Archive

Four Codiaceae (calcareous chlorophyte algae) are described from the Middle East. Anchicodium sindbadi sp. nov., Tauridium kurdistanensis sp. nov., and Aphroditicodium aurantium gen. et sp. nov. are from the Permian: Boueina hochstetteri Toula (Lower Cretaceous) is a first Middle East record. Aphroditicodium is compared with other segmented Codiaceae from Ordovician to Recent, and their characters are tabulated.

• Read more about New and little-known Permian and Cretaceous Codiaceae (calcareous algae) from the Middle East

Conodonts of the Polygnathus varcus (Middle Devonian, Givetian) Zone and the lower (Upper Devonian) and upper part of the Lower Pol. asymmetricus Zone (Upper Devonian, Frasnian la) are reported from thin turbidite limestones in the upper Trevose Slates, Marble Cliff Beds, and lower Longcarrow Cove Tuffs and Slates, respectively, near Padstow, North Cornwall. The localities include the south side of Trevone Bay and the overturned section along the coast at Marble Cliff. The fauna of the Schmidtognathus hermanni-Pol.

• Read more about Conodonts from near the Middle/Upper Devonian boundary in North Cornwall

The diagnosis of the pollen formgenus Classopollis Pflug 1953 is here emended after both a review of the literature and observation of numerous specimens recovered from Upper Triassic to Middle Cretaceous rocks in the Sahara, Israel, and France. Following a discussion of a proper definition of the species, twelve new species are described. Botanic affinity, taxonomic value, and stratigraphic occurence are also discussed.

• Read more about Stereoscan observations on the pollen genus Classopollis Pflug 1953

Pseudocymopolia gen. nov. is proposed for certain dasycladaceae ranging from Portlandian to Maestrichtian in age, and from Spain to Borneo geographically. P. orientalis sp. nov. is described, and the relationship of the genus to Cymopolia discussed.

• Read more about Pseudocymopolia, a Mesozoic Tethyan alga (Family Dasycladaceae)

In specimens of the orthacean brachiopod Ptychopleurella bouchardi (Davidson) from the Wenlock Limestone of Wenlock Edge, Shropshire, the cardinalia display a wide range of variation, particularly in the development of the cardinal process. The variation can be explained partly by ontogeny but in some extreme cases it is suggested that it reflects environmental control due to turbulent water conditions in an area of active reef growth.

• Read more about Variation in the cardinalia of the brachiopod Ptychopleurella bouchardi (Davidson) from the Wenlock Limestone of Wenlock Edge, Shropshire

Chitinozoa referable to nine genera and twelve species (five new) are recorded from the Sylvan Shale of the Arbuckle Mountains in southern Oklahoma. They provide for the first time a means of dating, bio-stratigraphically subdividing, and correlating the entire formation. Its chitinozoan fauna indicates that the Sylvan Shale is of Upper Ordovician age throughout and confirms with additional fossil evidence the age of the lower beds.

• Read more about Chitinozoa from the Ordovician Sylvan Shale of the Arbuckle Mountains, Oklahoma

A new fossil species of Hemicypris (H. posterotruncata sp. nov.) is described from ancient beach sediments of Lake Rudolf, Kenya. The presence of marginal sockets within the duplicature of the right valve, for the reception of the marginal denticles of the left valve, is recorded for the first time.

• Read more about A new species of Hemicypris (Ostracoda) from ancient beach sediments of Lake Rudolf, Kenya

The distinctive boreholes produced by two predatory gastroped superfamilies, the Muricacea and the Naticacea, can be recognized in their molluscan prey in a fossil assemblage from the Calcaire Grossier (Eocene, Lutetian) from Dameray in the Paris Basin. Possible predators are sk species of Naticacea and two of Muricacea. About 7000 mollusca representing 40 species were examined for boreholes of either type. The most common prey species of the Muricacea were the epifaunal bivalve Ostrea plicata, the shallow burrowing bivalve Venericardia serrulala and the epifaunal gastropod Omalaxis serrata.

• Read more about Feeding habits of predatory gastropods in a Tertiary (Eocene) molluscan assemblage from the Paris Basin

The Visean limestone-shale sequences of north-west Ireland contain a characteristic distribution pattern of alternating coraliferous and 'barren strata' (called 'inter-beds'). The varied geniculation in the assemblages of prone solitary caninioids in both types of strata are interpreted from comparison with observations and experiments on modern corals, as showing a close relationship of coral growth to stability, sedimentation, and penecontemporaneous erosion of the soft lime-mud substrate.

• Read more about Sedimentological factors affecting the distribution and growth of Viséan caninioid corals in north-west Ireland

Cranial and post-cranial amphibian remains from two localities in the Middle Triassic Manda Formation of the Ruhuhu area of Tanzania are described. A new species of Parotosaurus, P. promts is proposed.In the skull, the pterygoid canal is of particular interest and may have carried the VIIth nerve. The lower jaw has a well-developed pre-articular (hamate) process with behind it a pre-articular fossa.The neural arches, intercentra, and ribs show considerable regional variation. Ossified pleurocentra are described for the first time in a capitosaur.The dermal pectoral girdle is massive.

• Read more about A new capitosaurid labyrinthodont from East Africa