Archive

Documenting patterns of long-term faunal change is an important application of palaeontological data, but questionable results may be obtained if the potential effects of sampling bias are not considered. Analysis of fossil Caribbean reef coral occurrences indicates significant species turnover during the late Neogene. The goal of this study is to test this pattern for a subset of the entire fauna by using phylogenetic information to identify problematical taxa and periods of poor sampling.

• Read more about A phylogenetic test of accelerated turnover in Neogene Caribbean brain corals (Scleractinia: Faviidae)

• Read more about All-time giants: the largest animals and their problems [Palaeontological Association annual address]

Four specimens of the aetosaur Stegomus are known from Upper Triassic strata of the Newark Supergroup of the eastern United States. These specimens represent a small aetosaur with a long narrow carapace that is distinctly waisted in front of the hindlimbs, has paramedian scutes much wider than long and lateral scutes that lack spikes. Stegomus is thus remarkably similar to Aetosaurus Fraas, but has weaker sculpturing on its scutes.

• Read more about Aetosaurus (Archosauromorpha) from the Upper Triassic of the Newark Supergroup, eastern United States, and its biochronological significance

Three incomplete specimens of a large lobopod, Hadranax augustus gen. et sp. nov. are described from the exceptionally preserved Sirius Passet fauna (Buen Formation, Lower Cambrian, North Greenland). Its overall appearance and size are similar to those of Xenusion auerswaldi Pompeckj from the Baltic, but H. augustus differs in its possession of four poorly defined dorsal nodes in each row rather than two, and in the probable possession of a pair of long, branched frontal appendages.The new specimens further demonstrate that the lobopods were a widespread and diverse Cambrian group.

• Read more about A new xenusiid lobopod from the Early Cambrian Sirius Passet fauna of North Greenland

The first Cicadomorpha, Gallodunstania grauvogeli gen. et sp. nov., is described from the Triassic of the Vosges (France) and is provisionally attributed to the Palaeontinoidea family Dunstaniidae.

• Read more about The first 'cicada-like Homoptera' from the Triassic of the Vosges, France

A new species of primitive cystoid, Cardiocystites pleuricostatus, is described from the Caradoc of Shropshire. Its superb preservation clarifies the morphology of this problematical taxon and shows it to belong to the Rhipidocystidae. Its highly flattened theca cannot be indicative of a recumbent mode of life, contrary to previous interpretations, since its arms and brachioles formed a conical filter. The flat, thin-plated theca may have been a specialization either for aiding gaseous exchange, or for providing hydrodynamic lift to the crown.

• Read more about Palaeobiology of the primitive Ordovician pelmatozoan echinoderm Cardiocystites

In the Upper Barremian of the Iberian Ranges (Las Hoyas, Cuenca, Spain) an association of exceptionally well preserved charophyte thalli comprises four new form-species: Palaeonitella vermicularis sp. nov., Charaxis spicatus sp. nov., Clavatoraxis robustus gen. et sp. nov., and Clavatoraxis diaz-romerali sp. nov. This is the youngest fossil record of the genus Palaeonitella. The new form-genus Clavatoraxis is erected to include charophyte vegetative remains bearing spine-cell rosettes, a character attributed to the family Clavatoraceae.

• Read more about Charophytes from the Lower Cretaceous of the Iberian Ranges (Spain)

Scanning electron microscopy of polished, slightly etched rock surfaces of samples from the Silurian of Gotland, Sweden, revealed the presence of excellently preserved calcareous microfaunas and microfloras. This paper illustrates several morphotypes of calcareous micro-organisms of unknown biological affinity, attributed to the new family Ovummuridae.

• Read more about Porifera and Chancelloriidae from the Middle Cambrian of the Georgina Basin, Australia

Dinoflagellate cyst analysis has been completed on core-top samples that form a transect from the area of the Falkland Islands to the Weddell Sea, Antarctica. This study is the first to document the distribution of the Recent dinoflagellate cyst thanatocoenosis in the area. All the dinoflagellate cysts recovered are described and at least two species, Dalella chathamense and Selenopemphix antarctica, are recognized as endemic to the southern hemisphere from the results of this study and from previous research.

• Read more about Recent dinoflagellate cysts in a transect from the Falkland Trough to the Weddell Sea, Antarctica

Aglosperma avonensis is a new acupulate species of Early Carboniferous preovule from the VI miospore biozone of the Avon Gorge near Bristol. It is closest in morphology to the slightly older Aglosperma quadrapartita from the Taff Gorge near Cardiff, although distinction can be made on the characteristics of the integument, the nucellus and on general size. The possibility that the new preovule represents an ontogenetic stage of A. quadrapartita is discounted.

• Read more about Spermatophyte preovules from the basal Carboniferous of the Avon Gorge, Bristol