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The records of coral faunas in the U.S.S.R. are summarized and some suggested synonyms mentioned. The distribution of the faunas is discussed and characteristic faunal elements for the different horizons are given. In particular, first and last occurrences of genera are noted as these may be of stratigraphical value.

• Read more about The sequence and distribution of Ludlovian, Lower Devonian, and Couvinian coral faunas in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics

Synopsis of nature and distribution of Devonian marine plant rnicrofossils from Brazil.

• Read more about Brazilian Palaeozoic Algomycetes and Tasmanaceae

Nannosuchus gracilidens and Theriosuchus pusillus were described by Owen, who believed that they were dwarf goniopholid crocodiles, adapted for preying on the contemporary small mammals. Several skull characters, which are now known to alter during life in modern crocodiles, were investigated in these 'dwarfs'. A number of these characters in Nannosuchus indicate that it is merely a juvenile form. Furthermore, since a larger form from the same beds, Goniopholis simus, exhibits several specific features found also in Nannosuchus, it is concluded that the latter is the juvenile of G. simus.

• Read more about The 'dwarf' crocodiles of the Purbeck Formation, Dorset: a reappraisal

The anatomy of the schizochroal eyes of Phacops fecundus Barrande and P.latifrons (Bronn) was investigated by sectioning. Intralensar structures were best preserved in P. latifrons, where each lens has an outer crescentic region, perhaps bipartite, surrounding a smaller 'proximal nucleus'. In P. fecundus lens structure was less distinct, but a sublensar structure was seen projecting into the central lumen of the eye and forming a long slightly tapering cylinder continuous with the corneal-intrascleral membrane.

• Read more about Fine structure of the eye in two species of Phacops (Trilobita)

Increase in thirteen specimens of Lonsdaleia and two of Thysanophyllum orientale from Great Britain was studied by means of closely spaced acetate peel sections. With the exception of one example of intermural increase, only lateral increase was observed. Lonsdaleia is characterized during early development by having a long cardinal septum, the axial end of which forms the median lamella of the axial structure. Septal insertion is at first of the zaphrentid mode but subsequently becomes variable, depending on the development of minor septa.

• Read more about The hystero-ontogeny of Lonsdaleia McCoy and Thysanophyllum orientale Thomson

The fossil flora of the Triassic beds of Minas de Petroleo, a locality about 32 km. south-west of Mendoza in western Argentina (long. 69° 6' 25' W.; lat. 33° 3' 35' S.) is described. The strata belong to the Potrerillos Beds of the Cacheuta Formation of the Upper Gondwana of Argentina. The flora consists of about 34 species (3 new), belonging to about 20 genera (one new). Previously the flora of the Potrerillos Beds was known to consist of about 28 species.

• Read more about A Middle Triassic flora from the Cacheuta Formation, Minas de Petroleo, Argentina

Following the work of Poulsen (1943) the paper discusses the standing of Leptaena rhomboidalis (Wahlenberg 1821) and Leptaena depressa (James Sowerby 1825). The two species are redescribed and neotypes selected. Two new species of Leptaena are described: Leptaena poulseni and Leptaena arberae from the Wenlock Limestone of England. A new genus of leptaenid brachiopods is erected and the type species, Ludfordina pixis sp. nov., is described. This species is from the Lower Ludlow of Shropshire, England.

• Read more about Silurian leptaenids (Brachiopoda)

Two species of therapsid reptile found in rocks of probable Lower Anisian age, in the Province of Mendoza, Argentina, are compared with similar forms from the Cynognathus Zone of South Africa. One of them is a dicynodont, Kannemeyeria argentinensis, which differs from the African form Kannemeyeria erithrea in only minor details. The other is a cynodont, Pascualgnathus polanskii, which shows very clear similarities to the African genera Trirachodon and Diademodon.

• Read more about New vertebrate evidence for a southern Transatlantic connexion during the Lower or Middle Triassic

Five specimens of bothriocidarid sea urchins are described; one is the seventh known example of B. globulus Eichwald. The other four represent Neobothriocidaris gen. nov. characterized by having perforate plates arranged in rows and one pore of each pore-pair shared by two plates. N. peculiaris and N. minor spp. nov. are separated on the number and arrangement of spine mamela.The holotype of N. peculiaris has parts of two radial water vessels preserved within the single columns of imperforate plates which have been regarded as inter-radial in Bothriocidaris.

• Read more about New Ordovician Bothriocidaridae from Girvan and a reinterpretation of Bothriocidaris Eichwald

The fossil remains of insects from Vishnevaya Balka are the principal basis for studies of the entomofauna of the Caucasus in the Miocene period. The representatives of the Homoptera (monophagous and oligophagous) which are closely associated with certain genera and species of plants, have been carefully studied.

• Read more about Tertiary Homoptera of Stavropol and a method of reconstruction of continental palaeobiocoenoses