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.     

A new “slime star” (Echinodermata,Asteroidea, Velatida) from the Upper Cretaceous Chalk of the United Kingdom

New material of pterasterid asteroids from the UK chalk is described on the basis of ossicles recovered from washed residues. A new species, Pteraster lyddenensis sp. nov., is erected for oral and adambulacral ossicles and a primary radial ossicle from the Cenomanian Grey Chalk Subgroup of Dover (Kent), and the first UK record of Pteraster kutscheri Gale, 2022 is described from the upper Campanian Chalk of Norwich (Norfolk); both taxa belong to extant groups of Pteraster. Pteraster lyddenensis sp. nov. is the oldest known representative of the genus. The benthic invertebrate fauna of the Cretaceous chalk facies includes a number of extant genera which at the present day dwell in the deep sea. However, their presence was probably due to the low-productivity oceanic palaeoenvironment of the Chalk Sea, simulating deep-ocean conditions, rather than its depth.     

A new polyglyphanodontine lizard (Squamata: Borioteiioidea) from the Late Cretaceous Iharkút locality (Santonian,Hungary)

In recent years the Late Cretaceous (Santonian) terrestrial vertebrate locality at Iharkút (western Hungary) has yielded well-preserved remains of lizard taxa besides the remains of fishes, amphibians, turtles, crocodiles, pterosaurs and dinosaurs. Previously the polyglyphanodontine lizard Bicuspidon aff. hatzegiensis has been reported from Iharkút. However, recent excavations at this site produced more lacertilian remains including new polyglyphanodontine material, namely a maxilla and two dentaries which suggest the presence of a new genus in the Iharkút fauna. This previously unknown lizard (described here as Distortodon rhomboideus n. g. n. sp.) is distinct from other polyglyphanodontines such as Bicuspidon, Paraglyphanodon, Polyglyphanodon, Dicothodon and Peneteius. It differs from these genera mainly in having the lingual cusp situated more distally compared to the labial one on its bicuspid teeth located in the distal part of the tooth row, thus the crowns having a unique rhomboidal shape in occlusal view. Distortodon rhomboideus further strengthens the dominance of borioteiioid lizards in the Iharkút fauna. The growing presence of borioteiioids in European localities supports previous theories which suggest some paleobiogeographic connections between the western Tethyan archipelago and North America in the Late Cretaceous.     

First record of fossil comb-clawed beetles of the tribe Cteniopodini (Insecta: Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) from the Jehol Biota (Yixian formation of China), Lower Cretaceous

A new genus and species Platycteniopus diversoculatus is described from the Lower Cretaceous (Yixian Formation, Laoning, China). The new genus belongs to the tribe Cteniopodini as shown by six visible abdominal ventrites (ventrite 6 is sternite VIII), in comparison with other Alleculinae which have five abdominal ventrites; epistomal canthus of eyes not emarginate; anterior margin of first abdominal ventrite not bordered. On the other hand, Platycteniopus diversoculatus has some characters not typical for Cteniopodini: bifid mandibles and serrate antennae. The oldest representative of the tribe has combination of characters of tribes Alleculini and Cteniopodini. Recent representatives of Cteniopodini are associated with flowers of angiosperms, while other groups of Alleculinae, especially Gonoderini and Alleculini are mainly saprophagous and lichenophagous. Age of Platycteniopus finding coincides with the beginning of the angiosperms heyday.     

Cretoleptochromus archaicus gen. et sp. nov., a new genus of ant-like stone beetles in Upper Cretaceous Burmese amber (Coleoptera,Staphylinidae, Scydmaeninae)

A new genus and species of the ant-like stone beetle supertribe Mastigitae, Cretoleptochromus archaicus gen. et sp. nov., is described and figured based on an exceptionally well-preserved individual in the Upper Cretaceous (lowermost Cenomanian, ca. 99 Ma) amber from Myanmar. Cretoleptochromus is undoubtedly placed in Mastigitae based on its distinctly geniculate antennae with strongly elongate antennal scape, and pointed labial palpomere III. Cretoleptochromus is most likely the sister taxon to the extinct Palaeoleptochromus O'Keefe from the Late Cretaceous Canadian amber. Cretoleptochromus shares with Clidicini the distinct posterior collar of pronotum; with Leptomastacini the presence of mesocoxal lateroventral bristles. The new discovery may help to elucidate the relationships among the Recent three tribes, particularly for Leptomastacini and Clidicini.     

Biting midges of the extinct genus Protoculicoides Boesel from Lower Cretaceous amber of San Just,Spain and new synonymy in recently described fossil genera (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae)

We describe two new species of extinct biting midges in the fossil genus Protoculicoides: Protoculicoides hispanicus Szadziewski and Arillo, sp. nov. and Protoculicodes sanjusti Szadziewski and Arillo, sp. nov., from Albian (101–113 Ma) amber of San Just, Spain. Atriculicoides Remm, 1976 is recognized as a new junior synonym of Protoculicoides Boesel, 1937 (NEW SYNONYM). Devalquia Choufani et al., 2013 is regarded here as a new junior synonym of the extant genus Culicoides Latreille, 1809 (NEW SYNONYM). Metahelea roggeroi Choufani et al., 2013 from Upper Cretaceous French amber, is excluded from the tribe Heteromyiini and placed in the extant genus Stilobezzia Kieffer, 1911, tribe Ceratopogonini: Stilobezzia roggeroi (Choufani et al., 2013), comb. nov. The extinct tribe Atriculicoidini Szadziewski, 1996 is regarded as a new subfamily, Atriculicoidinae, stat. nov., that includes the fossil genus Protoculicoides, with 13 species reported from Albian, Turonian, Cenomanian, Coniacian, Santonian and Campanian ambers (78–113 Ma). Protoculicoides skalskii Szadziewski & Arillo, 1998 from Lower Cretaceous amber of Álava, Spain, Protoculicoides succineus Szadziewski, 1966 from Lower Cretaceous Lebanese amber and Protoculicoides burmiticus Szadziewski & Poinar, 2005 from Upper Cretaceous Burmese amber are transferred to the extinct genus Archiculicoides Szadziewski, 1996, comb. nov. Protoculicoides krzeminskii Choufani et al., 2014 from Lower Cretaceous Lebanese amber is transferred to the extinct genus Archiaustroconops Szadziewski, 1996, comb. nov. The Cretaceous subfamily Atriculicoidinae forms an unresolved trichotomy with the extant subfamilies Forcipomyiinae and Dasyheleinae, both of which date to the Eocene. The fossil record indicates that wings with macrotrichia in biting midges evolved during the mid-Cretaceous greenhouse climate. We suggest that this was an evolutionary adaptation to new atmospheric conditions with higher levels of CO₂ in order for the antennal Johnston's organs of males to receive the vibrational sex signals produced by females during flight.     

New Cretaceous Elcanidae from China and Myanmar (Insecta,Orthoptera)

A new species of Elcanidae (Orthoptera: Elcanoidea), Panorpidium yixianensis sp. nov., is described based on two new specimens from the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation of northeastern China. It differs from other species in forewing characters and spines on the hind tibiae. In addition, a new specimen Burmelcana sp., is described and figured based on an amber inclusion from the mid-Cretaceous Burmese (Myanmar) amber. P. yixianensis sp. nov. represents the first definite record of Elcanidae in the Early Cretaceous Jehol biota, and Panorpidium is the only genus of Ensifera to be found in the Early Cretaceous faunas of England, Russia and China.     

New mantises (Insecta: Mantodea) in Cretaceous ambers from Lebanon,Spain, and Myanmar

Diverse new material of mantises found in the Cretaceous amber-bearing deposits from Lebanon (Barremian), Spain (Albian), and Myanmar (Albian–Cenomanian) are described and figured. The Lebanese and Spanish forms are nymphs; while the one from Myanmar is an adult specimen. The Lebanese nymph corresponds to a new specimen of Burmantis lebanensis Grimaldi, 2003 while the adult Burmese (Myanmar) specimen belongs to the new species Burmantis zherikhini. The Spanish specimen represents a new genus and species and is established as Aragonimantis aenigma, but is considered family incertae sedis. The Spanish specimen is the first record of Mesozoic mantises from western-European amber deposits. A revised phylogenetic hypothesis for Cretaceous mantises is proposed.     

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.     

Sympatry of two ankylosaurs (Hungarosaurus and cf. Struthiosaurus) in the Santonian of Hungary

A complete and well-preserved right ankylosaurian humerus from the Upper Cretaceous (Santonian) Csehbánya Formation of Iharkút, western Hungary is described here. Based on its osteological features and 21.5 cm adult length, the new specimen is markedly different from the slender humerus of Hungarosaurus, the previously known ankylosaur from the locality, and more similar to that of Struthiosaurus. Thus, the new Hungarian specimen is tentatively assigned here to cf. Struthiosaurus thereby dating back the first occurrence of this genus to the Santonian. The new fossil demonstrates the sympatric co-existence of two different nodosaurid ankylosaurs (a smaller, robust form with 2–2.5 m total body length and a larger, cursorial form with 4–4.5 m body length) in the Iharkút fauna. This also suggests that the pattern of the European ankylosaur diversity was more complex than previously thought.     

Confirmation of an Early Cretaceous age for the Qihulin Formation in eastern Heilongjiang Province, China: constraints from a new discovery of radiolarians

The coal-bearing, alternating marine and non-marine Longzhaogou Group in eastern Heilongjiang, northeastern China, has long been considered as Jurassic, or mainly Jurassic, in age. However, recent studies have demonstrated that the ammonites and dinoflagellate cysts are of Early Cretaceous age. This has now been confirmed by new radiolarian evidence. The radiolarian fauna recovered from the upper Qihulin Formation of the Longzhaogou Group consists of nine poorly preserved species referable to nine genera. Novixitus is a Cretaceous genus, and the specimens of Archaeodictyomitra sp. and Xitus sp. recovered resemble A. vulgaris Pessagno and X. spicularius (Aliev), respectively.     

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.     

Late Cretaceous radiolarians of the genera Cuboctostylus Bragina and Hexacromyum Haeckel: Their stratigraphic and paleobiogeographical distribution

Recently, representatives of the genus Cuboctostylus Bragina (order Entactinaria) were included in the Upper Cretaceous radiolarian regional stratigraphic scale of Sakhalin. The Late Cretaceous species Hexacromyum pergamenti Bragina (order Spumellaria) has morphological similarity to representatives of the genus Cuboctostylus. Peculiar features of H. pergamenti internal structure are considered. Collections of Upper Cretaceous radiolarians from southern Cyprus, Serbia, northern Turkey, Crimean Mountains, East European Platform, northwestern Kamchatka, eastern slope of the Sredinnyi Range in Kamchatka, and Shikotan Island (Lesser Kurile Range) were used for the analysis of the taxonomic composition of Late Cretaceous representatives of the genera Cuboctostylus Bragina and Hexacromyum Haeckel as well as their stratigraphic and paleobiogeographic distribution. It is established that Cuboctostylus is distributed from tropical to south boreal realms. This genus is shown to exist through almost the entire Late Cretaceous: from the middle Cenomanian to initial Maastrichtian. Hexacromyum Haeckel populated both the south boreal realm and marginal areas of the Tethys Ocean in the Late Cretaceous. The new data presented may be used for distant interregional correlations. Cuboctostylus stellatus sp. nov. and several other Cuboctostylus taxa identified in open nomenclature are described; some morphological features of Hexacromyum pergamenti are specified.     

A new afrograptid (Diplostraca: Estheriellina) from the Lower Cretaceous of southern England

The Family Afrograptidae is a ‘conchostracan’ group with multiple radial costae reaching to the umbo on their carapaces. It comprises four described genera: Afrograpta, Camerunograpta, Congestheriella and Graptoestheriella with a total of thirteen described species which are occasionally reported from the Jurassic and the Cretaceous in Africa, Europe and South America (i.e. Afrograpta from the Upper Cretaceous of Cameroon; Camerunograpta from the Jurassic to Cretaceous of Cameroon; Congestheriella from the Jurassic to Upper Cretaceous of the Congo Basin, Brazil, Bulgaria, Venezuela and Argentina; and Graptoestheriella from the Upper Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous of Brazil). A new genus and a new species, Surreyestheria ockleyensis gen. et sp. nov., belonging to the Family Afrograptidae from the Lower Cretaceous (lower Barremian) Upper Weald Clay Formation of Ockley Village, Surrey County, southern England is described in this paper. The new genus mainly differs from the other four genera by the special reticulate ornamentation on its carapace. It indicates that the Family Afrograptidae was more diverse and more widely distributed in the late Mesozoic than previously supposed. Afrograptidae is a special branch of Estheriellina the latter originating in the late Palaeozoic and the former in the early Mesozoic. Afrograptids, as a whole had been widespread across Pangea in the Early Jurassic.     

A new genus and species of soldier beetle from Upper Cretaceous Burmese amber (Coleoptera,Cantharidae, Malthininae)

A new Upper Cretaceous genus and species of soldier beetles, Archaeomalthodes rosetta gen. et sp. nov., is described and illustrated from an individual preserved in Upper Cretaceous (Cenomanian, ca. 99 Ma) amber from northern Myanmar. It is undoubtedly placed in extant subfamily Malthininae based on its small-sized body, somewhat abbreviated elytra and fusiform terminal maxillary palpomere, representing the oldest documented occurrence of Malthininae. It suggests that this subfamily is an ancient group, which originated at least in the earliest Late Cretaceous. Our discovery sheds light on the palaeodiversity of Cantharidae in the Late Mesozoic. Together with other previously reported fossil cantharids, it is likely that Malthininae has been fairly diverse during the early evolution of Cantharidae. On the other hand, a morphological similarity between Archaeomalthodes and Recent malthinines and the occurrence of flowering plants in the Burmese amber implies a potential flower-visiting behaviour of this fossil species.     

A new genus of Scoliidae (Insecta: Hymenoptera) from the Lower Cretaceous of northeast China

A new genus and species of Scoliidae (Hymenoptera), Sinoproscolia yangshuwanziensis gen. et sp. nov., is described from the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation in Inner Mongolia, China and attributed to the subfamily Proscoliinae. Some characteristics, including complete crossveins 1r-rs and 2r-m in the forewing, and a free section present in almost all longitudinal veins indicate a basal position of the new genus in Proscoliinae. The presence of vein 2A suggests its atavistic origin in Sinoproscolia gen. nov. rather than a true plesiomorphy.     

A new genus and species of polypore fungus beetle in Upper Cretaceous Burmese amber (Coleoptera,Tetratomidae, Eustrophinae)

A new polypore fungus beetle is described and figured from an individual preserved in Upper Cretaceous (Cenomanian, ca. 99 Ma) amber from northern Myanmar. Cretosynstrophus archaicus gen. et sp. nov. is confidently placed in the extant subfamily Eustrophinae based on its elongate oval body and pronotum with two basal, sublinear impressions. It shares several characters belonging to two Recent tribes (Eustrophini and Holostrophini), but it cannot be attributed to either of them. Together with other tetratomid genera from the Cretaceous, the new discovery implies that the Recent small family Tetratomidae is much more diverse and more widespread than previously documented. In addition, a morphological similarity between Cretosynstrophus and extant Synstrophus suggests a similar fungi feeding habit for Cretosynstrophus, highlighting an ancient association between tetratomid beetles and fungi in the Mesozoic.     

A bizarre armoured spider (Araneae: Tetrablemmidae) from Upper Cretaceous Myanmar amber

A new genus and species of tetrablemmid spider, Electroblemma bifida n. gen. et sp., is described, from two adult males found in Upper Cretaceous (Cenomanian) amber of Myanmar. The genus is distinguished by its enormous dorsal carapace projection and highly modified chelicerae. The new genus is referred to the tribe Tetrablemmini within the subfamily Tetrablemminae. The presence of a relatively derived tetrablemmid on the south-east Eurasian continent during the Late Cretaceous suggests that the family was already well diversified in tropical rainforests at this time.