, Argentina were originally described as triconodont mammals and the sole members of the family Austrotriconodontidae. These mammals were represented by isolated cheek teeth originally regarded as molariforms, but their peculiar morphology later raised doubts about their purported triconodont affinities. Nevertheless, the morphological bases supporting the alternative taxonomic views have not been fully documented. We present here detailed comparisons of Austrotriconodon with other Late Cretaceous taxa and conclude that Austrotriconodon specimens should be assigned to Meridiolestida and Mesungulatoidea. These isolated teeth are likely premolars and might represent unknown dental positions of already described species or correspond to taxa that are yet to be formally recognized. According to our interpretation, there is still no record of Cretaceous triconodonts in South America, but we support the triconodont affinities for Jurassic taxa from the Cañadón Asfalto Formation in central Patagonia.     

山东诸城地区晚白垩世一新的甲龙类恐龙

基于在山东诸城臧家庄化石点上白垩统王氏群中采集的一个较完整的甲龙类的右侧肠骨（ZJZ-183）,建立一甲龙类的新属种：诸城中国甲龙Sinankylosaurus zhuchengensis gen.et sp.nov.。其主要特征是：髋臼前突长度超过整个肠骨的长度的2/3,后部（远端）宽,向近端延伸的过程强烈收缩变窄,前端宽度与后端宽度差距较大。诸城中国甲龙的发现增加了诸城恐龙动物群中恐龙的多样性,与北美地区晚白垩世大型恐龙组合可对比,对研究晚白垩世恐龙动物群之间的相互关系具有重要的价值。     

河南栾川晚白垩世秋扒组甲龙类化石的发现及意义

报道了河南省栾川县秋扒乡晚白垩世秋扒组发现的甲龙类化石。化石包括单枚牙齿、一几乎完整的背椎体、不完整的肋骨和坐骨。虽然化石材料少,难以确立属种,但是这是除中原龙产地外,中原地区发现的第二个甲龙类化石点。该化石的发现为研究甲龙类的迁徙及其古地理分布特点提供了重要信息。     

中国北方晚侏罗世晚期—早白垩世早期的 新叶肢介化石

新叶肢介化石共有3属5种,其中2属4种产自新疆准噶尔盆地早白垩世早期的清水河组,包括Shiheziestheria pangi Wang（gen.et sp.nov.）,Nestoria jungarensis Wang(sp.nov.),Nestoria shawanensis Wang(sp.nov.),Nestoria donggouensis Wang( sp. nov.);另1属1种 Eosestheria yaozhanensis sp.nov.,产自冀北围场县腰站乡晚侏罗世晚期的大北沟组。     

Martinsonella,an early Late Cretaceous non-marine bivalve subgenus,and a new species from Kumamoto,Japan

The new non-marine bivalve species Nippononaia (Martinsonella) tamurai sp. nov. is described from the Upper Formation of the Mifune Group in Kumamoto Prefecture, Southwest Japan. The specimens originally were identified as Plicatounio (Plicatounio) B sp. by Tamura (1990). The subgenus Nippononaia (Martinsonella) previously was only reported from China, and this is the first record from Japan. The Upper Formation of the Mifune Group is of Late Cenomanian to Early Turonian age, as indicated by ammonites. “Nippononaia” (?) obsoleta Hase, 1960 from the Shiohama Formation of Yamaguchi, Japan, and Plicatounio (s.l.) A sp. of Tamura (1990) from strata northeast of Geoncheonri, South Korea, are re-assigned to Nippononaia (Martinsonella). These occurrences may be of significance for the inter-regional correlation of non-marine Cretaceous strata.     

浙江东阳晚白垩世早期翼龙足迹

根据中国浙江东阳上白垩统金华组发现的4个翼龙足迹,建立翼龙一新的遗迹种：东阳翼龙足迹。它具有以下特征：手迹的第Ⅱ和第Ⅲ指夹角为29°,第Ⅰ指和第Ⅱ指的夹角为52°;足迹的长与宽的比率为0.17,除了翼龙足迹外,在同一层位中还发现有蜥脚类、鸟脚类、兽脚类、帯蹼和不具蹼的鸟类足迹。这些足迹化石的发现,为研究该地区的古生态环境及以后动物的骨骼化石,尤其是翼龙骨骼化石提供了重要依据。     

A New Titanosaurian Sauropod from Late Cretaceous of Nei Mongol, China

A specimen collected from the Upper Cretaceous Erlian Formation of Nei Mongol （Inner Mongolia）, China, represents a new genus and species of titanosaurian sauropod. The new taxon is named and described on the basis of the holotype and the only known specimen, which comprises several dorsal, sacral, and caudal vertebrae, several dorsal ribs, one anterior chevron, and much of the pelvis. Diagnostic features of the new species include a thick ridge extending down from the postzygapophysis on the lateral surface of the neural arch of the posterior dorsal vertebrae, a transversely oriented accessory lamina present between the anterior centroparapophyseal limina and the lateral centraprezygapophyseal lamina of the posterior dorsal vertebrae, long, anteroventrally directed caudal rib that bears two distinctive fossae on its posterior margin on the anterior caudal vertebrae and a prominent vertical ridge above the pubic peduncle on the medial surface of the ilium, among others. The ilium is pneumatic, a feature not common among non-avian dinosaurs. The new taxon has an unusual combination of primitive and derived character states. Preliminary character analysis shows a complex character distribution within the Titanosauriformes. Recent titanosauriform discoveries suggest that a significant radiation occurred in Asia early in the titanosauriform evolution.     

Wildfires and seasonal aridity recorded in Late Cretaceous strata from south-eastern Arizona, USA

Lithostratigraphic and organic chemostratigraphic studies of fluvial/lacustrine sediments in the Late Cretaceous Fort Crittenden Formation in south-eastern Arizona USA, reveal changes in palaeoclimate and tectonics as well as associated fluctuations in lake level. The lower Fort Crittenden is dominated by marginal wetland to deep-water lake deposits, whereas the upper Fort Crittenden is characterized by wetland to deltaic deposits. Abundance of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and reflectance of fusinite substantiate the impact of wildfires within the watershed. Organic geochemical evidence of wildfires is linked with sedimentological indicators of seasonal aridity suggesting that wildfires were common occurrences. Sedimentological evidence for seasonal aridity includes mottles and pseudoslickensides on ped structures within wetland mudstones. Distinct variations in PAH assemblages, characterized by the number of aromatic rings, indicate that there were variations in the intensities of wildfires, assuming no variations in the types of fuel. Fusinite reflectance values are consistent with combustion temperatures from 470 to 550 °C observed in modern wildfires.     

A Late Cretaceous theropod caudal vertebra from the Sultanate of Oman

A caudal vertebra collected from conglomerates of the Al-Khod Formation (Late Cretaceous) in the Al-Khod area, Sultanate of Oman, is assigned to a medium-sized theropod dinosaur. The Al-Khod discovery represents one of the very few dinosaur records from the Middle East.