Search

Copyright of Flora Montibérica is the property of Flora Montiberica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Ever since the term “biodiversity” was first defined, it has been used in a mixed way, referring on the one hand to the characterisation of living organisms (which is the domain of systematics), and on the other hand to their functional interactions (which are the domain of ecology). This ambiguity has led to the terms biodiversity and ecosystem being used almost synonymously, a mistake that is both epistemologically and politically damaging. To clear up this confusion, the term biodiversity should be reserved for what we observe when we characterise or discover “what there is” (a task for systematics) at the three infra-specific, specific and supra-specific levels, and the term ecosystem should be reserved for what we observe when we are interested in the functional interactions (“what it does”, a task for ecology) between living organisms, and between the latter and the abiotic environment.

We report here new craniodental remains from the late Eocene Krabi coal mine in Thailand that can be attributed to the suoid Siamochoerus banmarkensis Ducrocq, Chaimanee, Suteethorn & Jaeger, 1998. This material that includes the complete lower dentition and isolated upper molars provides new information on the dental morphology of this species and makes S. banmarkensis, together with Egatochoerus jaegeri Ducrocq, 1994 from Krabi, the second best documented early suoid in the Eocene of Asia. A few dental features that can be observed on these new remains suggest that S. banmarkensis might be more closely related to Suidae Gray, 1821, but it also illustrates the difficulty to attribute a precise taxonomic position to Eocene taxa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paranotonyx curtipes Nobili, 1906a, has not been reported since it was described from the Red Sea. Originally placed in the Goneplacidae, the genus has been associated with the Rhizopinae Stimpson, 1858 (Pilumnidae), since Tesch (1918). A re-examination of the holotype female shows that Paranotonyx is actually a member of the Gaeticinae Davie & N.K. Ng, 2007 (Varunidae). Records from Madagascar and Pakistan previously doubtfully referred to " Acmaeopleura balssi Shen, 1932" are here shown to be conspecific with P. curtipes. Paranotonyx is redescribed and figured, and compared with the allied Acmaeopleura Stimpson, 1858, and Sestrostoma Davie & N.K. Ng, 2007, genera that are restricted to the western Pacific. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the scope of a global research on the "Allotetraploid Marsh-Orchids", this study concentrated on populations of critical taxa that are reported from the Grand Est region of France, namely D. devillersiorum, D. vosagiaca and D. parvimajalis. On the basis of morphometrical measurements and multivariate statistical analyses (discriminant analysis, cluster analysis), it is shown that those taxa correspond to well separable entities, with distinct ecological preferences. D. devillersiorum is typical of tufa fens of the Langres Plateau, but also inhabits alkaline marshes in the Jura and in the Cenozoic Paris Basin. D. vosagiaca can be found in acidic peat bogs in the North-East of the Grand Est, where it is extremely rare, as well as in the South-Palatinate (Germany). The populations of D. parvimajalis are confirmed in their localities from the High Vosges, in acidic peat bogs. Comments on the discriminant characters between the three entities are provided. A discussion is proposed on necessary protection measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We analyse the distribution of the potamidid genus Terebralia Swainson, 1840 in the European fossil record (middle Eocene to Miocene). Extant Terebralia contains species restricted to mangroves and mudflats, rendering it a reliable element for detecting these coastal environments in the fossil record. Our contribution summarizes the European fossil record of this taxon and highlights the presence of this genus within coastal environments in the European realm. Distribution in the Cenozoic is interpreted based on ecological preferences, dispersal modes and climatic restrictions of recent species. Maximum geographical distribution is reached during the Early and Middle Miocene with two species being present from the southernmost parts of Europe and Anatolia to the North Sea Basin and the Paratethys. During the Late Miocene, the distribution of Terebralia lignitarum (Eichwald, 1830) is patchy and limited to the South of Europe. The Messinian Salinity Crisis coupled with a changing climate caused the disappearance of Terebralia in the Mediterranean first, and then marked the end of mangrove environments in this province. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The earthworm fauna of Uttarakhand, a constituent of the Himalayan biodiversity hotspot, has been revised citing the available literature to date. A total of 52 species belong to 20 genera and eight families viz. Almidae, Acanthodrilidae, Megascolecidae, Moniligastridae, Lumbricidae, Octochaetidae, Ocnerodrilidae and Benhamiidae have been listed. The family Megascolecidae is the most diverse with 21 species followed by Octochaetidae with 13 species, Lumbricidae with nine species, Moniligastridae and Ocnerodrilidae three species each, remaining families are represented with one species in each. The present communication also included various aspects like colour, ecological categories, distribution and habitat to generate the definitive list of known earthworms from different districts of Uttarakhand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Ecoscience (Ecoscience) is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The influential Greek philosopher Aristotle (384-322 BCE) is almost unanimously acclaimed as the founder of zoology. There is a consensus that he was interested in attributes of animals, but whether or not he tried to develop a zoological taxonomy remains controversial. Fürst von Lieven and Humar compiled a data matrix from Aristotle's Historia animalium and showed, through a parsimony analysis published in 2008, that these data produced a hierarchy that matched several taxa recognized by Aristotle. However, their analysis leaves some questions unanswered because random data can sometimes yield fairly resolved trees. In this study, we update the scores of many cells and add four new characters to the data matrix (147 taxa scored for 161 characters) and quote passages from Aristotle's Historia animalium to justify these changes. We confirm the presence of a phylogenetic signal in these data through a test using skewness in length distribution of a million random trees, which shows that many of the characters discussed by Aristotle were systematically relevant. Our parsimony analyses on the updated matrix recover far more trees than reported by Fürst von Lieven and Humar, but their consensus includes many taxa that Aristotle recognized and apparently named for the first time, such as selachē (selachians) and dithyra (Bivalvia Linnaeus, 1758). This study suggests that even though taxonomy was obviously not Aristotle's chief interest in Historia animalium, it was probably among his secondary interests. These results may pave the way for further taxonomic studies in Aristotle's zoological writings in general. Despite being almost peripheral to Aristotle's writings, his taxonomic contributions are clearly major achievements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is a continuation of the new series started in 2020 to publish the new or interesting lichenological discoveries made in Switzerland or in the Geneva canton. Aspicilia crespiana is new to the Alps and to Switzerland. Candelariella blastidiata, C. faginea and C. oleaginescens are new to Switzerland. New observations for Candelariella plumbea s.l. and C. viae-lacteae in Switzerland are given. A key in French and in English for the species of Candelaria and Candelariella occurring in Switzerland is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New material of the ammonite subfamily Cheloniceratinae Spath, 1923 is described from the Aptian successions of the Maghara area. We record Cheloniceras cornuelianum as well as Epicheloniceras tschernyschewi from the lower and upper Aptian, respectively. These very widely distributed and common species are important for the supraregional correlation, and we establish their stratigraphic range for the Gabal Lagama and Gabal Abu Ruqum key sections. A short account is given about the palaeobiogeographic significance of both species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Bulletin de la Societe Zoologique de France is the property of Societe Zoologique de France and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The late Pleistocene mylodontine sloth Glossotherium wegneri (Spillmann, 1931) (Interandean region, Ecuador) has been assigned to Glossotherium Owen, 1839 and Oreomylodon Hoffstetter, 1949 (the latter ranked as a subgenus or genus), and synonymized with G. robustum (Owen, 1842). However, the phylogenetic and comparative analyses conducted here, which include previously undescribed remains, strongly suggest specific distinction for G. wegneri and that there is little, if any, support for generic or subgeneric distinction for Oreomylodon. Among the notable features of this species are the presence of an internasal element, marked expansion of the rostrum anteriorly, and dorsoventrally and the palatal region transversely, increased separation of the caniniform tooth from the anterior edge of maxilla, increased relative braincase width, relatively enlarged hypoglossal foramen, and greatly elongated zygomatic process of the squamosal. The resulting single MPT recovered a monophyletic Glossotherium, with the following phylogenetic arrangement of the species of this genus (G. robustum + ((G. wegneri + G. tropicorum Hoffstetter, 1952) + (G. phoenesis Cartelle, De Iuliis, Boscaini & Pujos, 2019 + G. tarijense Ameghino, 1902))). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The poorly known genus Lacunipotamon Dai, Song, He, Cao, Xu & Zhong, 1975, is studied and reviewed. Two new species, Lacunipotamon yuanshi sp. nov. and Lacunipotamon cymatile sp. nov. from Yunnan Province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, respectively, are described based on morphology and mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) sequences. Both superficially resemble Lacunipotamon albusorbitum Dai, Song, He, Cao, Xu & Zhong, 1975, the type and previously only known species in the genus, but can be distinguished by the combination of live colour, size, maxilliped III, male thoracic sternum, male pleon, male gonopod, and female gonopore characters. Phylogenetic analysis of the molecular data corroborates the novelty of the two species. Résumé: Le genre peu connu Lacunipotamon Dai, Song, He, Cao, Xu & Zhong, 1975, est étudié et revu. Deux nouvelles espèces Lacunipotamon yuanshi nov. sp. et Lacunipotamon cymatile nov. sp. respectivement de la province du Yunnan et de la région autonome Guangxi Zhuang, sont décrites sur la base de leur morphologie et des séquences de la sous-unité de l'oxydase du cytochrome c mitochondrial (COI). Les deux ressemblent approximativement à Lacunipotamon albusorbitum Dai, Song, He, Cao, Xu & Zhong, 1975, le type et la seule espèce du genre connue jusqu'alors, mais peuvent être distingués grâce à la combinaison de leur couleur sur le vivant, la taille, le maxillipède III, le sternum thoracique, le pléon, les gonopodes chez le mâle et les gonopores femelles. L'analyse phylogénétique des données moléculaires corrobore la nouveauté des deux espèces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of College of Languages is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Bulletin de la Societe Zoologique de France is the property of Societe Zoologique de France and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Two evanioid wasps are described from specimens entrapped in Kachin amber. The first species, Sinuevania pouilloni sp. nov., allows a revision of the diagnosis of the genus Sinuevania. The complex forewing venation (plesiomorphy) of this new species confirms that the genus Sinuevania belongs to the stem group of the family Evaniidae. Together with the new praeaulacine wasp Praegastrinus edithae gen. et sp. nov., Sinuevania pouilloni sp. nov. shows that the diversity of the superfamily Evanioidea in the mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber remains underestimated. New fossils of evaniid wasps from the Albo-Cenomanian amber of Charente-Maritime (France) are expected to extend the diversity and distribution of several genera. Based on the recent discovery, but not yet published, of new praeaulacid specimens from the mid-Cretaceous, we propose reclassifying Mesevania within the Praeaulacidae (Praeaulacinae). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

L'Atlas Saharien occidental ne cesse de livrer ses secrets paléontologiques. Les récentes prospections effectuées dans la partie supérieure de la Formation de Rhoundjaia ont permis de découvrir plusieurs niveaux fossilifères riches en faunes d'ammonites inédites d'âge Turonien inférieur. Sept espèces sont décrites et illustrées dans le cadre du présent travail : Neoptychites cephalotus (Courtiller, 1860), Fagesia peroni (Pervinquière, 1907), Fagesia tevesthensis (Peron, 1896), Pseudotissotia nigeriensis (Woods, 1911), Thomasites rollandi (Thomas et Peron, 1889), Choffaticeras (C.) sinaiticum (Douvillé, 1912), Hoplitoides sp. Ces espèces couvrent les Zones à Watinoceras coloradoense et Mammites nodosoides et documentent une affinité paléobiogéographique sud-téthysienne. The Western Saharan Atlas continues to reveal its paleontological secrets. Recent prospecting carried out in the upper part of the Rhoundjaia Formation allows to discover several fossiliferous levels rich in new, unpublished ammonites (lower Turonian). Seven Species are described and illustrated in the context of this study: Neoptychites cephalotus (Courtiller, 1860), Fagesia peroni (Pervinquière, 1907), Fagesia tevesthensis (Peron, 1896), Pseudotissotia nigeriensis (Woods, 1911), Thomasites rollandi (Thomas and Peron, 1889), Choffaticeras (C.) sinaiticum (Douvillé, 1912), Hoplitoides sp. These species cover Watinoceras coloradoense and Mammites nodosoides Zones (lower Turonian) and document a south tethysian paleobiogeographic affinity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

I here describe new fossil remains of lizards and snakes from the late Miocene of Pikermi, near Athens, Greece. This classical locality, known since at least the middle of the 19th century, has yielded over the decades abundant mammal fossils, whereas squamate remains have been confined to early discoveries of Varanus remains during the 19th century. The first specimen among these varanid fossils, a large vertebra described by Albert Gaudry during the 1860s, represents also one of the earliest discoveries of a fossil monitor lizard worldwide. Nevertheless, this historically important specimen has only been briefly described and its so far only available images were the original lithographs and subsequent sketches of two only of its views. I here describe this specimen in detail and provide photographs of all its standard views. The additional squamate remains from the Pikermi area are fragmentary. Nevertheless, they document the presence in Pikermi of other lizard groups, such as lacertids and probable anguines, while snakes are described for the first time. Among the snake fossils, probable erycines and colubrids are identified; if indeed an erycine, this would be the oldest occurrence of that group in the Eastern Mediterranean, thus extending back its stratigraphic range in the area by several million years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several systematic revisions of the Hegetotheriidae have been published in the last twenty years, but some important taxonomic work remains limited to unpublished studies. In one such thesis, the late Oligocene genera Prosotherium and Propachyrucos were revised, so that Prosotherium garzoni and Propachyrucos smithwoodwardi were considered the only valid species for each genus. Later authors loosely accepted these informal revisions, but recent phylogenetic coding has yet to accurately reflect these revisions, with character states often at odds with the known material for these genera. This study re-examines most of the fossil material assigned to Propachyrucos and Prosotherium , including both published and unpublished fossils, and contributes to a better understanding of the systematics, taxonomic diversity and early morphological evolution of the pachyrukhines. We conclude that Prosotherium garzoni and Propachyrucos smithwoodwardi are indeed the only valid species for each genus, confirming the influential but unpublished revisions that have become widely accepted. The known material for these species is clarified to aid future phylogenetic studies. At the same time, Propachyrucos aequilatus and Pr. robustus are herein considered nomina dubia. Additionally, Miocene species originally ascribed to Propachyrucos , along with unpublished material loosely assigned to the same genus, are here synonymized with other genera. Finally, several fossils previously recognized as Prosotherium sp. are here recognized as P. garzoni. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new genus and species of chinchilloid rodent is described here. It was found in Colhuehuapian levels (early Miocene) of the localities of Bryn Gwyn and Gran Barranca, Chubut Province, Argentina. The new taxon shows a unique combination of characters (e.g., protohypsodont teeth, upper molars trilophodont, m1 and m2 tri- or tetralophodont with the second crest in position of variable development, and m3 trilophodont, cement absent) that make it different from any other known chinchilloids. We performed a phylogenetic analysis to corroborate the relationships of the new taxon within the Chinchilloidea. Our results indicate that the new taxon is best classified as Chinchilloidea incertae sedis , together with Incamys , Garridomys , and Scotamys. These species form the basal stock that leads to the modern lineage Chinchillidae (chinchillas and viscachas). The presence of the new taxon in these localities increases the diversity of chinchilloids during the early Miocene and reduces the dissimilarity between the faunas found in Bryn Gwyn and Gran Barranca. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Rhinocerotidae material from the latest Miocene of Sahabi (Libya) is here revised in detail in order to clarify its systematic position and the paleobiogeographic implications. The family is represented by four specimens only at Sahabi, a phalanx, a mandible, a second upper molar (M2), and a second upper premolar (P2). Except for the phalanx, which can be only identified at the family level, the morphology and the dimensions of these specimens have revealed the presence of three taxa: Aceratheriini vel Teleoceratina, Brachypotherium lewisi and ' Diceros ' sp. The presence of the large-sized B. lewisi has been suggested in several papers, but without a detailed comparison or critical revision. The Brachypotherium from Sahabi also resembles Brachypotherium heinzelini , suggesting a probable synonymy between this species and B. lewisi. A P2 from Sahabi differs from several species belonging to Ceratotherium , including Ceratotherium neumayri , and it resembles the genus Diceros. The rhinoceros association (Brachypotherium and a dicerotine) recognized at Sahabi has been recorded at Lothagam (Kenya), suggesting a biogeographic affinity with the eastern Africa assemblage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[fr] Un assemblage paléontologique a été récolté dans le Cénomanien du Djebel Metrassi (Batna, NE Algérie). Constitué de 327 spécimens, il comporte un corail, 24 espèces de bivalves, 14 espèces de gastéropodes, 3 espèces d’ammonites et 7 espèces d’échinides. Cet assemblage permet d’établir une liste systématique originale, avec des espèces inédites, pour le Cénomanien de ce Djebel et vient soutenir le découpage lithostratigraphique proposé.

Abstract Tindaria kretensis n. sp., a minute deep-water protobranch, is described from Early Pliocene marls cropping out in the Voutes section, northern Crete Island. This is one of the few fossil records of Tindaria from the Mediterranean area, the first well documented for the Neogene. Tindaria is an almost cosmopolitan deep-water genus, absent from the modern Mediterranean. Its occurrence in the Early Pliocene is in agreement with what is known about the past psychrospheric conditions in the Mediterranean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plankto-benthic ostracods of the subfamily Bathyconchoeciinae constitute an extremely heterogeneous group of species, as well in body size, as well as in the shape and structure of carapace and limbs. At present, their fauna contains 35 known (described) species, belonging to four genera. Besides that, about 50 species with still open nomenclature were noted in the literature and have been found in material from our collections. A preliminary morphological analysis of the bathyconchoeciines allowed, in addition, to single out 13 species complexes (= putative genera). One of these genera is described herein as Bathyconchoecilla gen. nov., from the deep-sea zone of the Kurile-Kamchatka Trench. The new genus differs from other genera in this subfamily by the shape and sculpture of the carapace, the location of the left hook on the second antenna in the male, and the structure of the coxale and basale of the mandible and the endites of the maxilla. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of halocyprid ostracod, Scottoecia villosa sp. nov., from the bathypelagic zone of the Kurile-Kamchatka Trench, is described and illustrated. This species is closely similar to S. foveolata (Deevey, 1968), but differs by the shape of the postero-dorsal corners of the carapace, the carapace sculpture, the number of secondary filaments on the first antenna, and the setae on the first endopodite segment of the maxilla. A key to the species of the genus Scottoecia is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work deals with the study of the botanical characteristics of the six acacia species of Ahaggar. Vachellia tortilis subsp. raddiana,V. seyal, V. nilotica subsp. tomentosa, V. flava, Faidherbia albida and Senegalia laeta. It was conducted on quantitative traits (eg, leaf length, number of pinnula pairs, pod length) and qualitative traits (eg position of the spines, types of inflorescence). These species are structured in three different groups. The first includes 4 species of Vachellia, characterized by the average length of the leaves of 4.5 cm, tapered pods of an average length exceeding 11 cm and carrying up to 12 seeds, pairs of stipular spines, straight, tapered whitish and inflorescences in yellow or white glomeruli. The second is formed by F. albida characterized by leaves of average length of 10.37 cm, by pods exceeding on average 12 cm in length and 2.3 cm in width, by an inflorescence in yellow axillary spike and spines of medium length, thick at the base. The third distinguishes S. laeta characterized by leaves of average length of 7,67 cm, pods of average length of 6.25 cm and average width of 2.47 cm, with number of seeds not exceeding 5 (average = 3.28), with hook-shaped goads, grouped in 02 or 03, and an inflorescence in axillary spike with white flowers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Species diversity of the genus Hemphillia Bland and W.G. Binney, 1872 (jumping-slugs) was studied across its range in western North America's inland temperate rainforests. The taxonomic relationships among jumping-slug populations were clarified by integrating morphological, molecular, and biogeographic approaches. A new species, Skade's jumping-slug ( Hemphillia skadei sp. nov.), was discovered in this process and is described herein. We base this taxonomic decision on molecular comparison of representatives from other Hemphillia species and four morphological characters that distinguish H. skadei from its sister species, the pale jumping-slug ( Hemphillia camelus Pilsbry and Vanatta, 1897). The distribution of H. skadei and H. camelus is described along with the notable lack of detection of the marbled jumping-slug ( Hemphillia danielsi Vanatta, 1914) within the primary survey area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The avian fossil assemblages from the late Pleistocene deposits of the Rio Secco Cave (north-eastern Italy) is presented herein. We studied the layers that date back to the end of MIS3 and the beginning of MIS2, which also contain evidence of Gravettian frequentation dated to 33.5–30 ka cal BP. The systematic analysis revealed the presence of 18 species and other supraspecific taxa that supported palaeoenvironmental reconstructions. Taxa indicate that, at the onset of LGM, site surroundings were characterised by conifer or mixed forests, open grasslands, slow-flowing water bodies and mountain meadows with rocky outcrops, as indicated by Lagopus muta . Today, this environment is found above the tree line (beyond 1500–2000 m) and cannot be detected near the site, located at 580 m asl. Noteworthy, is also the finding of the second Italian late Pleistocene fossil record of Picus canus . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cutthroat eel Dysomma alticorpus n. sp. is described based on a single specimen collected in a trammel net at a depth of 350 m off Eilat, Israel, Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea. The new species belongs to the Dysomma anguillare species complex, which comprises species possessing a well-developed pectoral fin, intermaxillary teeth, a uniserial row of 7–15 large compound teeth in the lower jaw (which may be followed by a few smaller teeth), and an anteriorly situated anus with the trunk shorter than the head length. It is characterised by a combination of the following characters: origin of the dorsal fin well anterior to the base of the pectoral fin, predorsal length 13.8% TL; preanal length 22.8% TL; three compound teeth on the vomer; head pores: IO 4, SO 3; M 6; POP 0; AD 1, F 0, ST 0; lateral-line pores: predorsal 4, prepectoral 8, preanal 14, total 57–58, the last at the posterior two-thirds of the total length; MVF 7–16–115; total vertebrae 115. Dysomma alticorpus n. sp. is compared with other species of the genus. A revised key to the species of the genera Dysomma and Dysommina is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The taxonomy of Daldorfia spinosissima (A. Milne-Edwards, 1862) and D. triangularis Sakai, 1974, two large and rarely reported parthenopid species, is discussed. The taxonomy of the two species had been confused until Tan & Ng (2007) argued that both were valid taxa. The availability of fresh species material allowed direct comparisons to be made and the two taxa could, in fact, be separated by a good series of characters: carapace shape, spination on carapace surfaces and chelipeds, rostral form, shape of proepistomal spine, proportions of the third maxilliped ischium, overall structure of the chelipeds, relative lengths of the ambulatory merus, shape of the anterior thoracic sternal depression, and proportions of the male pleon, as well as structure of the male first gonopod. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to clarify the systematic position of Helix latastei Letourneux in Letourneux & Bourguignat, 1887, and Helix latasteopsis Letourneux & Bourguignat, 1887, a comprehensive approach using morphological and molecular methods is presented. The investigation of the genital organs of both species showed that they belong to the genus Xerocrassa Monterosato, 1892 with two very small dart sacs and a few tubiform glandulae mucosae. In our phylogenetic analysis using the mitochondrial markers COI, 16S and the nuclear cluster 5.8-ITS2-28S, the results of the anatomical research were confirmed. Thus, the genus Ereminella Pallary, 1919, which is based on H. latastei, becomes a junior synonym of Xerocrassa. A review of the genus-level taxa Xerobarcana Brandt, 1959, and Xeroregima Brandt, 1959, showed that these should also be considered as synonyms of Xerocrassa. A third species, Helix lacertara Bourguignat, 1863 from Algeria was found to be closely related to X. latastei based on its shell morphology. A map showing the distribution of the three species treated is supplied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new genus and species Linqibinia panae of paracymatophlebiid hawker dragonfly is described from the Middle Jurassic Haifanggou Formation (Inner Mongolia, China). Previously only known from Karatau in Kazakhstan, the discovery of another member of this family extends its range across Central Asia. It confirms that the Aeshnoptera was among the most diverse odonatan clades during the Middle-Late Jurassic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

L'étude des microfossiles extraits par acétolyse des niveaux carbonatés indurés de la série campano-maastrichtienne du stratotype de limite à Tercis (Landes, France) a permis de découvrir 44 taxons attribués au groupe des gilianelles (microproblematica appartenant probablement aux Protistes, Protozoaires, Rhizopodes) ainsi que dix autres microproblematica. 281 vues au microscope électronique et 183 vues au microscope optique permettent d'illustrer, chez les gilianelles, 36 espèces, et 8 sous-espèces appartenant à 15 genres dont 14 nouveaux. Les nouveaux genres sont : Tercensella, Azymella, Numismella, Aturella, Scutellella, Corniculum, Caccabella, Orculiella, Pennigerella, Corbella, Aquilegiella, Pocillella, Coraliella, Obbella. Chez les autres microproblematica, neuf espèces et une sous-espèce sont proposées appartenant à sept genres nouveaux : Globulella, Piperella, Vasculum, Lucernellus, Cimicellus, Tubella, Pilella. Cette première revue d'ensemble avec identification des taxons a conduit à caractériser précisément un groupe dont l'identité et la cohérence sont établies d'après les caractères morphologiques du corps des tests et des expansions qu'ils portent et leur ornementation. Ces critères, utilisés de façon ordonnée permettent de proposer un classement rationnel qui pourra être confirmé par d'autres observations pour devenir une classification. L'étude de la répartition stratigraphique indique qu'ils constituent un remarquable outil de datation relative dans le site stratotypique et son voisinage immédiat où ils permettent d'individualiser des intervalles de dépôt de l'ordre de 0,1 Ma, plus fins que la plupart de ceux obtenus d'après les nombreux groupes de microfossiles ou de macrofossiles classiques étudiés pour qualifier ce stratotype. Le repérage de la limite Campanien-Maastrichtien peut se faire grâce à la lignée des aturelles ; elle se situe au début de la zone d'existence de l'aturelle édentée (Aturella edentula).Following acetolysis, microproblematica were collected from indurated carbonates sampled from the stratotype section of the Campanian-Maastrichtian boundary at Tercis (Landes, France). 44 taxa of the gilianelles group (microproblematica probably pertaining to the Protista, Protozoans, Rhizopods) as well as ten other microproblematica were discriminated. To document the taxa in this paper 281 scanning electronic microscope images and 183 optical microscope images are presented. The gilianelles encompass 36 species, and 8 subspecies referred to 15 genera of which 14 are new. The new genera are: Tercensella, Azymella, Numismella, Aturella, Scutellella, Corniculum, Caccabella, Orculiella, Pennigerella, Corbella, Aquilegiella, Pocillella, Coraliella, Obbella. Among the other microproblematica, nine species and one subspecies are proposed; they are referred to 7 new genera: Globulella, Piperella, Vasculum, Lucernellus, Cimicellus, Tubella, Pilella. This first general view uses normal taxonomic criteria to recognize and define a group of microfossils of which the identity and the consistency of occurrence are herewith established using the morphological characters of the body of the test, the presence and development of the expansions attached to that body, and its ornamentation. The use of these criteria in an ordered manner suggests that a rigorous taxonomic collocation is feasible, needing only a few other observations before becoming a formal classification. The statigraphic distribution of the taxa provides a means for establishment of a remarkable tool for relative dating in the stratotype section and its immediate vicinity ; microproblematica allow the sequence to be subdivided into intervals of deposition on the order of 0.1 Ma, a length of time shorter than the intervals obtained using the many microfossil or macrofossil groups previously employed to calibrate the stratotype. The Campanian-Maastrichtian boundary is within the limits of the genus Aturella lineage in the basal portion of the range of Aturella edentula.

Faisant suite aux recherches sur le Bédoulien et le Gargasien du secteur de Cassis-La Bédoule (B. du Rh., SE France), l'étude de quatre coupes en relais dans l'aire stratotypique de l'Aptien, situées dans le secteur du Hameau de la Tuilière (commune de Saint-Saturnin-lès-Apt, Vaucluse, SE France) a permis l'analyse détaillée des associations de foraminifères benthiques (30 taxons) et planctoniques (15 taxons) du Bédoulien supérieur et du Gargasien inférieur. Descriptions, figurations et répartition stratigraphique sont fournies pour les formes les plus significatives, avec individualisation de plusieurs marqueurs, benthiques et surtout planctoniques. L'étude de ces derniers dans le cadre privilégié de coupes dilatées et dépourvues de hiatus a permis de conforter la zonation définie antérieurement dans le stratotype de l'Aptien inférieur de Cassis-La Bédoule (succession des zones à cabri, luterbacheri, ferreolensis, barri, algerianus) et même de l'affiner, par la mise en évidence d'un horizon à Globigerinelloides ferreolensis heptacameratus nov. subsp., chevauchant la limite entre les zones à luterbacheri et à ferreolensis. Nos résultats montrent également la quasi-coïncidence temporelle 1) du toit de la zones d'ammonites à Furcata, 2) du changement lithologique dit du "changement de couleur" et 3) d'un triple datum micropaléontologique (FAD de Praehedbergella luterbacheri, LAD de Protocythere bedoulensis et Lenticulina cf. nodosa) dont l'importance avait déjà été signalée dans le stratotype de Cassis-La Bédoule. Ces nouvelles données peuvent constituer des éléments pour la définition de la limite Bédoulien-Gargasien. Durant le Gargasien inférieur (au sein de la Zone à luterbacheri), un épisode probablement d'origine volcanique, que nous sommes tentés d'assimiler au Niveau Van Gogh (initialement détecté dans le domaine vocontien), est marqué par une forte crise de diversité affectant les foraminifères épibenthiques, planctoniques, ainsi que les ostracodes. Sur le plan paléoécologique et paléobiogéographique, la comparaison des associations de foraminifères benthiques et planctoniques du secteur de La Tuilière avec celles des régions voisines fait apparaître des spécificités liées à la paléo-profondeur et des affinités paraissant plus marquées avec les microfaunes de certaines régions boréales, comme l'Allemagne du Nord, qu'avec le domaine téthysien. [Research on the Bedoulian and Gargasian of the Cassis-La Bédoule (Bouches du Rhône, SE France) area is extended, by a study of four overlapping sections in the stratotypic area of the Aptian stage in the hamlet of La Tuilière (commune of Saint-Saturnin-lès-Apt, Vaucluse, SE France). This new information permitted a detailed analysis of upper Bedoulian and lower Gargasian benthic (30 taxa) and planktonic (15 taxa) foraminiferal assemblages. Here we describe, illustrate and give the ranges and distribution of the most significant forms, and call attention to several benthic and planktonic species that may serve as extra-regional markers.The study of the planktonics in these expanded and continuous sections made it possible to strengthen the zonation which had been established in the Lower Aptian stratotype of Cassis-La Bédoule, i.e. a succession of five zones (cabri, luterbacheri, ferreolensis, barri, algerianus); this zonal scheme is improved by the addition of a horizon with Globigerinelloides ferreolensis heptacameratus nov. subsp., which straddles the boundary between the luterbacheri and ferreolensis zones. We also show the temporal quasi-coincidence of: 1) the top of the Furcata ammonite Zone, 2) the lithological change named "change of color" and 3) a triple micropaleontological datum (FAD of Praehedbergella luterbacheri, LAD of Protocythere bedoulensis and Lenticulina cf. nodosa) of which the importance in the stratotype of Cassis-La Bédoule had already been pointed out. All these data may be valuable in the definition of the Bedoulian-Gargasian boundary.Within the luterbacheri Zone of the early Gargasian, an episode probably of volcanic origin that we interpret as the equivalent of the Van Gogh Level (initially detected in the Vocontian domain), is marked by a strong crisis in the diversity of epibenthic and planktonic foraminifers, as well as in that of the ostracodes.From a paleoecological and paleobiogeographical point of view, a comparison of the benthic and planktonic foraminiferal assemblages of La Tuilière with those of neighbouring areas reveals specific features related to paleodepth and shows affinities which appear to be closer with the microfaunas of certain boreal areas (e.g. northern Germany) than with the Tethysian realm.]

Specimens previously identified as Bathyconchoecia paulula sensu Yin & Chen, 1991 and Bathyconchoecia galerita sensu Yin & Chen, 1991, together with two similar specimens, are reclassified as a new species, Bathyconchoecia incisa sp. nov., which we describe and illustrate in detail here. The present species is similar to Bathyconchoecia sagittarius and Bathyconchoecia kornickeri in having a shallow notch on the posterodorsal corner of the carapace, but can be easily distinguished from these species by the structure of the posterior margin of the carapace and the striated sculpturing on the surface of the valves. The specimens on which this new classification was based were collected at shallow depths (<125 m) off the east coast of Hainan Island, in the northern South China Sea and in the Zengmu (James) Shoal and adjacent areas in the southern South China Sea. B. incisa is likely to be a shallow-water species or has a wide bathymetric range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]