The first fossil mayfly nymph (Insecta: Ephemeroptera) from the British Isles

Mayflies are very rare in the British fossil record. The first nymph to be found, Schistonotorum wallisi gen. et sp. nov., is described from the non-marine Lower Cretaceous of southeast England. This Early Barremian find is from the Upper Weald Clay Formation at Smokejacks brickworks, Surrey. It is preserved as an adpression in concretionary sideritic ironstone from the upper insect bed exposed in the northeast face of the pit. The palaeoecological significance of this record is discussed.     

The first lizard fossil (Reptilia: Squamata) from the Mesozoic of South Korea

Upper Cretaceous deposits in Mongolia, Chinese Inner Mongolia, and, more recently, southern China, have yielded individually rich and taxonomically diverser lizard assemblages. Here we describe the remains of a new terrestrial lizard, Asprosaurus bibongriensis gen. et sp. nov., from the Upper Cretaceous of South Korea. It represents the first record of a Mesozoic lizard from the Korean Peninsula and, although incomplete, is exceptional in its very large size. Characters of the mandible support attribution to crown-group Anguimorpha, with the closest similarities being to monstersaurs, the group represented today by the venomous North American Beaded lizard and Gila monster, genus Heloderma. This group is well-represented in the Upper Cretaceous fossil record in of eastern Asia, and the remains of large monstersaurs have been recovered from several dinosaur egg localities, suggesting dietary preferences similar to those of the living genus. The new Korean lizard, recovered from the Boseong Bibong-ri Dinosaur Egg Site, fits the same pattern.     

A new tyrannosaurine specimen (Theropoda: Tyrannosauroidea) with insect borings from the Upper Cretaceous Honglishan Formation of Northwestern China

A large theropod ilium was recently collected from the Upper Cretaceous Honglishan Formation in the Sangequan area of the northern Junggar Basin, Xinjiang, China, which represents the first officially reported dinosaur fossil from this formation. Several morphological features, including robust supracetabular ridge, reduced supracetabular crest, concave anterior margin of the pubic peduncle, ventral flange on the pubic peduncle, converging dorsal surface of the iliac blades, laterally visible cuppedicus shelf, and ventral flange on the posterior surface of pubic peduncle, suggest that this specimen can be referred to Tyrannosaurinae, and furthermore, a few differences between this specimen and other tyrannosaurines in particular the contemporary Asian tyrannosaurine Tarbosaurus suggest that IVPP V22757 may represent a new tyrannosaurine species. However, in the absence of extensive data that would make it possible to properly evaluate these differences, we refrain from naming a new taxon based on this specimen. Some insect borings are also identified in this specimen, and are referable to the ichnogenus Cubiculum, which is interpreted as the insect pupichnia. This new fossil documents the presence of a gigantic theropod in the Upper Cretaceous of Junggar Basin, adding new information on its poorly studied ecosystems.     

近十五年来蛋化石研究概况

1993年至2008年是中国蛋化石研究不断扩展与深入的时期。这期间的研究更注重于解决盆地地层与蛋化石演化序列间的联系; 开展了翼龙化石胚胎学研究; 通过分子古生物学分析, 尝试了获取古代DNA的方法; 河南西峡恐龙蛋化石博物馆的建立, 成为展示这一阶段进展的突出标志。特别是近几年来, 通过大量资料积累, 发现并揭示出恐龙蛋的变异类型与鸟蛋间的联系, 由此填补了从恐龙到鸟的演化过程中蛋壳形态结构变化的空白。文中还介绍了我国白垩纪几个沉积盆地的生物地层和一些具有特色的蛋化石种类; 提出了新的蛋化石分类意见, 以及与蛋化石有关的生存行为方面的思考。     

辽西义县下白垩统九佛堂组木化石的发现

首次发现产自辽西义县皮家沟下白垩统九佛堂组保存有解剖构造的木化石,利用木化石切片法对木化石解剖特征进行研究。当前木化石均为硅化保存,其中一块标本保存有髓、初生木质部、次生木质部等解剖构造。其髓部主要由薄壁细胞构成,初生木质部为内始式,次生木质部为Protophyllocladoxylon型。部分木化石标本表面密布大小不一的孔洞,推测为昆虫幼虫的觅食痕迹。此外,木化石产出层位还发现有大量丝碳化石,表明义县地区早白垩世九佛堂组沉积时期存在野火事件,而频发的火山喷发活动可能是野火事件的诱因。     

华东白垩纪鸭嘴龙类恐龙蛋化石的发现

浙江天台白垩纪地层中最常见的蛋化石类型之一是赤城山组地层（锆石U-Pb法同位素年龄约92Ma）的树枝树枝蛋（Dendroolithus dendriticus）。对比河南西峡含恐龙胚胎的蛋化石,确定其为鸭嘴龙类（Hadrosaurs）恐龙所产。鸭嘴龙类恐龙在系统分类上归鸟脚亚目（Ornithopoda Marsh,1881）鸭嘴龙超科（Hadrosauroidea Cope,1869）鸭嘴龙科（Hadrosauridae Cope,1869）,建议树枝蛋化石也相应归入圆形蛋化石亚目（Spheroolithineae账oosubord．nov．）树枝蛋化石超科（Dendroolithoidea oosuperfam．nov．）树枝蛋化石科（Dendroolithidae Zhaoand Li 1988）,以便对应研究。从已知的鸭嘴龙类恐龙产蛋尺寸推算,浙江天台的树枝树枝蛋（Dendroolithus dendriticus）为身长不超过7m的恐龙所产,个体大小类似东北一蒙古发现的萨哈林日本龙（Nipponosaurus sachaIinensis）、李氏黑龙江龙（Amurosaurus riabinini）和姜氏巴克龙（Bactrosaurus johnsoni）。该蛋在巢穴里,无序放置,至少3层,常超过20枚,蛋壳具韧性,重力作用下呈扁球形。     

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.     

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.     

First false jewel beetle (Coleoptera: Schizopodidae) from the Lower Cretaceous of China

A new false jewel beetle, Mesoschizopus elegans n. gen. n. sp., is described and illustrated based on a well-preserved impression fossil from the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation of China. It represents a definitive Mesozoic fossil belonging to the recent small buprestoid family Schizopodidae, which is now endemic to the western North America. Mesoschizopus is placed in Schizopodidae based on its overall body shape and size, short prosternum in front of procoxae, wide metanepisternum, and wing venation. The discovery of the first schizopodid from the Early Cretaceous not only highlights the antiquity of the small family, but also provides an example of a now narrowly distributed group whose ancestral groups were probably more widespread in the Mesozoic.     

Fossil coniferous wood from the Early Cretaceous Jehol Biota in western Liaoning,NE China: New material and palaeoclimate implications

The Early Cretaceous Jehol Biota, one of the most important Mesozoic lagerstätten in East Asia, is especially well-known for occurrences of fossil feathered dinosaurs and early angiosperms. However, the terrestrial biodiversity, especially the fossil wood record, is poorly known. In this study, several structurally preserved coniferous wood specimens from the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation are investigated, based on collections from the Heichengzi Basin in Beipiao of western Liaoning, Northeast China. Four species referred to four genera of fossil wood are described, including Taxodioxylon heichengziense sp. nov., Thujoxylon beipiaoense sp. nov., Sciadopityoxylon liaoningense Ding and Protocedroxylon shengjinbeigouense sp. nov. These new records enlarge the fossil wood diversity of the Yixian Formation up to 10 species in 9 genera, and provide further insights into the forest vegetation composition of the Early Cretaceous Jehol Biota. Systematic analysis of the floral constitution indicates that the petrified forests of the Yixian Formation are dominated by conifers, represented by Araucariaceae, Podocarpaceae, Sciadopityaceae, Pinaceae and Cupressaceae in the western Liaoning region. Palaeoclimatical analysis of the fossil wood assemblage implies that the western Liaoning region was dominated by a cool temperate, wet and seasonal climate with variable interannual water supply in the western Liaoning region during the Early Cretaceous.     

The first record of a bryophyte in Upper Cretaceous amber from Taimyr,northern Siberia: Taimyrobryum martynoviorum gen. et sp. nov. (Bryopsida)

Cretaceous bryophyte fossils are known only from a few localities and only a few are known in ultrastructural fidelity. We describe a fossil moss gametophyte from Upper Cretaceous Taimyr amber and place it in the fossil genus Taimyrobryum martynoviorum gen. et sp. nov. (Bryopsida). Its unbranched, somewhat zig-zagged stems with distantly spaced, spreading, narrowly lanceolate leaves and the unbranched costa match the gross morphology of Dicranidae; however, the uniformly prosenchymatous leaf cells contradict an affiliation to this subclass. The Yantardakh in the Taimyr Peninsula is the fourth and northernmost Cretaceous amber locality yielding inclusions of bryophytes.     

Myamalycocerus vitalii: A new genus and species of soldier beetle in Burmese amber (Coleoptera Cantharidae)

A new fossil soldier beetle Myamalycocerus vitalii gen. et sp. nov., is described and illustrated from an inclusion in Upper Cretaceous Burmese amber (Myanmar). It differs from all extant genera that have elytra adorned with small striae by possessing raised punctation, very probably an ancient character as it is absent among current species. It differs from the fossil Ornatomalthinus Poinar et Fanti, by the long elytra and relief points which are less raised and more numerous. This new genus appears vaguely related (not necessarily phylogenetically) to the current genus Lycocerus Gorham.     

A new genus of silken-fungus beetle (Coleoptera: Cryptophagidae) from the Spanish Cretaceous amber

The Cretaceous new species and genus Albocryptophagus cantabricus gen. et sp. n. is described based on a fossil specimen from the El Soplao amber deposit (Spain). The new genus is similar to the extant genera Cryptophagus and Micrambe, but differs from them in the transverse pedicel, anterior angles of pronotum, pronotal margin unmodified, pronotal pits absent. Albocryptophagus gen. n. is undoubtedly the most ancient representative for the subfamily Cryptophaginae described up today. Because the saproxylic habits in recent species of the family, a similar behavior is inferred for this new fossil. It is a new example that agrees with the idea that fossil beetles from Mesozoic ambers are characterized by a saproxylic lifestyle.     

Mid-Cretaceous (Albian–Cenomanian) fossil woods from Hwawon-myeon in Jeollanam-do,Korea, and their palaeoclimatic implications

Two coniferous fossil wood taxa are reported from the Hwawon Formation (middle Cretaceous) at Hwawon-myeon in Jeollanam-do, Korea: Agathoxylon sp. and Taxodioxylon sp. Agathoxylon has a clear affinity with the Araucariaceae and its occurrence in the Hwawon Formation suggests that a dry and tropical–subtropical climate prevailed in this area during the middle Cretaceous. The presence of traumatic resin canals in the Taxodioxylon specimens indicates that flooding occurred repeatedly as part of an alternation between dry and rainy seasons. The low diversity observed for the Cretaceous fossil wood assemblages from the Korean Peninsula could be explained by the palaeoclimatologically stressful environment, as a dry tropical–subtropical climate prevailed over the region at that time.     

The first Mesozoic turtle from South Korea

The partial carapace of a “macrobaenid” turtle from the Geoncheonri Formation (Lower Cretaceous) in Gyeongsan City near Daegu Metropolian City, South Korea, is referred to Kirgizemys Nessov and Khozsatzky, 1973. The specimen most closely resembles K. exaratus Nessov and Khozsatzky, 1973 from the Albian of Kyrgyzstan. It is the first turtle fossil described from the Mesozoic sediments on the Korean peninsula.     

A new tribe,new genus,and new species of Mordellidae (Coleoptera: Tenebrionoidea) from the Early Cretaceous amber of Spain

The new tribe Mediumiugamiini (Coleoptera: Polyphaga: Tenebrionoidea: Mordellidae) is described based on Mediumiuga sinespinis gen. et sp. nov. It is a fossil beetle from Albian (Early Cretaceous) amber from the Peñacerrada I outcrop (Spain). It is the first Spanish beetle described in amber. The mesotibiae and mesotarsi bearing multiple dorsal–lateral ridges, running oblique, metatibiae without any dorsal or dorsal–lateral ridge, only showing a subapical ridge, and metatibiae without apical spurs, define the new tribe. A key for worldwide tribes of Mordellinae, including Mediumiugamiini, is provided. Evolution of some characters of Mordellidae along Cretaceous is discussed.     

A new genus of Trichomyiinae (Diptera: Psychodidae) from Upper Cretaceous amber of New Jersey

Xenotrichomyia newjerseyiensis a new genus and species belonging to Trichomyiinae within Psychodidae is characterized, described, illustrated and its taxonomic position is discussed. It shares some similarities with Trichomyiinae of group B, but retains some archaic features, such as normal and non-excentric flagellomeres, and possesses an autapomorphy in wing venation that distinguish it from all remaining Trichomyiinae. This discovery represents the first Trichomyiinae (Psychodidae) from the Upper Cretaceous New Jersey amber, and adds more evidence on the very high palaeodiversity of the psychodids since at least the Lower Cretaceous. An updated check list of fossil Trichomyiinae is given.     

The first evidence of iguanodontids (Dinosauria: Ornithischia) in Alberta,Canada – A fossil footprint from the Early Cretaceous

Basal iguanodontians (“iguanodontids”) were a successful group of ornithopod dinosaurs that attained a near global distribution by the late Early Cretaceous. Despite their body fossils being known in abundance from the uppermost Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous of the western United States, their remains have never been found in western Canada. With its extensive, terrestrial sedimentary record for the whole of the Early Cretaceous, the expectation is that these dinosaurs would have been present in western Canada. This paper reports the finding of a fossil footprint from the Gladstone Formation in southwestern Alberta that is interpreted to have been made by an iguanodontid. This identification is based on the late Barremian age of the hosting rock, gross footprint details that match the skeletal foot structure of Iguanodon bernissartensis, and similarities to Early Cretaceous dinosaur footprints found elsewhere in the world that are attributed to iguanodontids. This finding fills a noticeable gap in the iguanodontian fossil record, and is consistent with the clade's attainment of global distribution during the Early Cretaceous.     

“路易贝贝”产出层位时代及其古环境

"路易贝贝"恐龙胚胎化石产于中国河南省南阳市西峡县阳城乡,位于西峡盆地上白垩统高沟组下(底)部,是Macroelongatoolithus xixaensis(西峡巨型长形蛋)的胚胎骨骼化石。西峡盆地上白垩统自下而上划分为高沟组、马家村组、寺沟组。高沟组产有丰富的恐龙蛋化石和少量恐龙骨骼化石,以及少量的双壳类、腹足类、介形类、轮藻、植物孢粉、植物化石碎片和丰富的遗迹化石。依据上述化石的地质时代并结合高沟组与上覆马家村组整合接触关系和寺沟组化石组合情况,以及高沟组与下伏泥盆系南湾组角度不整合接触关系和周边相邻盆地的地层对比,将西峡盆地高沟组地质时代置于晚白垩世中晚期的康尼亚克期(Coniacian)。高沟组下、中部为半干旱温热气候条件下的红色陆相类磨拉石建造的陆源碎屑岩,属间歇性的、以牵引流为主的浑水河流冲积扇沉积物;高沟组上部为冲积扇和辫状河沉积。"路易贝贝"所在层位的古地理环境是冲积扇扇端朝向南的、缓坡状宽阔平坦的冲积扇扇面,可归入冲积扇相-扇端亚相-漫流微相。     

A new parasitoid wasp (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) from the Lower Cretaceous Crato Formation of Brazil: The first Mesozoic Pteromalidae

A new genus and species of small (3.5 mm excluding ovipositor) parisitoid wasp is described from the Lower Cretaceous (Aptian) Crato Formation Lagerstätte of Brazil. Parviformosus wohlrabeae gen. et sp. nov. is known from a single female imago and is assigned to Pteromalidae. It is diagnosed by the robustness of the scutellum, the structure, size and positioning of the mesopleuron, the complexity of the propodeum–petiole junction and a posteriorly curved dorsal ‘lip’ on metasomal segment 4. At only 3.5 mm in length, P. wohlrabeae is the smallest fossil wasp from the Cretaceous of South America and the first Mesozoic representative of Pteromalidae.