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A well-preserved sample of Pyrotherium is described from at least two stratigraphic horizons in the Salla Beds of Bolivia. This sample is essentially indistinguishable from, and therefore conspecific with, the species P. romeri from Argentina. This represents the first description of this large herbivorous mammal outside of the classic 'Pyrotherium Beds' of Argentina. The presence of this biochronologically diagnostic taxon further supports previous assignments of a Deseadan (Oligocene) age for the Salla Beds of Bolivia.

• Read more about Pyrotherium, a large enigmatic ungulate (Mammalia, incertae sedis) from the Deseadan (Oligocene) of Salla, Bolivia

The trace fossil Diplichnites cuithensis Briggs, Rolfe and Brannan, 1979 is described from the Tynemouth Creek Formation of southern New Brunswick, and is interpreted as a trail of the giant Carboniferous myriapod Arthropleura. The arthropod was weaving through a forest of calamites which formed a single species stand on a sheetflood deposit in an alluvial fan environment. Comparison with other Arthropleura trails suggests that, in this case, drier conditions prevailed, supporting the interpretation of an essentially terrestrial habit for the arthropod.

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Reconsideration of the characteristics of all species referred to the three genera which have hitherto constituted the Family Pulvinitidae Stephenson, 1941, indicates that all should be accommodated in the nominate genus, Pulvinites Blainville, 1824. A new species, P. mackerrowi from the middle Jurassic of England (the earliest known representative of the family) is described.

• Read more about Revision of the bivalve family Pulvinitidae Stephenson, 1941

The modern crinoid Chladocrinus (Neocrinus) decorus (Wyville Thomson) has a column which is divided into a short proximal growing region, and a longer distal portion in which the arrangement of columnals remains constant. Lumen shape is pentagonal just beneath the cup but is circular for most of the length of the stem. Articular facet morphology shows considerable variation proximally but is constant in the dististele except between nodals and infranodals, where articulation is synostosial rather than symplexial.

• Read more about Stem morphology of the Recent crinoid Chladocrinus (Neocrinus) decorus

An almost complete skeleton of a small crocodilian has been found in the Barremian-Aptian of Galve (province of Teruel, Spain). Its well preserved skull is described here. Several cranial features are very reminiscent of Bernissartia fagesii Dollo, from the Wealden of Belgium: general outline, proportions of the snout and of the posterior region, anterior outline of the orbits, relative proportions of the orbits and supratemporal fenestrae, absence of a maxillary depression.

• Read more about An immature specimen of the crocodilian Bernissartia from the Lower Cretaceous of Galve (Province of Teruel, Spain)

Study of material from a new locality reveals the presence of an Aalenian thecideacean which, in its morphology and shell microstructure, is similar to certain upper Jurassic and lower Cretaceous species. The new Aalenian specimens are assigned to Mimikonstantia sculpta gen. et sp. nov. because of the doubtful validity of the upper Jurassic genus Konstantia Pajaud 1970. Although impunctate, the shell microstructure, with its suppressed secondary fibrous mosaic, closely resembles that of the lower Cretaceous Thecidiopsis tetragona (Roemer) and T. lata Smirnova.

• Read more about A new polyseptate thecideacean brachiopod from the Middle Jurassic of the Cotswolds, England

The use of ichnoterminology for flask-shaped borings is reviewed. The names Gastrochaenolites Leymcrie and Teredolites Leymerie are recommended for use as ichnogenera for such borings in lithic and lignic substrates respectively. A range of morphology is recognized for each genus and the following new ichnospecies are described: G, ampullatus. G. cluniformis, G. dijugus, G. lapidicus. G, orbicularis, G. ornutus, G. torpedo, G. turbinatus, and T. longissimus, A key is given for rapid identification of the species, and stratigraphic distributions are given.

• Read more about Ichnological nomenclature of clavate borings

A coracoid (a syntype specimen) and a humerus, both of which are comparatively small, were formerly assigned to the large, extinct Pleistocene Maltese Crane Grus melitensis. They are reassigned to the much smaller extant Common Crane G. grus. This reidentification, supported by the discovery of additional Common Crane specimens from the Maltese Pleistocene, removes the evidence for maintaining, as previous authors have done, that the Maltese Crane had reduced flying power.

• Read more about Crane Grus fossils from the Maltese Pleistocene

The rhynchosaurs (Reptilia, Diapsida) were important medium-sized herbivores in the middle to late Triassic (245-208 Ma). They had a remarkable multiple-row dentition with a powerful precision-shear bite. Their teeth had ankylothecodont implantation—that is, the deeply rooted teeth were fused to bone of attachment which could also invade the pulp chambers, but there was no socket. There was no typical reptilian tooth replacement from below.

• Read more about Tooth form, growth, and function in Triassic rhynchosaurs (Reptilia, Diapsida)

A new genus, Glenrosa, is erected to include two species of fossil conifer shoots, G. texensis (Fontaine) comb. nov. (the type species) and G. pagiophylloides (Fontaine) comb. nov. which are found interspersed with conifer species belonging to the family Cheirolepidiaceae. The stomatal arrangement of the new genus, which is similar to that of the extant angiosperm Nerium oleander L. of the Apocynaceae but unlike any other gymnosperm, shows extreme xeromorphy and is probably an adaptation to an arid environment.

• Read more about A new conifer genus from the Lower Cretaceous Glen Rose Formation, Texas