Archive

The complete neurocranium plus palatoquadrate of the plagiosaurid temnospondyl Gerrothorax pulcherrimus from the Middle Triassic of Germany is described for the first time, based on outer morphological observations and micro-CT scanning. The exoccipitals are strong elements with paroccipital processes and well-separated occipital condyles. Anterolaterally, the exoccipitals contact the otics, which are mediolaterally elongated and have massive lateral walls. The otics contact the basisphenoid, which shows well-developed sellar processes.

• Read more about Braincase, palatoquadrate and ear region of the plagiosaurid Gerrothorax pulcherrimus from the Middle Triassic of Germany

The species-rich fossil vertebrate assemblage from Pleistocene sedimentary deposits at Kisláng, Hungary, was originally described as containing eight species of arvicolids, six of which were considered new. Re-examination of the material in the collection of the Hungarian Geological Institute, consisting of most of the previously described material, including the six name-bearing types and also further undescribed specimens, indicates that the taxa Kislangia rex, Mimomys cf.

• Read more about Revision of the fossil vole assemblage (Mammalia, Rodentia, Arvicolidae) from Pleistocene deposits at Kisláng, Hungary

Prior to geochemical analyses, fossil bones and teeth are often extracted from any surrounding lithified sediments using chemical techniques such as immersion in acid. As stable isotope analysis becomes more commonplace in palaeoecological investigations, it is important to consider what effects these chemical preparation techniques may have on any subsequent isotopic data and to constrain these effects as quantitatively as possible.

• Read more about Acid treatment effects on the stable isotopic signatures of fossils

The Ocruranus–Eohalobia group, whose members were variously considered to be brachiopods, bivalves, chitons, tommotiids and coeloscleritophorans, are difficult to classify because of lack of morphological detail and evidence for skeletal reconstruction. New specimens from South China reveal more information about Ocruranus–Eohalobia and allow progress towards deciphering the skeletal reconstruction and phylogenetic affinity of this enigmatic group. Many specimens have a phosphatic inner and outer coat (mould) with empty space in between that resulted from dissolution of the original shell.

• Read more about New data on the enigmatic Ocruranus–Eohalobia group of Early Cambrian small skeletal fossils

Ramonalina n. gen. is a large thick-shelled bivalve abundant in mounds preserved in the Gevanim Formation (late Anisian, Middle Triassic) of southern Israel. This bivalve was an edgewise-recliner with a flattened anteroventral (functionally basal) surface and partially fused valves. It is the basis of a new family, the Ramonalinidae, which is descended from the myalinids through adaptation to edgewise positioning.

• Read more about The Ramonalinids: a new family of mound-building bivalves of the Early Middle Triassic

Debrunia gen. nov. is characterized by asymmetric myophoral apophyses on the left valve: the posterior one a plate, the anterior a crest. The myophores on the right valve are on the shell wall. It belongs to a group of cylindro-conical petalodontid Monopleuridae including Petalodontia and Pseudopetalodontia, and possesses some affinities with Agriopleura. Monopleura mutabilis Matheron is the type species of Debrunia gen. nov., and Monopleura (Petalodontia) bruni Douvillé is also ascribed to this genus. The two species are found in late Barremian beds from SE France.

• Read more about Debrunia, a new Barremian genus of petalodontid Monopleuridae (Bivalvia, Hippuritoidea) from the Mediterranean region

Opines constitute a small subfamily of Mesozoic astartid bivalves that lived mostly in the Tethys Sea region. They first appeared in western Europe during the Middle Triassic, became most widespread during the Jurassic and had their first undoubted appearance in the New World during the Late Jurassic. Their Pacific slope of North America record is studied in detail for the first time. The earliest of the Pacific slope opines is Opis californica Stanton of Early Cretaceous (Hauterivian or Barremian) age.

• Read more about Cretaceous opine bivalves from the Pacific slope of North America and palaeobiogeography of subfamily Opinae Chavan, 1969

The Devonian fenestrate bryozoan, SchischcatellaWaschurova, 1964, possessed colonies in the form of low, erect bifoliate fronds that grew from an encrusting sheet-like base with autozooecia arranged in biserial, bifurcating rows. This growth habit is unique in fenestrates, which normally had unilaminate arborescent colonies. Originally, Schischcatella was described from the Lower Devonian of Tajikistan. This article describes a new species, S. heinorum sp.

• Read more about Schischcatella (Fenestrata, Bryozoa) from the Devonian of the Rhenish Massif, Germany

Decapod crustacean material collected recently from the lower Callovian (Middle Jurassic) in Maine-et-Loire (north-west France) comprises two new species of prosopid and one new species of tanidromitid crabs, of the genera Nodoprosopon and Tanidromites, respectively. Also represented in this faunule is a probable paguroid anomuran, in the form of isolated chelae here assigned to the genus Orhomalus, as well as appendicular remains of unknown affinity; some of the latter might belong to prosopid crabs.

• Read more about A new decapod crustacean faunule from the Middle Jurassic of north-west France

Accurate hypotheses of primary homology are fundamental to many aspects of the systematics and palaeobiology of fossils. They are particularly critical for conodonts: virtually all areas of conodont research are underpinned by homology, yet the majority of conodont taxa are found only as disarticulated skeletal elements, and hypotheses of element homology are inferred from morphological comparisons with complete skeletons. This can cause problems in taxa where more than one location within the conodont skeleton is occupied by elements with similar morphology.

• Read more about Morphological criteria for recognising homology in isolated skeletal elements: comparison of traditional and morphometric approaches in conodonts