Chonetoidea (Brachiopoda) from the Lopingian (Late Permian) of South China

en species of the superfamily Chonetoidea from the Lopingian (Late Permian) of South China are described or revised. A review of all recorded Chonetoidea species from the Lopingian (Late Permian) of South China indicates that some 22 species of five genera can be recognised. Species of Tethyochonetes and Neochonetes are characteristic in the lithofacies dominated by mudstone, siltstone or siliceous rocks in the Lopingian and some argillaceous limestone and clay rock facies near the Permian-Triassic boundary. New taxa are Neochoneles (Zhongyingia) subgen. nov., Neochonetes (Huangichonetes) subgen. nov. and Tethyochonetes flatus sp. nov.

Early Permian Jakutoproductus (Productida: Brachiopoda) from Patagonia, Argentina

The productid brachiopod genus Jakutoproductus, dominant in the Early Permian marine faunas of northeastern Siberia, is described for the first time from the southern hemisphere. Jakutoproductus australis sp. nov. is described from the Rio Genoa Formation, Chubut Province (Patagonia), Argentina. The age of the Patagonian species is considered to be Sakmarian (Early Permian), possibly Sterlitamakian.

A Wuchiapingian (Late Permian) brachiopod fauna from an exotic block in the Indus–Tsangpo suture zone, southern Tibet, and its palaeobiogeographical and tectonic implications

A brachiopod fauna including 19 species of 17 genera from an exotic block in the Indus–Tsangpo suture zone in southern Tibet is described and illustrated. The brachiopod fauna is dominated by Martinia elegans and two new taxa: Jinomarginifera lhazeensis gen. et sp. nov. and Zhejiangospirifer giganteus sp. nov. The fauna is closely comparable with those from the middle and upper parts of the Wargal Formation and the Chhidru Formation in the Salt Range of Pakistan, the Chitichun Limestone in southern Tibet, and the Basleo area of West Timor, and these correlations suggest a Wuchiapingian age. The fauna exhibits substantial links with both peri–Gondwanan and Cathaysian faunas, which may imply that it is a seamount biota originally located in the southern margin of the Neotethys during the Late Permian, and was later (in the early Cenozoic) displaced and became sandwiched into younger marine deposits in the collision process between India and Eurasia.

Pennsylvanian (Carboniferous) brachiopods from the Itaituba Formation of the Amazon Basin, Brazil

A new brachiopod fauna is described from the lower Itaituba Formation at the Caima Quarry 2 section in the Itaituba area, Amazon Basin, Brazil. The Amazonoproductus amazonensis-Anthracospirifer oliveirai Assemblage is proposed for this fauna, which is considered early Pennsylvanian (Morrowan) as constrained by associated conodont and fusulinacean faunas. Nine brachiopod taxa are described herein, including Amazonoproductus amazonensis gen. et sp. nov., and Buxtonioides itaitubensis sp. nov. and Linoproductus caima sp. nov. The new tribe Marginovatini of the Linoproductoidea (the Productida) is also proposed.

Significance of Claraia from the late permian of South Guizhou, China

Recently collecte material of two Claraia taxa, Claraia zhiyunica Yang et al, 2001 and Claraia sp. nov. from the Late Permian of South China, are described. Late Permian Claraia species are compared with those from the Early Triassic, and the survival of Claraia across the mass extinction period across the Permian- Triassic boundary (PTB) is discussed.

Carboniferous and Permian Rugosochonetidae (Brachiopoda) from West Spitsbergen

The rugosochonetid brachiopod species Lissochonetes geinitzianus from the Kazimovian of the Nordenskioldbreen Formation, and Dyoros (Dyoros) mucronata sp. nov., Dyoros (Dyoros) spitzbergianus and Lissochonetes superba from the Artinskian to latest Permian Kapp Starostin Formation in West Spitsbergen are described and figured. Dyoros is generally restricted to the Boreal Realm, whereas Lissochonetes is mostly distributed in the Boreal Realm, but occasionally present in the Palaeoequatorial and Gondwanan Realms

Description of new species of Setosabatieria and Desmolaimus (Nematoda: Monhysterida) and a checklist of New Zealand free-living marine nematode species

Two new marine nematode species are described from intertidal sediments in southern New Zealand. Setosabatieria australis sp. nov. is characterised by an amphideal fovea with 3.5 turns, 7–9 small pre-cloacal supplements, and 2–5 sub-cephalic setae per file. Setosabatieria australis sp. nov. differs from all known species of the genus in having L-shaped spicules with a hollow median region, in contrast to the typical curved shape. Desmolaimus courti sp. nov. is characterised by the presence of four long (15 µm) cephalic setae, two cuticularised rings in the buccal cavity, and a lightly cuticularised pharyngeal lumen. It differs from other species of the genus by having eight sub-cephalic setae. A total of 116 marine species are included in the checklist of New Zealand free-living nematodes, with the majority of records from the coast of Campbell and Auckland islands from the early part of the 20th century. Most records were from habitats such as seaweed or sponge, which may explain the high proportion (>50%) of cosmopolitan species recorded in New Zealand to date. Little is known about the sediment nematode fauna, particularly in deeper waters (>120 m), from where there are no records to date.

New early Triassic Lingulidae (Brachiopoda) genera and species from South China

Two new genera, Sinolingularia gen. nov. and Sinoglottidia gen. nov., together with three new species, Sinolingularia huananensis gen. et sp. nov., Sinolingularia yini gen. et sp. nov. and Sinoglottidia archboldi gen. et sp. nov., are described on the basis of a large collection of well-preserved specimens from several sections straddling the Permian - Triassic boundary in South China.

Lichen flora of the Mount Donna Buang Scenic Reserve, Victoria

This report investigated the lichen flora of the Mt Donna Buang Scenic Reserve in Victoria, There were several aims: to describe the lichens of the region, to produce a pictorial key enabling field identification and to determine any distribution patterns. A floristic survey covering approximately 50 square km was undertaken to determine lichen diversity of the region generally. Lichens were sampled along roads, tracks, walking trails and in sections of bush, taking into account forest type and, particularly, areas that were lichen rich. Seventy-five lichen species in 43 genera and 27 families were identified and described from the region. An unknown, species H, also was described. Of the 76 lichen species, 22 were crastose and the remainder macrolichens. The best represented families were: Cladoniaceae (8 species), Hypogymniaceae (6), Lobariaceae (7), Lecideaceae (6), Pannariaceae (6) and Parmeliaccae (6). This study described 12 species (17%) which previously were not known for Victoria and which are a first record for the state. These include: Cladonia sarmentosa (J.D. Hook & Taylor) Dodge, Graphis librata Knight, Parmelinopsis neodamaziana (Elix & Johnston) Elix & Hale, Pertusaria novaezelandiae Szatala, Placopsis pardlina f. microphylla Lamb, Porina leptalea AX. Sm., Pseudocyphellaria ardesiaca Galloway, Trapeliopsis congregant (Zahlbr.) Brako, Menegazzia myriotrema (Mull. Arg.) P. James, Bunodophoron scrobiculatum (Church. Bab,) Wedin, Parmelia testacea Stirton and Menegazzia purpurascens S. Louwhoff sp. nov.. The last eight species are new to the mainland and, apart from Menegazzia purpurascens, previously were known only from Tasmania. Five main elements of distribution were identified for the lichen flora of the Mt Donna Buang Scenic Reserve: cosmopolitan, austral/australasian, paleotropical, pantropical and western pacific. The majority of species (68%) had austral/australasian distributions, eleven (16%) were endemic to Australia and nine (13%) occurred only in Tasmania , Victoria and New Zealand. A pictorial, dichotomous key was constructed for the lichen flora of the Mt Donna Buang Scenic Reserve. Previously, keys to the lichen flora of Tasmanian rainforests were suggested as appropriate to similar areas in Victoria, however, the Victorian forests include a significant sclerophyll element The key presented is specific for the study site but is appropriate to similar regions in Victoria and has been tested in a number of these areas. The key was designed to be ‘user-friendly’ so that the experienced and inexperienced alike are able to use it. A more detailed investigation of the lichen flora of the Mt Donna Buang Scenic Reserve was carried out in order to determine distribution. A total of 50 quadrats, each 20m x 20m in size, were sampled. Within each, the dominant vegetation type was determined and individuals were identified and location noted. The cover abundance of each lichen species on each individual tree was estimated using a modified Braun-Blanquet scale. A total of 710 trees, representing 13 different species, were examined. Nothofagus cunninghamii (Hook.) Oerst, Eucalyptus regnans R Mull., Acacia dealbata Link, A. melanoxylon R. Br., Hedycarya angustifolia A. Cunn. and Atherosperma moschatum Labill. were the six most common tree species encountered at the study site. Nothofagus cunninghamii supported the greatest lichen diversity (39 species), although most species occurred on less than 10% of the trees. The majority of lichens occurring on N. cunninghamii A. melanoxylon, A. dealbata and H. angustifolia were foliose or crustose, those on Ł. regnans fruticose and foliose and those on A moschatum crustose. Bunodophoron australe was the only lichen species at the study site to occur on one host, Nothofagus cunninghamiL Many occurred on a number of different hosts, but were most common on one particular tree species. The distribution of lichens at the study site was analysed with a rnultivariate statistical package (PATN) which dealt with ‘pattern analysis’. The program ‘SSH’ in PATN which uses the Bray-Curtis ordination technique, was used to create scatterplots displaying the degree of dissimilarity between quadrats in terms of presence/absence of lichen species. The program ‘TWAY’ in PATN was used to construct a two way table to display which lichen species occurred in each vegetation type. The pattern analysis revealed that the lichens of the Mt Donna Buang Scenic Reserve were not restricted to any particular forest type, but particular lichens, or groups of lichens, tended to predominate in certain vegetation communities. This concurs with work done by others in Tasmanian forests. Quadrats which were situated in cool temperate rainforest were grouped more closely with each other than with quadrats in other vegetation types. These also supported the greatest number of lichen species. This was not surprising since N. cunninghamii the dominant tree species in cool temperate rainforest, supported the greatest lichen diversity.

A new bivalve fauna from the Permian-Triassic boundary section of southwestern China

A new marine bivalve fauna from the continuous Upper Permian Longtan Formation to Lower Triassic Yelang Formation of the Zhongzai section in southwestern China is documented. Four bivalve assemblages spanning the Permian–Triassic boundary are recognized and regionally correlated in South China. The bivalve assemblages changed from elements dominated by Palaeozoic types to those dominated by Mesozoic types. Three new species, Claraia zhongzaiensis sp. nov., Claraia sp. nov. 1 and Claraia sp. nov. 2, are described.

Yagonia Roberts (brachiopoda : chonetidina) from the malimán formation, lower carboniferous of western Argentina : palaeobiogeographical implications

A new anoplid chonetid species, Yagonia furquei sp. nov., is described from the Lower Carboniferous (late Tournaisian–early Viséan) Malimán Formation of western Argentina. The associated temperate ‘Malimanian’ fauna is suggested to indicate an initial biotic segregation that took place in western Gondwana (southwestern South America), a palaeobiogeographic event that predated the late Viséan global cooling and associated major palaeolatitudinal biotic differentiation. Occurrences of Yagonia are here interpreted as evidence of a ‘south to north’ faunal migration pathway, here named the Austropanthalassic–Rheic oceanic corridor, established in western Gondwana during the late Early Carboniferous.

A new Ordovician nautiloid genus (Variabioceras) in the Xainza area, northern Tibet

The specimens described in the paper are part of the collection of nautiloid fossils from Zhakang east of the Taerma Bridge, Xainza County, Tibet. Three genera and six species are described, including one new genus Variabioceras gen. nov. and its three new species V. typicum gen. et sp. nov., V. zangbeiense gen. et sp. nov. and V. robustum gen. et sp. nov.

New material of coral fossils in Lower Devonian, Daerdong formation of Xainza, Tibet

The system described in the part of the coral fossils collected from Xainza area, northern Lower Devonian Dahl East group. Wrinkles coral genera and 5 species (including a new species Hunanaxonia xizangensis sp nov.) And two undetermined species; bedplate coral-shaped coral 4 4 species, including two new species the (Pachycanalicula sparcula sp nov. Paraheliolites zakangensis sp nov.) these coral fossil discovery will help to further understanding of the Early Devonian corals fauna symbiotic combination, evolution, and coral paleobiogeographic flora.

Systematics and palaeoecology of Changhsingian (Late Permian) Ambocoeliidae brachiopods from South China and implications for the end-Permian mass extinction

Four Ambocoeliidae brachiopod species including one new species (Crurithyris tazawai sp. nov., Crurithyris sp., Paracrurithyris pygmaea and Attenuatella mengi) are described from the Changhsingian (Late Permian) deep-water facies of South China. Analysis of the morphology, palaeoecology and palaeogeographical and temporal distributions of these species revealed that the presence of a delthyrium and/or the micro-ornaments among three of the four species (Crurithyris tazawai sp. nov., Paracrurithyris pygmaea and Attenuatella mengi) favoured an epifaunal (epiphytic) lifestyle. Morphological differences suggest that Paracrurithyris pygmaea may have been more effective metabolically in forming the shell compared with Attenuatella mengi and Crurithyris tazawai. The temporal and palaeogeographical distribution of Attenuatella suggests that A. mengi inhabited cool or cold deep waters. Both Crurithyris tazawai and Attenuatella mengi disappeared earlier in the stratigraphic record than Paracrurithyis pygmaea during the Permian–Triassic mass extinction. These differences in timing of extinction, morphology and palaeogeographical distributions suggest that oxygen deficiency and trophic resource limitation (a consequence of the changing composition of marine phytoplankton in the seas) may have contributed to the end-Permian mass extinction.

Specific status of populations on Madagascar referred to Miniopterus fraterculus (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae), with description of a new species

A new species of bat of the genus Miniopterus is described from Madagascar based on a series of specimens taken in the Central Highlands of the island. This new species previously was identified as M. fraterculus, which is widespread in portions of eastern and southern Africa. Comparisons between these 2 taxa were further complicated because M. fraterculus occurs in portions of its range in sympatry with a morphologically similar species, M. natalensis. Based on specimen material and associated tissue samples from near the type localities of M. natalensis and M. fraterculus, as well as access to some of the critical type specimens, morphological and genetic molecular analyses were used to determine that Malagasy specimens previously assigned to M. fraterculus represent a previously unrecognized species of Miniopterus endemic to the island. Given that the habitat used by Miniopterus sp. nov. is not necessarily associated with native forest, that it has a broad distribution across the Central Highlands, and that it has been found in synanthropic situations, this species is not considered a conservation concern.