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Phosphatized ostracods with appendages from the Lower Cretaceous of Brazil
A new ostracod, Pattersoncypris micropapillosa gen. et sp. nov., is described from the Aptian to Albian Santana Formation, Serra do Araripe, Ceara, Brazil. Of the 253 specimens obtained, 138 are complete carapaces of which 103 contain appendages in an excellent state of preservation. Of the total number of specimens only 15 are pre-adult instars and 6 are males. A small number (24) of single valves possibly represent moulted carapaces, the remainder were living up to the time of burial and fossilization.
New trilobites from the Silurian of north-east Greenland, with a note on trilobite faunas in pure limestones
A trilobite fauna of approximately Wenlock age from Kronprins Christians Land, north-east Greenland is described. The fauna occurs in a pure limestone and includes five new species of trilobites—Opoa adamsi gen. et sp. nov., Meroperix ataphrus gen. et sp. nov. (Scutelluidae); Selenoharpes loma sp. nov. (Harpidae); Chiozoon cowiei gen. et sp. nov., Hyrokybepharanx gen. et sp. nov. (Cheiruridae); with goldillaenids (two types) and lichids (two types) which also probably represent new genera, but which are not named because of the small number of specimens known.
The stratigraphic occurrence of early land plants
Determination of the age of the first land plants depends on sequences established for marine animals and possibly plant spores. Cooksonia in the Downtonian of Wales is currently the oldest proven vascular plant macrofossil. Similar appearing plants are found in comparable deposits in Czechoslovakia, U.S.S.R. (Podolia), and the U.S.A. (New York). The vascular nature of older macrofossils is unproven. The considerable evidence of older spores could be interpreted to mean that the separate characters of vascular plants evolved independently.
A new Devonian crinoid from Australia
Pernerocrinus discus sp. nov., a Devonian crinoid from the Lilydale Limestone, Victoria, is described. Additional information on the morphology of the genus is presented, supplementing that of Bouska.
The Sannoisian and some other Upper Palaeogene Ostracoda from north-west Europe
36 species and subspecies of ostracods are described from the Sannoisian of the Isle of Wight, the Paris Basin, and Belgium. Some comparative species are also described from the Headon Beds and Bembridge Limestone of the Isle of Wight and from the Stampian of the Paris Basin and Aquitaine Basin, and from the Sannoisian of Alsace. 3 new genera are described, Vecticypris, Cladarocythere, and Hammatocythere, together with 10 new species and 1 new subspecies.
Two new Cambrian trilobites from Tasmania
The first published descriptions of Tasmanian Cambrian trilobkes are given. Two new species, Opsidiscus argusi and Schmalenseeia gostinensis, are described from a fauna, the age of which is probably either that of the latest Middle Cambrian Lejopyge laevigata III Zone or the Middle Cambrian/Upper Cambrian Passage Zone. Opsidiscus argusi has well developed schizochroal eyes, recorded for the first time in this genus. The genera Opsidiscus and Schmalenseeia are reviewed. Opsidisus is placed in the Pagetiidae.
Review of fossil rodents from the Neogene Siwalik Beds of India and Pakistan
Sixteen species of rodents belonging to nine genera and five families are now known from the Neogene Siwalik Series of India and Pakistan. Detailed descriptions, illustrations and discussion are given for all species of rhizomyids, ctenodactylids and thryonomyids; brief mention is made of the hystricids and murids. The most abundant material is that of rhizomyids for which two distinct lineages are recognized: Rhizomyoides to Rhizomys and Kanisamys-Protachyoryctes to Tachyoryctes.
Wicherella and Gramannella, two new genera of Lower Jurassic Ostracoda from England
Two new genera of Lower Jurassic Ostracoda, Wicherella and Gramannella, are described and illustrated from the Upper Pliensbachian of England, and their recorded occurrence in north-west Europe discussed.
Hydrozoa and Scyphozoa and other medusoids from the Precambrian Ediacara fauna, South Australia
Eoporpita medusa gen. et sp. nov., is a chondrophore with annular float chambers. Simple dactylo-zooids and details of its gonozooids differentiate it from modern Porpitidae but its affinities are closest to these. The enigmatic group Cyclomedusa Sprigg has characters in common with Eoporpita but typically lacks a float. They could represent a form close to the hydrozoan root stock from which chondrophores arose but no certainly-assignable oral side is known. Two species of Scyphozoa are recognized from positive composite moulds including internal structures. Brachina delicata gen. et sp.