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Dionella gen. nov. (Superfamily Membraniporacea) from the Upper Cretaceous of Europe

The new genus Dionella is proposed for membranimorph Polyzoa from the Upper Cretaceous of Europe having slightly calcified frontal walls, dietellae, hyperstomial ovicells, and small interzooecial avicularia, which, when present, are distal to the ovicells. The type material of the seven species assigned to this genus is redescribed with the establishment of lectotypes, a neotype, and many synonymies. A possible evolutionary pattern for the group has also been given.

Isorthis and Salopina (Brachiopoda) in the Ludlovian of the Welsh Borderland

Examination of the enteletacean brachiopod members of the faunal assemblages now used in British Ludlovian stratigraphy (Holland, Lawson, and Walmsley 1963) and comparison with a large collection of Silurian and Lower Devonian brachiopods from many parts of the world, reveals that the species commonly determined as Dalmanella lunata (J. de C. Sowerby) and D. orbicularis (J. de C. Sowerby), have not yet been found, (though sometimes recorded), from areas outside Britain.

A new fenestrate bryozoan from the Lower Carboniferous of County Fermanagh

Collections of bryozoa made recently in south Fermanagh include numbers of small but complete Fenestella-like colonies. These show considerable morphological variation, but careful examination indicates chat ihey all belong to a single homogeneous population. The sample is described, and it is considered that the distinctive pattern of branching shown by the colonies and the presence in each of a strongly developed proximal spine places them in a new genus, for which the name Ptilofenestella is proposed.

Upper Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous microfossils from the Hautes-Alpes

Common pelagic (Tethyan) microfossils from the Upeer Jurassic and Berriasian rocks of La Faurie, Hautes-Alpes, France, are described and illustrated, and their stratigraphical distribution compared with that of similar assemblages elsewhere. The fossils include crinoids, tintinnids, radiolarians, and incertae sedis such as Globaochaete, Cadosina, and Stomiosphaera. Lombardia Bronnimann is considered to be a synonym of Saccocoma Agassiz.

Origin, limits, and systematic position of Scaphites

Up to the present interpretations concerning the origin and systematic position of the Cretaceous heteromorph Scaphites have been extremely divergent. On one hand, scaphitids have been regarded as a mono-phyletic group of either lytoceratid (e.g. Spath 1933, 1934; Wright 1953, 1957) or ammonitid origin (Luppov and Drushtchic 1958; Drushtchic 1962), on the other hand, as a more or less polyphyletic accumulation (Nowak 1911; Reeside 1927a; Schindewolf 1961).

Unusual structures in Devonian Atrypidae from England

A distinctive group of Middle Devonian atrypoid brachiopods (Subfamily Palaferellinae Spriesters-bach 1942), with cemented muscle platforms and remarkable apical structures and crura, is described. This group, forming part of the newly established genus Mimatrypa Struve 1964, is common in the thick stromato-poroid-crinoid reefs of Givetian age in north-western Europe. Type material of J. de C. Sowerby, Phillips, Davidson, and Whidborne is re-examined and revised.

Keuper miospores from Worcestershire, England

Twenty-six species assigned to eighteen genera are recorded from the Upper and Lower Keuper of Worcestershire. One new infraturma (Striatapiti), one new genus (Brodispora), and five new species are described. The Zechstein, Lower and Upper Keuper spore assemblages are compared and the macrofloral changes within this period discussed. The present assemblages are compared with previously published Triassic microfloras and a distribution chart for twenty-two genera is given.
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