Archive

A diverse fauna of three-dimensionally preserved sponges is described from nearshore volcanogenic sandstones near Llandrindod, Mid-Wales. The fauna was preserved through early marginal silicification, in rare examples with silicification of soft tissue, and includes aspicular and spicular demosponges, hexactinellids, and a heteractinid. The fauna is largely endemic, with the following new species, genera and families erected: Onerosiconcha gregalia gen. et sp. nov., Ordinisabulo quadragintaforma gen. et sp. nov., Miritubus erinaceus gen. et sp. nov., Vadosifistula milvus gen. et sp.

• Read more about Exceptionally well-preserved Middle Ordovician sponges from the Llandegley Rocks Lagerstätte, Wales

Recent cladistic analysis of the Reedocalymeninae necessitates taxonomic revision of the subfamily. Neseuretus Hicks, 1873, interpreted as both paraphyletic and polyphyletic, is rediagnosed. A list is provided of 65 different species or subspecies variously allocated to either Neseuretus or its junior synonym Synhomalonotus Pompeckj, 1898, with their current taxonomic status indicated.

• Read more about Reedocalymenine trilobites from the Ordovician of central and eastern Asia, and a review of species assigned to Neseuretus

Faunal composition of South Chinese Arenig benthic trilobite associations is investigated using the multivariate techniques of TWINSPAN, DCA and seriation.

• Read more about Early Ordovician (Arenig) trilobite palaeoecology and palaeobiogeography of the South China Plate

Taxonomy of the Cambrian trilobite family Nepeidae is revised. Morphometric analyses of the genera Nepea and Penarosa demonstrate that use of proportions of linear dimensions of the cranidium to differentiate species is invalid, and that infrageneric variation is continuous. The taxonomy and biostratigraphy of all Australian species of Nepeidae is revised. Species considered valid herein include: Nepea narinosa (type species), N. tonsillata, N. nans, Penarosa retifera (type species), P. elaticeps, P. rhinodelphis, P.

• Read more about Systematics of the Cambrian trilobite family Nepeidae, with revision of Australian species

Twenty species of bivalves (14 new) and 14 genera (six new) are described from two localities in the Silurian, upper Telychian, Oktavites spiralis Biozone of Spain: Cardavia cathleenae gen. et sp. nov., C. hafi sp. nov., C. stefani sp. nov.; Copenychia franta gen. et sp. nov., C. pristina sp. nov.; Stolidotus marco sp. nov.; Telycardia malinka gen. et sp. nov.; Silurinka vetula gen. et sp. nov.; Bolsopteria lentilka gen. et sp. nov.; Nennapteria ibericola gen. et sp. nov., N. ollicula sp. nov.; Actinopteria dakryodes sp. nov., A. isabelae sp. nov. and Dceruska hispanica sp. nov.

• Read more about Telychian (Llandovery, Silurian) bivalves from Spain

We describe Muhuarina haeretica gen. et sp. nov. from a recently discovered silicified brachiopod fauna from the Lower Carboniferous of South China. This new microproductid appears to be the oldest representative of the highly differentiated, mainly Permian, aulostegoid family Cooperinidae. The internal structure of the dorsal valve of M. haeretica is dominated by strongly developed, pronounced subperipheral ridges, which suggest support for a simple schizolophe type of lophophore.

• Read more about A new Early Carboniferous microproductid brachiopod from South China

Octocorallian and hydroid fossils are described from the Lower Ordovician (Arenig Series) of Wales. They include gorgoniids that are the earliest known fossils of this group: Petilavenula varifurcata gen. et sp. nov. and P. surculosa gen. et sp. nov. Pennalina crossi gen. et sp. nov. is probably also a gorgoniid but may be a hydroid. A new hydroid, Pontifennia gracilis gen. et sp. nov., is also described.

• Read more about Octocorallian and hydroid fossils from the Lower Ordovician of Wales

The specimens previously described as Lingula antarctica Buckman from late Eocene strata on Seymour Island, Antarctic Peninsula, should be assigned to the genus Glottidia. The morphological features and taxonomic characters of G. antarctica are described and illustrated and compared with those of other known species of Glottidia. A full description of G. antarctica is provided and the diagnosis of the genus is emended. Variations in the disposition of the septa and in the shape of the pedicle groove are viewed as evolutionary features among the Glottidia.

• Read more about Glottidia (Brachiopoda: Lingulidae) from the Eocene La Meseta Formation, Seymour Island, Antarctica

The hypothesis that conodonts are vertebrates rests solely on evidence of soft tissue anatomy. This has been corroborated by microstructural, topological and developmental evidence of homology between conodont and vertebrate hard tissues. However, these conclusions have been reached on the basis of evidence from highly derived euconodont taxa and the degree to which they are representative of plesiomorphic euconodonts remains an open question.

• Read more about Basal tissue structure in the earliest euconodonts: testing hypotheses of developmental plasticity in euconodont phylogeny

The supposed polychaete annelid Protonympha salicifolia, from the Upper Devonian (Frasnian) of New York State, USA, is redescribed. P. salicifolia has a bilateral and segmented body, but appears to have a 'mattress-like' construction with blade-like extensions along the margins. The affinities of P. salicifolia remain unresolved, but a proposed relationship to the annelids is unlikely.

• Read more about Enigmatic worm-like organisms from the Upper Devonian of New York: an apparent example of Ediacaran-like preservation