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Sub-ellipsoidal to irregular clasts of amber occur within millimetrically laminated limestones of the Nova Olinda Member, Crato Formation (Early Cretaceous, ?Aptian) of the Araripe Basin in Ceara, north-east Brazil. The amber is associated with resin-filled cones, foliage and palynomorphs attributed to the Araucariaceae and may be referred to Brachyphyllum sp., cf. Wollemia sp. and cf. Agathis sp. Irregular, septate tubular structures may represent microinclusions and are considered to be fungal hyphae.

• Read more about An unusual occurrence of amber in laminated limestones: the Crato Formation Lagerstätte (Early Cretaceous) of Brazil

The ontogeny of Aphelaspis brachyphasis is illustrated and described on the basis of newly discovered silicified material from the McGill section, Nevada, USA. Protaspides of three other Aphelaspis species are redescribed. Of ptychopariide species for which protaspides have been documented, the protaspides of those previously considered to be closely related to Aphelaspis are illustrated herein. Protaspides of Aphelaspis are most similar to those of Olenus, supporting previous taxonomic suggestions that the Aphelaspidinae is closely related to the Olenidae and may be assigned to the Olenacea.

• Read more about Protaspides of Upper Cambrian Aphelaspis (Ptychopariida, Trilobita) and related species with their taxonomic implications

A revision of the phasianids (Aves, Galliformes) from the Lower Miocene of St-Gerand-le-Puy (Allier, France) has been carried out. Palaeortyx brevipes Milne-Edwards, 1869, Palaeortyx gallica Milne-Edwards, 1869, Palaeortyx phasianoides Milne-Edwards, 1869, and Palaeortyx intermedia Ballmann, 1969 have been known before from this locality. St-Gerand-le-Puy is the type locality of the first three species. The four species of Palaeortyx represented at St-Gerand-le-Puy are distinguished by their size.

• Read more about Revision of the phasianids (Aves: Galliformes) from the Lower Miocene of Saint-Gérand-Le-Puy (Allier, France)

Isolated skeletal elements of three hesperornithiform taxa are recorded from marine strata of latest early Campanian (sensu germanico) age in the Kristianstad Basin, southern Sweden. The material comprises Hesperornis rossicus Nessov and Yarkov, one of the largest Mesozoic aquatic birds known to date, Hesperornis sp. and Baptornis sp. The holotype (a dorsal vertebra) of Parascaniornis stensioei Lambrecht is re-examined, and the nominal species is here considered as a nomen dubium because no diagnostic features can be found that separate the type from dorsals of Baptornis advenus.

• Read more about Aquatic birds from the Upper Cretaceous (Lower Campanian) of Sweden and the biology and distribution of hesperornithiforms

Restudy of the thecideoid fauna from organo-detrital residues of Aalenian age from two Cotswold localities revealed the presence of a rare form assignable to the Lacazellinae. Its morphology and shell microstructure enabled it to be identified as the earliest clear representative of the subfamily and the possession of ramuli, jugal pillar, reniform brachial lobes and partially suppressed fibrous secondary shell layer indicate proximity to the rootstock of the Lacazella Munier-Chalmers line of descent in a position possibly ancestral to Praelacazella Smirnova.

• Read more about A new lacazellin thecideoid brachiopod from the Middle Jurassic of the Cotswolds, England

The partial, articulated skeleton of a pleurodiran turtle from the Nova Olinda Member of the Crato Formation (Araripe Basin) of north-east Brazil displays an impression of the outline of the soft tissues surrounding the left hind limb. The external mould of the soft tissue surface preserves only the gross morphology of the limb although the outline of the limb is well defined. It appears to be an external mould of the limb's surface, which formed prior to the decay of the integument. The limb skeleton is mostly fully articulated.

• Read more about Solnhofen-style soft-tissue preservation in a new species of turtle from the Crato Formation (Early Cretaceous, Aptian) of north-east Brazil

The Albanerpetontidae are salamander-like, Middle Jurassic to Neogene lissamphibians from Laurasia and North Africa. Extensive series of albanerpetontid bones recently identified in collections from the Csarnota 2 locality, south-central Hungary, extend the temporal range of the clade forward about seven million years from the middle Miocene to the early Pliocene. The Hungarian material is diagnostic for the Euramerican type genus Albanerpeton and pertains to a new species, A. pannonicus sp.

• Read more about The geologically youngest albanerpetontid amphibian, from the Lower Pliocene of Hungary

A silicified brachiopod fauna from the Middle Ordovician Kuniutan Formation (lower-middle Darriwilian, i.e. uppermost Arenig to lower Llanvirn) at Wudang, Guiyang, central Guizhou, South China, includes abundant specimens of Yangtzeella, Orthambonites and Leptellina together with common Parisorthis, Saucrorthis, rare Anomalorthis?, Hemipronites?, Leptestia? and, significantly, Aporthophyla; associated are rare trilobites, gastropods, crinoids and nautiloids. The Yangtzeella kueiyangensis-Orthambonites delicata Association is defined for this shallow-water, Benthic Assemblage 3, association.

• Read more about Silicified rhynchonelliform brachiopods from the Kuniutan Formation (Darriwilian: Middle Ordovician), Guiyang, South China

A new fossil osteoglossid fish, Taverneichthys bikanericus gen. et sp. nov. and an unnamed but probable new species of ?Lepisosteus (Lepisosteidae) are described from the subsurface beds of the Palana (lignite) Formation near Bikaner, western Rajasthan, India. T. bikanericus is founded on a skull, which is the first osteoglossid skull from the Indian subcontinent, whereas ?Lepisosteus sp. is represented by a part of its trunk covered with ganoid scales. The taxonomic assignment of the latter specimen to gars is based on the micro- and ultrastructure of its scales.

• Read more about Osteoglossid and lepisosteid fish remains from the Paleocene Palana Formation, Rajasthan, India

Examination of the bone microstructure of Lystrosaurus murrayi from India and South Africa reveals a predominance of fibrolamellar bone tissue, which suggests rapid periosteal osteogenesis and an overall fast growth. Four distinct ontogenetic stages have been identified based on tissue type, organization of the primary osteons, incidence of growth rings, secondary reconstruction and endosteal bone deposition. An indeterminate growth strategy is proposed for Lystrosaurus.

• Read more about Lystrosaurus murrayi (Therapsida, Dicynodontia): bone histology, growth and lifestyle adaptations