Archive

A new method for the extraction of calcified and/or partly pyritized macrofossils has been developed. This method is based upon the differential speeds for the dissolving of microcrystalline and macrocrystalline calcite in 38% sulphuric acid. The effectiveness of the sulphuric acid treatment is also influenced by the volume of clay minerals in the host rock. Therefore, this method is highly applicable for the extraction of macrofossils from marlstones, marly limestones, and other lithified calcareous sediments.

• Read more about A new method for the extraction of macrofossils from calcareous rocks using sulphuric acid

Although the relationship between ontogeny and phylogeny has been of long-standing interest to palaeontologists, the fossil record has provided little insight into the development of long extinct organisms. This has changed with the discovery of numerous assemblages of fossilized invertebrate embryos and larvae, but realising their evolutionary significance is hampered by a paucity of data on the relationship between ontogeny and taphonomy.

• Read more about Ontogeny and taphonomy: an experimental taphonomy study of the development of the brine shrimp Artemia salina

The spore Rhabdosporites (Triletes) langii (Eisenack) Richardson, 1960 is abundant and well preserved in Middle Devonian (Eifelian) 'Middle Old Red Sandstone' deposits from the Orcadian Basin, Scotland. Here it occurs as dispersed individual spores and in situ in isolated sporangia. This paper reports on a detailed light microscope (LM), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) analysis of both dispersed and in situ spores.

• Read more about Ultrastructure of dispersed and in situ specimens of the Devonian spore Rhabdosporites langii: evidence for the evolutionary relationships of progymnosperms

Mitrates are a controversial group of extinct deuterostomes; there is little agreement over their affinities, functional morphology or even the orientation of their upper and lower surfaces. Four slabs of slate from the Lower Devonian Hunsrück Slate (Bundenbach, Germany) are here described, showing trace fossils (Vadichnites transversus igen. et isp. nov.) associated with the mitrate Rhenocystis latipedunculata. These new findings clearly demonstrate that the mitrate appendage was used in locomotion and that this movement took place appendage-first.

• Read more about Ichnological insights into mitrate palaeobiology

Study of corallum shape in Siderastrea and Solenastraea colonies collected from Pleistocene Bermont strata in western Palm Beach County, Florida, indicates that the corals are rotatory, formed by rolling during growth on the Pleistocene sea floor. Growth of a radial and centrifugal nature away from the corallum centre suggests that rolling was sufficiently frequent and energetic to maintain the health of individual polyps along the skeleton's entire spherical surface with no evidence of growth stoppage.

• Read more about Rotatory colonies of the corals Siderastrea radians and Solenastraea ssp. (Cnidaria, Scleractinia), from the Pleistocene Bermont Formation, south Florida, USA

The giant bivalve Lucina megamerisDall, 1901, from the late Eocene White Limestone Group of Jamaica and by far the largest known species of the family Lucinidae, is placed in a new genus Superlucina. Apart from its large size, with a shell height exceeding 310 mm, it is distinguished from other genera, such as Pseudomiltha and Eomiltha by external shell characters and the extremely long and narrow, anterior adductor muscle scar. Features preserved on internal moulds suggest that, in common with living Lucinidae, S.

• Read more about A giant lucinid bivalve from the Eocene of Jamaica-Systematics, life habits and chemosymbiosis (Mollusca: Bivalvia: Lucinidae)

On the basis of six articulated individuals from the middle to late Albian lithographic limestone at Tlayúa near Tepexi de Rodríguez (Puebla, Mexico), a new species of ophiuroid, Ophiactis applegatei, is described. The material adds to the rather poor record of Early Cretaceous brittlestars and represents the oldest known member of the family Ophiactidae, being based on well-preserved and articulated specimens and thus reasonably well defined morphologically.

• Read more about New Albian (Early Cretaceous) ophiuroids from the Tlayúa Quarry, Puebla, Mexico

Three previously unknown octopods are described from Upper Cenomanian limestones of the Hâqel and Hâdjoula localities (Lebanon). Keuppia levante gen. nov., sp. nov., Keuppia hyperbolaris gen. nov,. sp. nov. and Styletoctopus annae gen. nov, . sp. nov. are regarded as the earliest representatives of the Octopoda (= Incirrata). This assumption is mainly based on their medially isolated bipartite gladius vestige. As can be inferred from growth increments, Keuppia gen. nov. can be distinguished from the genus Palaeoctopus by blades that grow forwards along their longitudinal axis.

• Read more about New octopods (Cephalopoda: Coleoidea) from the Late Cretaceous (Upper Cenomanian) of Hâkel and Hâdjoula, Lebanon

Genera of Palaeontinidae (Insecta, Hemiptera: Cicadomorpha) are reviewed based on some newly-discovered material. An updated list of palaeontinid genera is provided. The genus Palaeontinopsis Martynov is assigned to Palaeontinidae incertae sedis. A new genus and species, Ningchengia aspera gen. et sp. nov., is described based on forewings and hindwings from the Middle Jurassic of Daohugou, China. Fletcheriana colorata Wang, Zhang and Fang and F. minuta Wang, Zhang and Fang are transferred to Suljuktocossus and Ningchengia respectively, resulting in Suljuktocossus coloratus comb. nov.

• Read more about Jurassic Palaeontinidae from China and the higher systematics of Palaeontinoidea (Insecta: Hemiptera: Cicadomorpha)

The eastern Alborz Mountains of Iran comprise a significant peri-Gondwanan terrane relevant to the early evolution of late Cambrian – early Ordovician brachiopods incorporated into the emerging benthic biota of the Paleozoic Evolutionary Fauna. A low diversity brachiopod assemblage from the late Tremadocian unit of the Lashkarak Formation contains six new species including the polytoechioideans Polytoechia and Protambonites and the orthoideans Paralenorthis, Ranorthis, Tarfaya and Xianorthis.

• Read more about Billengsellide and orthide brachiopods: new insights into earliest Ordovician evolution and biogeography from northern Iran