A New Species of Amsassia from the Ordovician of Korea and South China: Paleobiological and Paleogeographical Significance

A new species of the probable calcareous alga Amsassia, A. koreanensis, is recognized from the Duwibong Formation (Middle Ordovician, Darriwilian) of the Taebaeksan Basin in mid-eastern Korea. This is the first report of the genus from the Korean Peninsula, expanding its geographical range to the eastern Sino-Korean Block. The new species also occurs in the Xiazhen Formation (Upper Ordovician, Katian) at Zhuzhai in the South China Block. Amsassia koreanensis is the smallest species of this modular genus, having a maximum module diameter of 0.28 mm. Module increase is by bipartite, tripartite and quadripartite types of longitudinal axial fission, but unlike other species of the genus, quadripartite fission is common. The types of fission are comparable to those in some Tetradiida (now Prismostylales, florideophycean rhodophyte algae), although the processes of fission are different. The distribution of A. koreanensis further strengthens the biogeographical connection between the Sino-Korean and South China blocks, suggesting that these two paleocontinents were located closer together during the Middle to Late Ordovician than previously speculated.     

A new compsocid booklouse from the Cretaceous amber of Myanmar (Psocodea: Troctomorpha: Amphientometae: Compsocidae)

Paraelectrentomopsis chenyangcaii gen. et sp. nov. from the Cretaceous Burmese amber is characterized, described, illustrated and its position is discussed. This fossil taxon is the second compsocid barklouce to be described from the Burmese amber and constitute one of the earliest records of the family. A checklist of known Compsocidae is given. Identification keys of all known Compsocidae are provided. A palaeobiogeography scenario is proposed.     

Evolution and palaeosynecology of the Mesozoic earwigs (Insecta: Dermaptera)

Sinoprotodiplatys zhangi gen. et sp. nov. is described from the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation in Liaoning Province, near Beipiao City, China. It is one of the most recent representatives of the suborder Archidermaptera. The classification and synonymies among the archidermapteran families are reassessed. The palaeosynecological evolution of the Mesozoic earwigs is analysed using the new tool of the ‘Wagner Parsimony using Morphological Characters’ method (‘WAPUM’), suggesting that the evolution of the morphology of these insects was very progressive, perhaps owing to their way of life in the soil.     

Weiwoboidae fam.nov.of 'Higher' Fulgoroidea (Hemiptera:Fulgoromorpha) from the Eocene Deposits of Yunnan,China

<正>A new family of so-called‘higher' planthoppers,Weiwoboidae fam.nov.,from the Lower Eocene of Yunnan is described.A new monotypic genus,Weiwoboa gen.nov.,with Weiwoboa meridiana sp.nov.is also described and illustrated.The characters of tegmen venation of the new family,its evolution,and supposed relationships are briefly discussed.     

Microelectrona cladara gen.et sp.nov.:A New Protodikraneurini from the Eocene Baltic Amber(Hemiptera:Cicadomorpha:Cicadellidae:Typhlocybinae)

<正>A new genus Microelectrona gen.nov.and species Microelectrona cladara sp.nov.of the extinct tribe Protodikraneurini of the leafhoppers(Cicadeilidae:Typhlocybinae) from the Eocene Baltic amber is described. The piece of amber containing leafhopper inclusion is broken,unveiling some of the morphological structures,and enabling their studies using scanning electron microscopy.     

A New Thorny Lacewing (Insecta: Neuroptera: Rhachiberothidae) from the Early Cretaceous Amber of Lebanon

<正>A new genus and species of Rhachiberothidae,Raptorapax terribilissima gen.et sp.nov.from the Cretaceous amber of Lebanon is described.The new genus is assigned to the subfamily Paraberothinae.The new material confirms the great diversity of the group in the Cretaceous age and its decrease in diversity in recent times.     

辽宁义县组禽龙类恐龙一新属种——义县薄氏龙Bolong yixianensis gen. et sp. nov.

在辽西义县组新发现了一具近完整的禽龙类化石骨架.据头骨和牙齿特征建立了一新属、新种--义县薄氏龙(Bolong yixianensis gen.et sp.nov.).它的自近裔性状包括:上颌骨与泪骨之间有一凹坑;在眼眶之上,前额骨后部发育有一前后延长的凹陷;前额骨后侧边缘发育一厚嵴,在厚嵴之上有一前后延长的凹陷;前齿骨腹突向后延伸并与前齿骨腹缘平行;齿骨背侧的前齿骨关节面高度不足齿骨高度的2/3,齿骨前尖位于齿骨自下向上1/3高处;上颌骨牙齿主脊位于牙齿颊面后1/3处,并向后弯曲.与同样在辽西义县组发现的锦州龙Jinzhousaurus的头骨和牙齿相比较,薄氏龙至少有14处不同.包括上颌骨前端不下弯、前齿骨腹突分叉和上颌骨齿齿冠有多条副脊等.它也是迄今在亚洲发现的几种最原始的禽龙类之一.     

A cystoid with two left facets: the significance of Tetracystis in the evolution and classification of the Callocystitidae (Echinodermata,Glyptocystitoida)

Revision of some North American Silurian callocystitid cystoids shows that Tetracystis Schuchert has the first two brachioles to the left in ambulacra B and D (B D different pattern), whereas Troosticystis Paul and Lovenicystis Regéll have only the first brachiole to the left in all four ambulacra (B–E the same pattern). ‘Apiocystites’ elegans Hall is transferred to Tetracystis because it has the B D different pattern. Lovenicystis kopfi sp. nov. is characterized by four short ambulacra. Salirocystis gen. nov. has the B D different pattern and two hydropores. All callocystitids that lack ambulacrum A are assigned to a new subfamily, the Tetracystinae; those with five ambulacra are referred to informally as ‘lepadocystines’. The previously recognized subfamily Callocystitinae is reduced in rank to a tribe within the ‘lepadocystines’. Preliminary character analysis suggests that the loss of ambulacrum A was the most significant evolutionary event within the family Callocystitidae, but has been overlooked in taxonomy. Character analysis also shows that all ‘lepadocystines’ had the B D different pattern of primary brachioles, which is retained in four tetracystine genera, Lepocrinites Conrad, Sphaerocystites Hall, Tetracystis and Salirocystis. Since Salirocystis has the plesiomorphic B D different pattern plus the apomorphic double hydropore, one cannot define a monophyletic taxon characterized by the B–E the same pattern plus one characterized by a double hydropore. Both alternatives are equally parsimonious. Here a new monophyletic tribe Lipsanocystini is defined characterized by a double hydropore. The B–E the same pattern evolved independently twice. Among current characters the loss of ambulacrum A, development of the B–E the same pattern and development of two hydropores are the most significant evolutionary events. Number of periproct border plates, length and structure of ambulacra are less significant. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A new pterodactyloid pterosaur from the Santana Formation (Cretaceous) of Brazil

A partial skull comprising fused maxilla/premaxilla and palate of a ctenochasmatoid pterosaur from the Santana Formation of the Araripe Basin in NE Brazil is named as the new genus and species Unwindia trigonus gen. et sp. nov. on account of its long slender rostrum, isodonty with raised dental alveoli and dentition of seven tooth pairs restricted to the portion of the rostrum anterior to the nasoantorbital fenestra. Unwindia is assigned to the Ctenochasmatoidea, and is probably basal within the clade.