Two new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Vestrogothia</Emphasis> (Phosphatocopina,Crustacea) of Orsten-type preservation from the Upper Cambrian in western Hunan,South China

Although fossils of Orsten-type preservation represented by Skaracarida and Phosphatocopina were first reported from the Middle and Upper Cambrian in western Hunan, South China in 2005, diversified phosphatocopine species have never been appropriately described and elucidated in terms of their evolutionary relationships. Here, we described two new species of Phosphatocopina, Vestrogothia anterispinata sp. nov. and V. bispinata sp. nov. The evolutionary relationship among all the valid species of Phosphatocopina is discussed and the phylogeny of Phosphatocopina is reestablished using cladistic analysis. Accordingly, phosphatocopines primitively evolved along two lineages: one evolved towards the emergence of lobes; the other evolved towards the emergence of dorsal spines. Respectively, lobes originated independently three times, and dorsal spines originated only once. With regard to the dorsal rims, interdorsum originated first, whereas dorsal furrow originated independently twice on the basis of interdorsum. Probably Hesslandona may represent a polyphyletic group, whereas Vestrogothia a monophyletic group. Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 40772008, 40572003), Research Fund for Doctoral Program of High Education (Grant No. 20060001059), State Key Laboratory of Palaeobiology and Stratigraphy, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grant No. 083101)     

New fossil eccoptarthrids (Coleoptera: Curculionoidea) from the Yixian Formation of western Liaoning, China

One new genus and three new species of the weevil family Eccoptarthridae (Curculionoidea), Leptocar polychaetus gen. et sp. nov., Abrocar macilentus sp. nov., Cretonanophyes punctatus sp. nov., are described and illustrated. They pertain to the Upper Jurassic or Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation of western Liaoning Province, China. The host plants to the living eccoptarthrids and the floras in Yixian Formation indicate that those archaic eccoptarthrids possibly lived on conifers with a phylogenetic closeness to Cupressaceae. Besides, the early diversification of eccoptarthrids is discussed: origi- nated in Central or East Asia in the Late Jurassic, spread into Western Europe and South America during the Early Cretaceous, underwent a dramatic decline after the Early Cretaceous which likely was caused by competitive pressure and the displacement of their host plants.     

New discovery of Palaeontinid fossils from the Middle Jurassic in Daohugou, Inner Mongolia (Homoptera, Palaeontinidae)

Three new species of fossil Palaeontinidae are described from Daohugou Village, Inner Mongolia, China: Daohugoucossus shii sp. nov., D. parallelivenius sp. nov., D. lii sp. nov. The diagnosis of Dao- hugoucossus Wang, Zhang and Fang, 2006 is revised. These materials are the first complete fossil palaeontinids in the Middle Jurassic of the world. Based on observation of these new specimens, Sc of this new genus has the following combined characters: joined with R at base, diverged near M separa- tion, coalesced with R before the nodal line, extended beyond the nodal line and fused with R1 before distal end. Due to the Sc characteristics mentioned above, the genus Liaocossus Ren, Yin and Dou, 1998 can be well distinguished from “Ilerdocossus-complex”.     

The developmental trend of labrum and median eyes of Orsten-type preserved Phosphatocopina (Crustacea)

The Phosphatocopina (Crustacea,Arthropoda) is an important group of 'Orsten-type' preserved fossils.It is resolved as the sister-group of Eucrustacea.Here we study the labrum,the median eyes,and the inner lamella of Phosphatocopina based on the selected specimens respectively from western Hunan,South China,and Sweden.The labrum characters of different species exhibit interspecific difference.The ratio of labrum length/shield length is significant to the reconstruction of the ontogeny of phosphatocopines.The...     

Description de deux nouvelles Cyclotelles (Bacillariophyceae) de milieux alcalins et eutrophes:Cyclotella costei nov. sp. etCyclotella wuethrichiana nov. sp.

Two new species of the genus Cyclotella are presented which have been discovered during ecological and paleoecological research studies in the littoral zone of two small alkaline eutrophic lakes in France (Lake Paladru) and in Switzerland (Lake Le Loclat). These new species are namedCyclotella costei nov. sp. andCyclotella wuethrichiana nov. sp.     

A new structurally preserved fern rhizome of Osmundaceae (Filicales) Ashicaulis wangii sp. nov. from the Jurassic of western Liaoning and its significances for palaeobiogeography and evolution

Permineralized osmundaceous rhizome with anatomical and phylogenetic information plays a significant role in understanding the origin,evolution,and diversity variation of the fern family Osmundaceae in geological history.The northern Hebei and western Liaoning region is one of the most important fossil localities for the Jurassic osmundaceous rhizome fossils in the Northern Hemisphere;however,the diversity character of osmundaceous rhizome fossil remains poorly known.A new structurally preserved fern rhizome species,Ashicaulis wangii sp.nov.,is described from the Middle Jurassic Tiaojishan Formation in Beipiao City,Liaoning Province,northeastern China.The rhizome is composed of heterogeneous pith,an ectophloic–dictyoxylic siphonostele,a two–layered cortex,and a mantle of adventitious roots and petiole bases.The xylem cylinder,with complete leaf gaps,consists of 15–17 xylem strands.The petiole base is characterized by a heterogeneous sclerotic ring and numerous sclerenchyma masses in the petiolar cortex.Among five known Ashicaulis species with heterogeneous sclerotic ring,four of them are documented from China.Therefore,osmundaceous rhizome fossils from China show endemic anatomical characteristics and significances for palaeobiogeography.Comparisons of anatomical features suggest that A.wangii sp.nov.bears close similarities to Osmunda pluma Miller from the Paleocene of Dakota,USA.Fossil species of A.wangii provides new evidence for further understanding the species diversity of osmundaceous rhizome fossil in China and in the Northern Hemisphere,and contributes to exploring the macroevolution process of the Mesozoic osmundaceous plants.     

Pseudofrenelopsis fossils from Cretaceous gypsum beds in Guixi,Jiangxi Province,China and their geological significance

Compressed fossil plants were found in the gypsum beds of the Zhoujiadian Formation in Guixi City, Jiangxi Province, China. The cuticular features of two species of Pseudofrenelopsis (Cheirolepidiaceae) were examined by scanning electron microscopy in this study: Pseudofrenelopsis papillosa Cao ex Zhou and Pseudofrenelopsis guixiensis Bainian Sun et Dai, sp. nov. A detailed analysis of the internode epidermis, and the adaxial and abaxial leaf cuticles of the two species, was performed, extending our knowledge of the morphological and anatomical characteristics of the extinct Pseudofrenelopsis. A new species, Pseudofrenelopsis guixiensis sp. nov., is proposed based upon comparison of its cuticular features. It differs from previously published species in that it has hairs on the abaxial surfaces of its leaves, sometimes shares subsidiary cells on the surfaces of internodes, lacks a hypodermis, and has no papillae on its epidermal cells. Because the distribution of fossil Pseudofrenelopsis is restricted to the Lower Cretaceous, the Early Cretaceous age of the Zhoujiadian Formation is affirmed. The fossils of Pseudofrenelopsis show obvious xeromorphic characteristics, such as apparent thickening of the cuticles, subsidiary cells with obvious papillae, and anticlinal walls with strong cutinization, and they are found associated with gypsum beds and close to red beds. All of these features indicate an arid climate.     

The unique nature in ore composition,geological backgroudd and metallogenic mechanism of non-conventional superlarge ore deposits: A preliminary discussion

The new plants documented here, including a representative of the trimerophytesPsilophyton primitiuum sp. nov., a questionable rhyniophyte or trimerophyteHedeia sinica sp. nov., a prelycopodBragwanathia sp. and two species of zosterophyllophytes,Zosterophyllum australianum Lang and Cookson 1930 and2. sp. 1, from the Posongchong Formation of southeastern Yunnan, China, add to the known floral diversity of the Early Devonian of this region. Two sections of the Posongchong Formation, Changputang section of Wenshan district and Gegu section of Mengzi district also are introduced. After comparing the plants with those of the coeval flora of Australia and considering the data of recent paleocontinental reconstructions, the authors suggest that there is a northeastern Gondwana phytogeographic unit during the early Devonian comprising Australia, South China Block and perhaps Shan-Thai Block. The similarity of the floral component between Australia and South China is discussed. Because both Australia and South China also have dominant or endemic taxa, each might be recognized as a subunit, separately characterized byHedeia for Australia andEophyllophyton for South China. Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 49372075 and 49742004)     

Klukiopsis jurassica--A new Jurassic schizaeaceous fern from China

A new Jurassic schizaeaceous fern Klukiopsis jurassica gen. et sp. nov. from Yima, Henan Province, China is described. The new fern is characterized by the abaxial sori arranged in two rows, apical and complete annulus and more than 800 smooth trilete spores in each sorus.     

Klukiopsis jurassica—A new Jurassic schizaeaceous fern from China

A new Jurassic schizaeaceous fernKlukiopsis jurassica gen. et sp. nov. from Yima, Henan Province, China is described. The new fern is characterized by the abaxial sori arranged in two rows, apical and complete annulus and more than 800 smooth trilete spores in each sorus.     

Geological age of the Yokawa Formation of the Kobe Group (Japan) on the basis of terrestrial mammalian fossils

Abstract   The age of the Yokawa Formation of the Cenozoic Kobe Group distributed in Hyogo Prefecture of western Japan based on mammalian fossils is discussed. Two fossil dental specimens of terrestrial mammals discovered from the lowest part of the Yokawa Formation in the Sanda area are described. These two fossils described here are: (i) a right mandibular fragment with p2–m3 of Bothriodon sandaensis sp. nov. (selenodont anthracotheriid artiodactyl), which appears to be the most primitive among the species of the genus; and (ii) right m1–m3 of cf. Hyrachyus sp. (primitive rhinocerotoid perissodactyl). In the lower part of the Yokawa Formation, Zaisanamynodon (amynodontid perissodactyl) was previously reported. The morphology ('evolutionary stage') of B. sandaensis is indicative of the latest Middle to Late Eocene, that of cf. Hyrachyus sp. is indicative of the Early to Middle Eocene, and Zaisanamynodon is indicative of the Late Middle to Late Eocene. Therefore, the fossil mammals of the Yokawa Formation indicate an latest Middle Eocene ( ca . 38 Ma) correlation for the lower part of the formation, as a working hypothesis. Although the resolution of the geological age based on these mammalian fossils is relatively low compared to that based on marine index fossils, this result is concordant with the recent radiometric correlation of the lower part of the Yokawa Formation in the Sanda area.     

A new species of Macrocnemus (Reptilia: Protorosauria) from the Middle Triassic of southwestern China and its palaeogeographical implication

A new species of the terrestrial protorosaur Macrocnemus is briefly described and named Macrocne-mus fuyuanensis sp. nov. The specimen was found from the marine Triassic of Yunnan Province, southwestern China. It differs from the type species M. bassanii in having the following characters: (1) 17 or 18 dorsal vertebrae; (2) relatively long humerus; and (3) femur longer than tibia. M. fuyuanensis is the only record of the genus outside Monte San Giorgio area and the first definite terrestrial reptile found from the marine Triassic of China. The age of the fossil-bearing Zhuganpo Member of the Falang Formation is believed to be the Ladinian based on associated vertebrate fauna. The existence of Mac-rocnemus in the limestone suggests the presence of a terrestrial ecosystem which probably originated from the Anisian and well developed in the Ladinian in this region. The island system along the north-coast of Tethyan during the Triassic was probably an important route for the exchanges of reptiles, especially the terrestrial reptiles between the west and east.     

Japan's earliest ostracods

Mesozoic, Cenozoic and especially Holocene ostracod faunas have been documented from Japan. Not surprisingly, considering the plate tectonic factors at play, very few ostracod faunas are known from its early Paleozoic successions. Our pilot studies have recovered new ostracod assemblages from early Paleozoic terranes of Japan. Acid preparation of carbonates has yielded low diversity, poorly preserved yet significant palaeocopid and podocopid ostracod faunas from Wenlock/Ludlow Series Silurian rocks at Gionyama in the Kurosegawa Terrane, Miyazaki Prefecture, Kyushu, and Hitoegane in the Hida‐Gaien Terrane, Gifu Prefecture, Honshu. The ostracod faunas include new eurychilinoid (Pauproles supparata gen. et sp. nov.), hollinoid (Hollinella orienta sp. nov.) and beyrichioid (Clintiella antifrigga sp. nov.) palaeocopid taxa. Conodonts recovered from the same sample as the ostracods from Gionyama confirm a mid‐Silurian age for the part of the Gionyama Formation in question. The ostracod faunas recovered from Gionyama and Hitoegane are the first confirmed, well‐documented record of the group from the Silurian of Japan and are therefore the earliest known ostracods from that country (a previous record of purported Ordovician ostracods from Japan is incorrect). The ostracod taxa display links with the paleocontinents of particularly Laurentia and Baltica and demonstrate a pan‐tropical signature; it appears that climate control was stronger than geographical control in shaping this pattern of ostracod distribution. The material recovered includes adult dimorphic (assumed sexual) pairs of three palaeocopid species, which represent Japan's oldest (423–433 million years) known ‘couples’.     

Radiolarian fauna from the Chiungchussuan Shuijingtuo Formation(Cambrian Series 2) in Western Hubei Province,South China

Little is known regarding characteristics and evolution of radiolarian fossils in the early Cambrian due to its rarity and poor preservation. Here we report a new radiolarian fauna from the Cambrian Shuijingtuo Formation corresponding to the Chiungchussuan Stage(Cambrian Series 2) in western Hubei, China. It contains over 300 radiolarian tests and these fossils belong to 4 morphotypes, including Paraantygopora porosa gen.et sp. nov., Braunosphaera sinensis gen.et sp. nov., Tetrasphaera? sp. and incertae spherical radiolarians. In taxonomy, Spumellaria predominates in the fauna and comprises 92% of the total. In shell structure, about 73% of all specimens are similar to the early Ordovician radiolarian fossils, with the shell walls characterized by perforated plate structures. The spherical radiolarians with latticed shells constitute another feature of the early Cambrian radiolarian fauna. The radiolarian fauna reported here contains many fossil specimens and covers different taxonomical taxa. These specimens usually consist of distinctive concentric multi-layers with complex structure. These characteristics indicate that Radiolaria had already thrived during the Cambrian Chiungchussuan Stage(Series 2, Stage 3), which may have occurred synchronously with the explosion and prosperity of macrobiota recorded in the strata deposited in shallower water condition.     

Microbialite of anoxic condition from Permian-Triassic transition in Guizhou,China

Spherical microfossils are present in the Hindeodus parvus zone of the Lower Triassic in Ziyun,Guizhou Province. They generally range from 0.15 to 0.30 mm across,with micritic wall and filled by micro-sparry calcites,and are evenly scattered in micritic matrix. Their abundance makes the rock as-signed to microbialites. The accompanied organisms include ostracods and algal mat,but no gastro-pods or bivalves. Presence of small (<7 μm) pyrite framboids indicates that this bed formed in anoxic conditions. In some sections,this bed is overlain and underlain by tidal-flat micritic limestone with microgastropods and small burrows. Occurrence only in deposits on reef top indicates that the micro-bial organism was benthic,and needed sunlight in life. The size of the microbial fossil exceeds that of any bacteria or cyanobacteria. Thus,it does not belong to these two phyla. It may belong to lower green algae,and is assigned to a new species in a new genus,Ziyunosphaeridium sinensis gen. et sp. nov. Up to now,the rocks described as microbialites from the Permian-Triassic transition include six types: (1) porous micritic limestone such as that descried from Japan by Sano and Nakashima (1997),(2) limestone with rich globular microfossils such as that described from the Nanpanjiang Basin in China by Lehrmann (1999),(3) dendroidal limestone such as that described from the vicinity of Chongqing by Kershaw et al. (1999),(4) spherical microbial limestone adapted to anoxic environments described from Ziyun,Guizhou reported in this paper,(5) limestone with cyanobacterial fossils such as that described by Wang et al. (2005),and (6) stromatolites. All these microbialites are not reefs in the proper sense,and the argument that Permian reef ecosystems extended into the Mesozoic is incorrect.     

New stylophorans (Echinodermata) from the upper Cambrian of Guangxi,South China

This paper describes for the first time the cornute stylophorans (Echinodermata) in China. The new material came from the Guole Formation of the Furongian (Late Cambrian) in the Guole area of Jingxi, Guangxi Province, South China. These new cornute specimens are preserved in situ and found along with well-preserved trilobites and brachiopods. One new species, Phyllocystis jingxiensis sp. nov., is proposed to accommodate these unusual materials. The new species is defined by the small, heart-shaped theca with the frame composed of ten narrow, smooth and thick marginal plates, three adoral plates and distinctive zygal and aulacophore. Both supracentrals and infracentrals are polygonal-outlined. The marginal plate M1' on the inferior face extends posteriorly to form zygal that possesses a broadened proximal end and the proximal portion joining with the conjunction between M4 and M5 on the inferior face. Aulacophore comprises ten segments at its proximal part and is conical at the middle part (named stylocone). Its distal portion is rather long and bears conspicuous ambulacrum grooves. Tectals are horizontally arranged on superior face and obliquely arranged on inferior face. Both cothurnopore and anal pyramid are vaguely seen on the right anterior corner and the extremity of theca's superior face.     

End-Permian conodont fauna from Dongpan section: Correlation between the deep-and shallow-water facies

This paper systematically investigated the conodonts from the uppermost Permian to the Lower Triassic at the Dongpan Section, Southern Guangxi, South China, and obtained abundant Late Permian conodonts from the syndepositional limestone lenses of beds 3 and 5-2 at this section. One genus and eight species of conodont P1 element including one new species, Neogondolella dongpanensis sp. nov., have been identified. The feature of conodont fauna indicates that conodonts collected from beds 3 and 5 at the Dongpan Section belong to the Neogondolella yini conodont zone, and correspond to bed 24 at the Meishan Section. Based on these conodont data, we suggest that the Neoalbaillella optima radiolarian zone at the Dongpan Section at least extended to the upper part of the N. yini conodont zone.     

湖北省三道河水库底栖动物的初步研究

2007年8月至2008年4月,在湖北省三道河水库6个采样点调查底栖动物,共采集到底栖动物17种,其中水生昆虫11种,均为摇蚊科;寡毛类6种,均为颤蚓科,春季优势种为前突摇蚊,夏季优势种为小摇蚊、流水长跗摇蚊和前突摇蚊,秋、冬季优势种为霍甫水丝蚓,底柄动物种类数、密度和生物量随季节变化明显,种类数夏季＞冬季＞秋季＞春季,密度和生物量春季＞冬季＞秋季＞夏季,周年密度和生物量分别为366.42±102.93ind/m2和0.5649±0.1779g/m2,属贫营养型水库,现存量自坝前向库尾逐步递增,Shannon-Wiener指数、Margalef丰富度指数和Pielou均匀度指数均在夏季最高,秋季最低,4次调查中寡毛类密度均未超过1 000ind./m2,水质属轻度污染.     

Morphologie und Infraciliatur einiger limnischer Ciliaten (Protozoa: Ciliophora)

The morphology, the infraciliature, and the silverline system of the fresh-water ciliatesUrotricha armata Kahl, 1927,Longifragma obliqua (Kahl, 1926) nov. gen., andTrochilioides fimbriatus nov. spec. are described. The new genusLongifragma is characterized by aProrodon-like “brosse” and an incompleteUrotricha-like somatic infraciliature. A new species,Urotricha dragescoi nov. spec., is suggested for theU. armata Kahl, 1927 of Dragesco et al. (1974).Trochilioides fimbriatus differs by its complex cyrtos from the other members of the genus.