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An important new ammonite fauna was collected by Fulop in 1953 and 1960 from basal lenses between a Tithonian hardground and the overlying Tata Limestone Formation containing many heteromorph ammonites. This assemblage of ammonites has been determined as being of Early Albian (tardefurcata Zone) age. Among the heteromorphs are species of Tonohamites and Ptychoceras, which are familiar components of Late Aptian or Early Albian ammonite faunas.

• Read more about Heteromorph ammonites from the Tata Limestone Formation (Aptian-Lower Albian), Hungary

Systematic and morphometric reappraisal of most specimens previously assigned to the cynodont clade Chiniquodontidae reveal that the group is diagnosed by two autapomorphies: (1) the distinctive angulation between the posterior portion of the maxillary and the anterior portion of the zygomatic arch and (2) very extended pterygoid flanges, ending in a thin projection; and a combination of features including: posterior postcanines sectorial with principal cusps backwardly recurved, and a long osseous palate.

• Read more about Chiniquodontid cynodonts: systematic and morphometric considerations

Bellabrunetia catherinae gen. et sp. nov., the first Chinese Mesozoic isophlebioid dragonfly, is described. This fossil is the first known Isophlebioptera with well-preserved body structures, demonstrating that the fore- and hindwings are of very different size and shape in Campterophlebiidae, and that the female Campterophlebiidae had an endophytic way of oviposition, unlike the Isophlebiidae.

• Read more about The first isophlebioid dragonfly (Odonata: Isophlebioptera: Campterophlebiidae) from the Mesozoic of China

Poekilopleuron bucklandii, described by Eudes-Deslongchamps in 1838, is one of the earliest discovered dinosaurs. Although incomplete, it is one of the best preserved Middle Jurassic theropods known from Europe. Unfortunately, the only specimen of P. bucklandii, housed in the Musee de la Faculte des Sciences de Caen, was destroyed during World War II. However, casts of some parts of the type skeleton have been found in the collections of the Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris. These casts and Eudes-Deslongchamps' monograph are used to redescribe the specimen.

• Read more about Poekilopleuron bucklandii, the theropod dinosaur from the Middle Jurassic (Bathonian) of Normandy

The taxonomic status of the stratigraphically-important Caradoc genera Salterolithus Bancroft, 1929, Broeggerolithus Lamont, 1935 and Smeathenia Dean, 1960 and the species therein is critically reviewed. The radial alignment patterns of the fringe pits within the E arcs are used to distinguish Salterolithus from Broeggerolithus; fringe morphology and pit counts are used to distinguish species within these genera. 'Broeggerolithus'harnagensis is reassigned to Salterolithus and S. praecursor, S.

• Read more about The taxonomy and stratigraphical significance of the Anglo-Welsh Cryptolithinae (Trinucleidae, Trilobita)

A relatively well-preserved specimen of Cetiosaurus oxoniensis, from the Middle Jurassic (Bajocian) of Rutland, United Kingdom, is described in detail. The material includes a nearly complete cervical series, representative dorsal vertebrae, a fragment of sacrum, anterior caudals, the right femur, and numerous rib and limb fragments. Contrary to previous suggestions that this specimen possesses 14 cervical and ten dorsal vertebrae, it seems more probable that there were at most 13 cervicals and at least 12 dorsals.

• Read more about The Rutland Cetiosaurus: the anatomy and relationships of a Middle Jurassic British sauropod dinosaur

A new species of oyster, Crassostrea tetoriensis, is described from the lower part of the Middle Jurassic-Cretaceous Tetori Group. This is the oldest record of the genus and one of the earliest muddy-bottom-dwelling oysters. Characteristics of the species include an elongate spatulate outline and narrow attachment area, an elongate hinge area with deep umbonal cavity, a reniform adductor muscle scar, and a smooth commissural margin without chomata.

• Read more about Jurassic soft-bottom oyster Crassostrea from Japan

Vegetative plant remains and microsporangiate cones, related to the fossil genera Frenelopsis and Classostrobus respectively, were studied in three localities from the Lower Cretaceous of the Pyrenees and Iberian Ranges (Spain). Sterile remains belong to three different species: F. Rubiesensis Barale, F. Ugnaensis sp. nov. and F. Turolensis sp. nov. The male cones Classostrobus ugnaensis sp. nov. and C. Turolensis sp. nov. are associated with the two latter species respectively, and C. Turolensis is found in connection with F. Turolensis. Internodes of F.

• Read more about Frenelopsis (Coniferales: Cheirolepidiaceae) and related male organ genera from the Lower Cretaceous of Spain

Silurian palaeobiogeography of the Ramphoprionidae (Annelida; Polychaeta) is outlined. Members of the family are reported from northern Europe (Estonia, Sweden and England), the Russian Arctic (Severnaya Zemlya), and the Canadian Arctic (Baillie-Hamilton Island). These areas were located fairly close to the palaeoequator during the Silurian and a faunal exchange is indicated by the broad, intercontinental distribution of the family. A few taxa may, however, have been endemic.

• Read more about The palaeobiogeography of Silurian ramphoprionid polychaete annelids

Cretamygale chasei, a new genus and species of spider, is described from a single specimen preserved in amber of early Barremian age from the Isle of Wight. This is the oldest (and second Cretaceous) amber spider to be described, and the first record of a Mesozoic spider from Britain. It belongs to the group Bipectina of the infraorder Mygalomorphae, and is tentatively referred to the family Nemesiidae. It is the oldest bipectinate, extending the record by around 90 myr, the only known fossil nemesiid, and the second oldest fossil mygalomorph.

• Read more about First British Mesozoic spider, from Cretaceous amber of the Isle of Wight, southern England