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New xiphosurid trails from the Upper Carboniferous of northern England

Trails from the lower surfaces of sandstone bands in the Upper Haslingden Flags (G Stage, Namurian) of the Rossendale area of Lancashire are attributed to arthropod (xiphosurid) activity. The trails are associated with Pelecypodichnus Seilacher which here result from the activity of non-marine bivalves. The xiphosurid trails are therefore considered of non-marine origin. The trails differ from those previously described in that in addition to walking activity, burrowing by the xiphosurid is recorded. For convenience these new trails are referred to Kouphicknium rossendalensis sp. nov.

Two new dicynodonts from the Triassic Yerrapalli Formation of central India

Two new dicynodonts recently collected from the Triassic Yerrapalli formation of India are described. The first, Rechnisaurus cristarhynchus, is a stahleckeriid and the first of its kind to be reported from Asia. Rechnisaurus shows considerable similarities to Dinodontosaurus of the Middle Triassic of Brazil and Argentina. The second dicynodont, Wadiasaurus indicus is the first kannemeyeriid to be described from India and its nearest relative is thought to be Sangusaurus of the Middle Triassic of Zambia.

A new cephalopod fauna from the Lower Carboniferous of east Cornwall

A collection of approximately three hundred small cephalopods from a site in the Lower Carboniferous of east Cornwall includes representatives of Gattendorfia sp., Gen. et sp. nov. A, Muensteroceras complanatum, M. cf. rotella, Ammonellipsites princeps, A. sp. aff. asiaticus, A. sp. indet. and Gen. et sp. nov. B. It is argued that the fauna is of an age later than those of the Hangenbergkalk ('cul') of Germany and possibly earlier than the late Tournaisian cephalopods of Belgium ('culla(alpha symbol)').

The growth and shell microstructure of the thecideacean brachiopod Moorellina granulosa (Moore) from the Middle Jurassic of England

Analysis of the growth habit of M. granulosa from a functional point of view has proved to be of value in the interpretation of shell microstructure. Serial sectioning of shells at 20 p intervals has revealed that fibre orientation may change suddenly at various levels within a shell. The paper notes the need for detailed information regarding the orientation and location of sections through shells, as study of M. granulosa indicates this may be of critical importance.

Ontogeny of the Upper Cambrian trilobite Leptoplastus crassicornis (Westergaard) from Sweden

The development of the dorsal exoskeleton of the trilobite Leptoplastus crassicornis (Westergaard) is described from the Upper Cambrian of Andrarum, Scania, Sweden. The cranidium is represented by all stages from protaspis to holaspis, although specimens other than protaspids are disarticulated and precise degrees are unknown; they have therefore been allocated to seven morphological groups. The development of the meraspid librigena, hypostome, and pygidium is also briefly described.

Amphipora and Euryamphipora (Stromatoporoidea) from the Devonian of western Canada

Subsurface diamond cores of the Devonian Swan Hills Formation of central Alberta contain well-preserved specimens of Amphipora Schulz and Euryamphipora Klovan. Three varieties of Amphipora are recognized in the Swan Hills material, and are referred to the species A. angusta, A. pervesiculata, and A. ramosa; a new species of Euryamphipora (E. mollis) and the type species E. platyformis also are present. Amphipora is placed in the Clathrodictyidae with Euryamphipora since they have identical tissue.
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