Archive

A distinctive palynologic assemblage is associated with Equisetites soil beds and fragment partings in the Wadhurst Clay of south-east England. Some of the components are probably the products of a local flora which grew in or near the Equisetites communities. Palynologic and palaeobotanic data suggest that the communities were isolated from the 'homogeneous Wealden delta flora', probably offshore from the delta complex. New taxa have been recorded from the assemblages.

• Read more about Palynology of early Cretaceous soil beds and associated strata

The holochroal eyes of the Lower Ordovician trilobite Asaphus raniceps Dalman have been studied using light and electron microscopy.In these eyes the refractive elements are elongated calcite prisms underlying a cornea which is continuous with, although structurally dissimilar to, the 'outer cuticular layer' described by Dalingwater. The prisms are orientated with their c-axes normal to the surface.

• Read more about The eyes of Asaphus raniceps Dalman (Trilobita)

Archegonus (Weania) feltrimensis sp. nov. is described from the Lower Visean of Feltrim, Co. Dublin, Ireland. This species combines characteristics of A. (Weania) with those of A. (Waribole) and A. (Angustibole) and shows that A. (Weania) evolved from the A. ( Waribole) stock and not from Cyrtosymbole (Pseudowaribole) as supposed by Osmolska.

• Read more about Lower Viséan trilobites from Feltrim, Ireland

Lower Carboniferous conodonts have been recovered from the Cork Beds at several localities situated between Cork and Bantry Bay in south-west Ireland. They are all of Tournaisian age. Faunas with siphonodellids and gnathodids suggest comparison with the late Kinderhookian and early Osagean of the U.S.A., and with the upper Siphonodella crenulata Zone of Germany.

• Read more about Lower Carboniferous conodont faunas from south-west Ireland

Gypidulid brachiopods lived unattached, oriented in a beak-down position aided by weighting of the posterior end of the pedicle valve. This adaptation evolved as a specialization for occupying well reworked and occasionally shifting sand substrates. This sedimentary environment characterizes the open shelf, near wave base in transgressing epeiric seas. The occurrence of Gypidula and its associated faunal community suggest a substrate-salinity control for the analogous Pentamerus Community of Ziegler.

• Read more about Palaeoecology of Appalachian gypidulid brachiopods

Recent examination of the conodonts from the basal limestone of the Mandagery Park Formation suggests a middle to late Lochkovian (late Lower Gedinnian) age for this richly fossiliferous horizon. The fauna includes numerous early Lower Devonian conodonts but the characteristic early to late Praguian species Spathognathodus sulcatus and S. optimus are absent and this is significant in indicating a pre-Praguian upper age limit. A post-middle Lochkovian lower age limit is suggested by the presence of the conodonts Belodella devonica, B. triangularis, S. inclinatus wurmi, and S.

• Read more about Lower Devonian conodonts from New South Wales

A new species of carpiliid crab, Palaeocarpilius aquilinus, is described from the Lutetian of Central Libya and comparisons are made with other members of the genus. The posterior margin of P. aquilinus is wider in the female than the male. This finding is compared with four species of xanthid crabs.

• Read more about A new crab from the Middle Eocene of Libya

Fish otoliths including the representatives of one new genus and four new species are described from the Neocomian, Albian, and Upper Cenomanian. Their possible affinities with earlier and later teleost groups are discussed.

• Read more about Fish otoliths from the English Cretaceous

The Abbotsbury Ironstone represents a rare sandy facies of the Lower Kimmeridgian in Britain. Palaeo-ecological studies show that it consists of three facies deposited in an offshore beach or barrier bar environment. The main control on the fauna is thought to be the degree of water agitation.

• Read more about The palaeoenvironment of the Abbotsbury Ironstone (Upper Jurassic) of Dorset

A small collection of fossil vertebrates from the Siwa area of Egypt is described. This fauna includes five mammalian genera—a creodont, a cetacean—Schizodelphis off. sulcatus, a proboscidean—Gomphotherium angus-tidens, a rhinoceros—Brachypotherntm snowi, and an anthracothere—Brachyodus africanus; fish and reptiles are also present. This fauna is important as it agrees with the mammalian faunas of Moghara, Egypt, and Gebel Zelten, Libya, which are both early Miocene in age.

• Read more about A Lower Miocene mammalian fauna from Siwa, Egypt