A new species of Leptotarsus (Diptera: Tipulidae) from the Lower Cretaceous Crato Formation of Brazil

Leptotarsus (sensu lato) lukashevichae sp. nov. is described and illustrated, based on a single but very well preserved female specimen from the Crato Formation of Brazil (Aptian, ca. 112 Ma). Along with other Leptotarsus species recently described from Lower Cretaceous beds of Brazil, Spain, Russia and China, this new species is among the oldest known records of the genus Leptotarsus and the family Tipulidae.     

辽宁北票四合屯盆地下白垩统义县组沉积相

本文系统地论述了北票四合屯盆地下白垩统义县组沉积时期的演化,将盆地演化划分为继承性初始坳陷、火山洼地、湖盆沉降与扩展三个阶段,其后由于火山作用而使盆地封闭。与盆地演化相对应,建立了盆内义县组的沉积相序,自下而上依次为冲积扇与河流相、火山沉积相、河流相、湖相(滨湖亚相,浅湖亚相,半深湖亚相,浅湖亚相,滨湖亚相,浅湖亚相)、火山溢流相,并指出火山喷发间歇期湖盆的湖水进退规律、水体性质以及沉积环境特征。     

High fidelity preservation of fossil insects from the Crato Formation (Lower Cretaceous) of Brazil

Fossil insects from the Lower Cretaceous (Aptian) Crato Formation of north-east Brazil are preserved as goethite replacements in laminated limestones of lacustro-lagoonal origin. They display remarkable degrees of morphological detail down to the macromolecular level in some examples. We document the fidelity of preservation and reveal an astonishing variety of morphological detail comparable in some instances with that found in amber inclusions.     

A possible azhdarchid pterosaur from the Crato Formation (Early Cretaceous,Aptian) of northeast Brazil

The partially articulated, distal portion of a left wing finger of a pterosaur from the Crato Formation of northeast Brazil has a T-shaped cross-section to the second and third phalanges. This cross-sectional shape is one of several characters diagnostic of the pterodactyloid pterosaur family Azhdarchidae (Unwin & Lu 1997). Until now, this family of pterosaurs was known exclusively from the Late Cretaceous. The specimen described here may be the first recorded azhdarchid from the southern hemisphere and the earliest recorded member of the family.     

Amazonsaurus maranhensis gen. et sp. nov. (Sauropoda, Diplodocoidea) from the Lower Cretaceous (Aptian–Albian) of Brazil

A new genus and species of an Aptian–Albian sauropod from the Itapecuru Formation, northern Brazil, Amazonsaurus maranhensis, is described. It is known from an incomplete, but diagnostic postcranial skeleton. The new taxon possesses several autapomorphies, such as the anterior caudal vertebrae with lateral laminae formed by the coalescence of the spinoprezygapophyseal and postzygodiapophyseal laminae and, to a lesser extent, of the postzygodiapophyseal laminae. It exhibits many synapomorphies supporting its inclusion in the Diplodocoidea. These include high caudal neural arches and anterior caudal neural arches with spinoprezygapophyseal laminae on the lateral aspect of the neural spine. This record is consistent with previous hypotheses on the existence of a community of Afro-South American dinosaurs.     

New Cretaceous Scoliidae (Vespida=Hymenoptera) from the Lower Cretaceous of Spain and Brazil

A new genus, Cretaproscolia, and three new species of scoliid wasps, Archaeoscolia hispanica, Cretoscolia montsecana and Cretaproscolia josai, are described from the Lower Cretaceous of Spain and Brazil. The species representing the new genus is attributed to the plesiomorphic extant subfamily Proscoliinae, while the two other new species are assigned to two previously described genera in the extinct, archaic subfamily Archaeoscoliinae. The Brazilian species is the first Mesozoic scoliidid to have been described from the New World.     

A new gigantic lacewing species (Insecta: Neuroptera) from the Lower Cretaceous of Brazil confirms the occurrence of Kalligrammatidae in the Americas

Makarkinia kerneri sp. nov. is described from the Lower Cretaceous Crato Formation of Brazil, based on an incomplete but very well-preserved hind wing (Neuroptera: Kalligrammatidae). The previously presumed attribution of the genus is confirmed, based on the diagnostic characters of its wing venation (e.g., dense crossvenation; the anteriorly directed branches of MP) and the presence of a distinct eye-spot on the wing. Makarkinia is the only American representative and youngest known genus of Kalligrammatidae. With an estimated wing length of 100–160 mm, it has the largest wings amongst all fossil and extant Neuroptera.     

Facies analysis and palaeoenvironmental interpretation of the Late Oligocene Attard Member (Lower Coralline Limestone Formation), Malta

The Oligocene represents a key interval during which coralline algae became dominant on carbonate ramps and luxuriant coral reefs emerged on a global scale. So far, few studies have considered the impact that these early reefs had on ramp development. Consequently, this study aimed at presenting a high‐resolution analysis of the Attard Member of the Lower Coralline Limestone Formation (Late Oligocene, Malta) in order to decipher the internal and external factors controlling the architecture of a typical Late Oligocene platform. Excellent exposures of the Lower Coralline Limestone Formation occurring along continuous outcrops adjacent to the Victoria Lines Fault reveal in detail the three‐dimensional distribution of the reef‐associated facies. A total of four sedimentary facies have been recognized and are grouped into two depositional environments that correspond to the inner and middle carbonate ramp. The inner ramp was characterized by a very high‐energy, shallow‐water setting, influenced by tide and wave processes. This setting passed downslope into an inner‐ramp depositional environment which was colonized by seagrass and interfingered with adjacent areas containing scattered corals. The middle ramp lithofacies were deposited in the oligophotic zone, the sediments being generated from combined in situ production and sediments swept from the shallower inner ramp by currents. Compositional characteristics and facies distributions of the Attard ramp are more similar to the Miocene ramps than to those of the Eocene. An important factor controlling this similarity may be the expansion of the seagrass colonization within the euphotic zone. This expansion may have commenced in the Late Oligocene and was associated with a concomitant reduction in the aerial extent of the larger benthonic foraminifera facies. Stacking‐pattern analysis shows that the depositional units (parasequences) at the study section are arranged into transgressive–regressive facies cycles. This cyclicity is superimposed on the overall regressive phase recorded by the Attard succession. Furthermore, a minor highstand (correlated with the Ru4/Ch1 sequence) and subsequent minor lowstand (Ch2 sequence) have been recognized. The biota assemblages of the Attard Member suggest that carbonate sedimentation took place in subtropical waters and oligotrophic to slightly mesotrophic conditions. The apparent low capacity of corals to form wave‐resistant reef structures is considered to have been a significant factor affecting substrate stability at this time. The resulting lack of resistant mid‐ramp reef frameworks left this zone exposed to wave and storm activity, thereby encouraging the widespread development of coralline algal associations dominated by rhodoliths.     

内蒙古开鲁盆地陆东凹陷下白垩统九佛堂组-沙海组层序地层格架及沉积相预测

综合利用岩心、测井、地震等资料,对内蒙古开鲁盆地陆东凹陷九佛堂组-沙海组层序地层特征及沉积相进行了系统研究。结果表明,陆东凹陷九佛堂组-沙海组可以识别出3个三级层序界面;划分为2个三级层序（九佛堂层序和沙海层序）,分别对应九佛堂组和沙海组;识别出4种主要沉积相类型：扇三角洲相、近岸浊积扇相、远岸浊积扇相及湖泊相。在层序格架内,利用钻、测井资料和二维、三维地震资料对沉积体进行分析,并以此为依据,进一步研究了体系域内沉积相平面展布特征及演化规律,最终建立了该时期沉积发育模式：在盆地陡坡带主要发育扇三角洲和近岸浊积扇,在盆地缓坡主要发育扇三角洲和滨浅湖滩坝沉积,在盆地深洼带主要发育远岸浊积扇和风暴岩。     

Continuity and facies heterogeneities of shallow carbonate ramp cycles (Sinemurian,Lower Jurassic,North‐east Spain)

The lateral continuity and facies heterogeneities of metre‐scale cycles in a greenhouse Lower Jurassic (Sinemurian) carbonate ramp from the northern Iberian Basin (Spain) was evaluated from extensive field analysis carried out on a well‐exposed 12 km long outcrop. Eleven high‐frequency continuous cycles and their bounding surfaces are traceable laterally through the entire outcrop. However, three of these cycles are found to split laterally into discontinuous cycles of more limited distribution (up to 3 to 5 km of lateral extent). The continuous and discontinuous cycles have a similar field expression in one‐dimensional logs. As a consequence, the number of cycles that can be differentiated is variable along the logged sections (i.e. from 11 to 16). Cycles have variable facies heterogeneities and sedimentary trends depending on the environment of formation: shallowing‐upward and symmetrical cycles occur in protected lagoon–tidal flat areas and in the open‐marine, high‐energy domain. These cycles show significant facies heterogeneities, which were controlled mainly by lateral migration of a mosaic of facies over an irregular topography. Deepening‐upward and aggradational cycles are generated in low‐energy, sub wave‐base, open‐marine areas. Facies are laterally homogeneous, reflecting low potential for carbonate accumulation and inability to fill the created accommodation space in this low‐relief and relatively deep area. Cycle boundaries are generated by stages of rapid accommodation gain, involving the flooding of the carbonate ramp; they are more likely to originate from regional tectonic pulses (related to the extensional tectonics operating in the northern Iberian Basin) rather than greenhouse low‐amplitude eustacy. Discontinuous cycles tend to occur in thickened areas and are interpreted as originating from the infill of wedge‐shaped accommodation space resulting from differential subsidence (i.e. local tectonic pulses). In conclusion, where thickness variations occur in extensional settings lateral continuity of cycles should not be expected. In less well‐exposed, or in one‐dimensional sections and in wells, it would not be possible to distinguish continuous from discontinuous cycles, or to understand such two‐dimensional heterogeneities. Identification of unique cycle‐forming mechanisms or attempting cyclostratigraphic long‐distance correlation of cycles is unrealistic without a detailed analysis of the architecture of cycles in laterally continuous outcrops.     

New fossil species of the Venicoridae (Heteroptera: Pentatomomorpha) from the Lower Cretaceous of Northeast China

Specimens of the Venicoridae (Heteroptera) occur in the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation in northeastern China. We describe a new genus and two new species Halonatusivena shii gen. et sp. nov. and Halonatusivena nervosus sp. nov. from this formation. The veins of the membrane are distinctive; the edges of veins are not simple but resemble an irregular stain, with a reduced vasiform structure previously unknown in the Heteroptera. Remarkably, the antennae of one of the specimens of Halonatusivena shii exhibit morphological abnormality. An identification key for the known species of the Venicoridae is provided.     

内蒙古西胡里吐盆地下白垩统大磨拐河组沉积相及砂岩型铀矿成矿作用

西胡里吐盆地是一个早白垩世断陷盆地，盆地盖层由下白垩统大磨拐河组构成。受同沉积断裂作用的影响，盆地的古地理格局总体为南陡北缓，南部主要发育冲积扇相、扇三角洲相，盆地北部以河流相、三角洲相为主，仅上部层位发育冲积扇相，而盆地中部的广大区域则以巨厚的湖泊相沉积占优势。大磨拐河组可进一步划分为三个岩性段。第一段形成于盆地断陷发育的初始阶段，以冲积扇、河流、三角洲发育为特征；第二段形成于湖泊迅速扩张至最大时期，沉积了一套巨厚的湖相泥岩，构成盆地盖层的主体，在晚期有河流、三角洲等粗碎屑沉积；第三段以冲积扇的极大发育为特征，代表盆地进入萎缩阶段。三个段总体表现为一段、三段岩性粗、煤层少且薄，二段岩性细、泥岩厚、煤层发育多。从第一段到第三段，基本构成了盆地一次完整的沉积充填历史。主要含矿层位大磨拐河组的沉积特点不仅控制着盆地内铀矿化的空间展布，而且也控制着本区的铀矿化类型。“粗～细～粗”的地层结构特点决定了本区的铀成矿作用主要发生于湖泊最大扩张的上部地层，即第二段上部及第三段的粗碎屑沉积物中，主要矿化层位为该套地层内的冲积扇、辫状河与三角洲相沉积，含矿岩石主要为渗透性好、富含有机质的砂砾岩、砂岩；同时由于上部含矿层位具有“砂多泥少”的特点，决定了本区铀矿化类型主要为具垂直分带的潜水氧化带型，仅局部存在潜水转层间氧化带型。     

Early-diverging Titanosauriform (Dinosauria, Sauropoda) Teeth from the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation of Southeastern Inner Mongolia, Northeast China

Three eusauropod teeth (SDUST-V1064, PMOL-AD00176, PMOL-ADt0005) are reported from the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation of Ningcheng, southeastern Inner Mongolia, China. Two of them (SDUST-V1064, PMOL-AD00176) are assigned to early-diverging titanosauriforms in having slightly mesiodistal expansion at the base of the tooth crown, a slenderness index value >2.0 and <4.0, and D-shaped cross section. Furthermore, SDUST-V1064 and PMOL-AD00176 are referred as an Euhelopus-like titanosauriform on the basis of having a sub-circular boss on the lingual surface and an asymmetrical crown-root margin which slants apically, respectively.     

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.     

松辽盆地中央坳陷南部下白垩统泉头组四段沉积相

松辽盆地中央坳陷南部下白垩统泉头组四段沉积时期,松辽盆地地形平缓,基底沉降缓慢,在湖平面整体扩张及浅水背景下河流入湖成三角洲沉积。通过岩心观察、相标志与测井相研究,该区储层主要为岩屑长石砂岩和长石岩屑砂岩,识别出三角洲平原、三角洲前缘、前角洲3种亚相,以及分支河道、天然堤、决口扇、分支河道间湾、水下分支河道、水下决口扇、河口坝、远沙坝、水下分支河道间湾9种微相三角洲平原、三角洲前缘广泛发育,前三角洲不发育。三角洲平原分支河道通过填积和频繁的分叉改道,向湖盆中心方向长距离推进,在三角前缘的浅水区域发育了大量水下分支河道,分支河道与水下分支河道砂体相互切割、叠加,形成了平均宽度200~600 m、平均厚度3~8 m的道单砂体,（水下）分支河道砂体构成了油气富集的主要储集体。该区沉积相的精细研究,为进一步调整开发井网奠定了基础。     

吉林新立油田下白垩统泉头组成岩储集相及储集空间演化

吉林新立油田位于吉林省松原市郭县以北新庙乡境内。综合应用25口取心井薄片、镜质体反射率、铸体、电镜、X衍射等岩心分析资料，研究了泉头组的成岩作用、成岩演化序列、成岩阶段划分及储集空间类型。根据成岩作用及特有的储集空间组合，划分了4种成岩储集相类型，即A相(不稳定组分强溶解次生孔隙成岩储集相)、B相(中等压实弱-中胶结混合孔隙成岩储集相)、C相(强压实中等胶结残余粒间孔成岩储集相)、D相(碳酸盐强胶结微孔隙成岩储集相)；并阐述了各类成岩储集相的特征，其中A相储集物性最好，B相次之，C相较差，D相最差。最后探讨了泉头组储集空间演化，在中成岩阶段A期形成了大量次生溶蚀孔隙，为首次在该区泉头组特低渗储层中预测相对有利的成岩储集相带提供了研究思路和科学依据，也为改善特低渗油田的开发效果奠定了坚实的地质基础。     

A diversified vertebrate ichnite fauna from the Feitianshan Formation (Lower Cretaceous) of southwestern Sichuan,China

The Bajiu tracksite exposed on a fine sandstone surface at the top of the Feitianshan Formation, close the contact with the overlying Xiaoba Formation, reveals a saurischian dominated ichnofauna consisting of four sauropod and at least eight theropod trackways. The sauropod trackways display a medium-wide gauge pattern characteristic of titanosauriforms, while the theropod trackways can be subdivided into two distinct morphotypes. One is similar to the ichnogenera Eubrontes and Megalosauripus, the other (cf. Dromaeopodus) appears to represent a functionally didactyl dromaeosaur where pedal digit II is represented only by an oval basal pad. A single swim track is possibly attributable to a turtle or crocodylian. Such sauropod-theropod dominated ichnofaunas are consistently typical of the red-bed tracksites in the region and useful for characterizing a fauna that is otherwise poorly known from body fossils. The stratigraphic position and late occurrence of the (typical Jurassic) Eubrontes-Megalosauripus morphotype is well known from other Cretaceous localities in China and seems to reflect a peculiarity in the theropod faunas of East Asia.     

辽宁省四合屯下白垩统义县组的兽脚类足迹化石和可能的造迹者

记述了辽宁省四合屯下白垩统义县组三个半恐龙足迹,归入似鹬龙足迹（亦译为跷脚龙足迹）一未定种（Grallator isp.）。这是义县组恐龙足迹化石的首次描述。该行迹至少由3个造迹者所造。从足迹推断恐龙体长1.51m,属于义县组兽脚类恐龙较为普遍的体长范围。重建了尾羽鸟(Caudipteryx)和中华龙鸟(Sinosauropteryx)的足部,前者的足迹轮廓与似鹬龙足迹未定种的吻合度超过后者。根据化石记录,似鹬龙足迹类型可能广泛存在于义县组的各种中小型兽脚类（驰龙类与伤齿龙类除外）中。     

Morphology and phylogenetic origin of the spinicaudatan Neodiestheria from the Lower Cretaceous Dalazi Formation,Yanji Basin,north-eastern China

The spinicaudatan Neodiestheria Chen is an important component of the diverse Early Cretaceous Yanjiestheria fauna in eastern Asia. Examination under a scanning electron microscope of newly collected and well-preserved specimens of Neodiestheria dalaziensis Chen from the Albian Dalazi Formation of Zhixin, Jilin Province, north-eastern China, has revealed morphological features of the carapace not recognized previously, namely that puncta are not only evenly distributed on growth bands near the umbo and gradually merge into a punctate fine reticulation and dense radial lirae on each growth band in the upper-middle part of the carapace, but also occur on growth lines and within the lumina of a fine reticulum, and between radial lirae on growth bands in the middle and lower parts of the carapace. Growth bands in anteroventral, ventral and posteroventral parts of the carapace are also ornamented with transversely elongate large pits (depressions) surrounded by swellings, appearing as a large reticulum superimposed over fine reticulation and radial lirae. These ontogenetically developing morphological patterns on the growth bands of the juvenile stage of the carapace indicate that Neodiestheria is closely related phylogenetically to Triglypta Wang.     

New fossil mesosciophilids (Diptera: Nematocera) from the Yixian Formation (Lower Cretaceous) of western Liaoning,China

A new genus with two new species, Orentalphila gravia gen. et sp. nov. and O. caloa sp. nov., and three new species in two known genera, Sinosciophila angustia sp. nov., Sinosciophila seboa sp. nov. and Similsciophila undulata sp. nov., are described from the Lower Cretaceous of Yixian Formation at Huangbanjigou, Beipiao City, western Liaoning, China. These new taxa, representing the first records of mesosciophilids from this locality, provide morphological information and diversity for Mesosciophilidae in the Early Cretaceous. An updated key to known genera of Mesosciophilidae is provided. In addition, according the generic diagnosis revised by Zhang, 2007, Mesoplecia antiqua Hao and Ren, 2009 should be transferred to Mesosciophila Rohdendorf, 1946.