Affinity of Dayiacean brachiopods
A recent proposal to assign the dayiacean brachiopods to the Athyridoidea is rejected. A new suborder Dayioidea is proposed.
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The Upper Palaeozoic tetracoral genera Lophophyllidium and Timorphyllum
The morphology of Lophophyllidium-like genera and their relationships are described and discussed. In early growth stages, Lophophyllidium has a zaphrentoid arrangement of septa with an elongate counter septum; the genus is characterized by a pseudocolumella that is extremely variable in morphology, both ontogenetically and between individuals; septal microstructure is trabecular. The synonymy of Laphophyllidium includes Sinophyllum Grabau. Malonophyllum Okulitch and Albritton, Stereostylus Jeffords, Agarikophyllum Fomitshev.
A specimen location technique for SEM strew mounts
A technique is described for the preparation of strew mounts for SEM examination, which allows the position of any specimen to be recorded such that it can be re-examined at a later date.
Selective epizoan encrustation of some Silurian Brachiopods from Gotland
In a large collection of brachiopods from the Ludlow of Gotland, epizoan attachment is related to surface shell ornament and rib angularity. 'Camarotoechia' nucula has lateral inhalant canals which are indicated by Cornulites encrusting that part of the host shell. The distribution of Spirorbis suggests that 'Camarotoechia' nucula and Homoeospira baylei lived with the pedicle valve up, whilst Ptychopleurella bouchardi lived with the anterior commissure up.
An improved method of mounting palaeontological specimens for SEM examination
The technique involves the use of wax as the mounting medium for palaeontological specimens. A faster and more efficient mounting of specimens is achieved in addition to precise orientation and increased cleanliness of specimens. Following SEM examination, the specimens can be removed from the wax if necessary.
The Silurian trilobite Onycopyge Woodward
New material of Onycopyge liversidgei Woodward, from the Upper Silurian in the vicinity of the type locality at Quidong. New South Wales, permits the clarification of the morphology of the genus and its assignment to the Subfamily Deiphoninae. Another occurrence of the genus in Ludlovian rocks at Canberra is reported. Two types of pygidia at Quidong suggest that the species may be sexually dimorphic. Evidence is produced in support of the view that members of the Deiphoninae were benthonic.
Lower Carboniferous conodont faunas from north-east Devonshire
Two distinct successions, the Bampton and the Westleigh, exist in the Lower Carboniferous of northeast Devonshire. The characters of the two are briefly described, mainly on the basis of field evidence. Conodonts reinforce earlier suggestions that these successions both belong in cuII and cuIII of the Lower Carboniferous. The conglomeratic limestones in the Westleigh succession include some apparently shelf-derived clasts.
An apparently heterosporous plant from the Middle Devonian of New Brunswick
A new plant of Lower or Middle Devonian age is described from Chaleur Bay, New Brunswick, as a new genus and species, Chaleuria cirrosa. It consists of a main axis bearing closely spiralled monopodial branches which in turn bear spirally arranged dichotomous ultimate branchlets. Pairs of sporangia terminate some ultimate branchlets. Macerations of sporangia yielded spores of two sizes (30-48 micro-m and 60-156 micro-m) which also differ from one another in shape and ornamentation.
Two new subspecies of Phacops rana [Trilobita] from the Middle Devonian of North-West Africa
Phacops rana africanus subsp. nov. and P. rana tindoufensis subsp. nov. are described from the Middle Devonian of North-West Africa. They are considered to be close to P. rana milleri Stewart and P.rana crassituberculata Stumm of North America. An origin for P. rana in the European and North African P. schloteimi (s.l.) group is postulated. Migration of forms between the two areas is necessary to explain the distribution pattern of P. rana, and routes between North-West Africa and North America are examined with reference to the contemporary positions of the continents.
Podocarpus from the Upper Cretaceous of Eastern Asia and its bearing on the theory of conifer evolution
Podocarpus tzagajanicus sp. nov. from the Uppermost Cretaceous (Tzagajan beds) of the Bureja River augments the Mesozoic record of the northern hemisphere Podocarpaceae. 'Northern' and 'southern' conifers grew side by side in Mesozoic and Tertiary forests. The distribution of conifers has been more deeply affected by climatic changes than by continental drift.