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A new genus and species of late Permian dicynodont, Kwazulusaurus shakai, is described on the basis of a complete skull from the late Permian Dicynodon Assemblage Zone of the South African Beaufort Group. It is an advanced form which shows characters, such as the shape of the snout and the loss of the ectopterygoid, that link it to the early Triassic genus Lystrosaurus. Kwazulusaurus represents the most basal member of the lystrosaurian lineage. The phylogeny of progressive pristerodontian dicynodonts is discussed.

• Read more about A new basal lystrosaurid dicynodont from the Upper Permian of South Africa

Well preserved middle to upper Silurian (Wenlock-Ludlow) graptolites from Bolivia are described for the first time. Generally monospecific graptolite faunas, of species largely endemic to South America, are found in a few levels in the lower part of the Kirusillas, Rio Carrasco and Uncia formations. The oldest identified level yields specimens of Pristiograptus praedeubeli (Jaeger) and is referred to the upper Wenlock. Younger faunas belong to the Ludlow and include Saetograptus, Monograptus and Neodiversograptus specimens. These may be referred to the Gorstian (lower Ludlow).

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Sampling of a lenticular concentration of vertebrate debris and associated sediments from the lower Kimmeridgian of southern England has allowed the study of a diverse and abundant assemblage of chondrichthyan remains. A number of previously undescribed species are recorded, of which three new species are named; Squatina? frequens, Synechodus plicatus and Protospinax planus. Additional diagnosis of the genus Paracestracion Koken is given to allow its identification from dental remains. Several nominal batoid species are synonymised with Spathobatis bugesiacus Thiolliere.

• Read more about Sharks, rays and a chimaeroid from the Kimmeridgian (Late Jurassic) of Ringstead, southern England

The recently proposed subclass Euomphalomorpha Bandel and Fryda, 1998 was primarily based on an openly coiled, planispiral initial whorl. Here, the protoconch of Carboniferous euomphalids is described and figured in detail previously unknown. This protoconch comprises distinctly less than one planispiral whorl with an abrupt transition to the telecoconch. It is umbilicate or openly coiled. Umbilicate or bilaterally symmetrical protoconchs are still present in Recent species of the Cocculiniformia, the Neomphalidae and the Docoglossa.

• Read more about An evaluation of the recently proposed Palaeozoic gastropod subclass Euomphalomorpha

The late Ordovician brachiopod assemblage from Sardinia is one of the youngest members of the deep-water Foliomena fauna and is characterized by the following core taxa: Christiania, Cyclospira, Dedzetina and Foliomena. The fauna also contains Epitomyonia, Leangella, Glyptorthis and Skenidioides, which are more typical of shallower-water environments during the late Ordovician but occupied deeper-water niches during the Silurian following the termination of the Foliomena fauna.

• Read more about Foliomena fauna (Brachiopoda) from the Upper Ordovician of Sardinia

We use geometric morphometrics to test a claim that the Ordovician trilobite Carolinites exhibits gradualistic evolution. We follow a previously proposed definition of gradualism, and define the criteria an ideal microevolutionary case study should satisfy. We consider the Lower-Middle Ordovician succession at Ibex, western Utah to meet these criteria. We discovered examples of: (1) morphometric characters which fluctuate with little or no net change; (2) characters which show abrupt 'step' change; (3) characters which show transitional change through intermediate states.

• Read more about The Ordovician trilobite Carolinites, a test case for microevolution in a macrofossil lineage

Analysis of numerous conodont element clusters from the Lower Ordovician cherts of the Burubaital Formation in central Kazakhstan reveals that the apparatus of Paracordylodus gracilis Lindströum, 1955 consisted of 15 elements: two M elements, nine S elements (including 1 S0), and four P elements (2 P1, 2 P2). The clusters probably originated as faecal pellets, but the best preserved indicate that the architecture of the apparatus of P.

• Read more about Apparatus composition, growth, and survivorship of the Lower Ordovician conodont Paracordylodus gracilis Lindström, 1955

The new goniopholidid crocodile Goniopholis baryglyphaeus sp. nov. from the Kimmeridgian of Guimarota/Leiria, Portugal is based on the oldest known relatively complete skeleton of Goniopholis from Europe and consists of a nearly complete skull together with a mandible and various postcranial remains. G.

• Read more about A new species of Goniopholis from the Upper Jurassic of Portugal

Four giant dragonfly larvae are described from the Lower Cretaceous of China. Owing to the preservation of wing tracheal venation on the larval wing sheaths, they can be identified as the first undoubted larvae of the extinct Mesozoic family Aeschnidiidae. They are ultimate or penultimate male and female specimens, and a younger larva. The female larva has a very long ovipositor sheath.

• Read more about The larvae of the Mesozoic family Aeschnidiidae and their phylogenetic implications (Insecta, Odonata, Anisoptera)

Excellent three dimensional preservation of 142 specimens of Alanops magnificus gen. et sp. nov. (Chelicerata: Xiphosura) from the Stephanian Konservat-Lagerstätte of Montceau-les-Mines (Saone-et-Loire, France), exposes the carapace design and hitherto unrecorded details of fossil xiphosuran ventral anatomy, and makes possible an interpretation of appendicular functional morphology. All legs are long, slender and chelate.

• Read more about A new three-dimensionally preserved xiphosuran chelicerate from the Montceau-les-Mines Lagerstätte (Carboniferous, France)