Linshuichonetes gen. nov., a new rugosochonetid (Brachiopoda) genus from the Liangshan Formation (Early Permian) in Sichuan, China, and its ecology

A new genus and species, Linshuichonetes elfinis, belonging to the Rugosochonetidae, is described from the Early Permian (Late Artinskian or early Kungurian) Liangshan Formation of the Yangtze block. The new genus is defined externally by the presence of fine, but delayed, capillation and a weak or absent median sulcus and fold and by the presence of a distinct posteromedian sinus on the ventral umbo; and internally by a lack of median, lateral and accessory septa in the dorsal interior; absence of vascular trunks in the ventral interior and the presence of distinct radiating rows of papillae in the interior of both valves, particularly an unusual clustered arrangement of papillae on the posteromedian portion of the dorsal interior. The local environment during the deposition of the Liangshan Formation appears to have been a restricted tidal flat or lagoon which experienced frequent sealevel fluctuations associated with the onset of the Yanghsingian transgression. The new species, L. elfinis, appears to have several morphological adaptations enabling successful exploitation of this environment. It was typically a very small and thin-valved species with a high surface area to volume ratio, an advantage in an oxygen restricted environment. The small size and numerous body spinules would have aided individuals to remain suspended at the top of the fine, soft substrate. It also dominated the brachiopod assemblage in the Liangshan Formation, comprising up to 94%of specimens within a bed. These factors indicate that the new species appears to be an opportunistic species.

Review of Alataleberis McKenzie and Warne, 1986 and description of Alatapacifica gen. nov. (Ostracoda, Crustacea) from the Cenozoic of Australasia

Species originally assigned to the pterygocytherine genus Alataleberis by McKenzie & Warne, 1986 are placed here in two genera—Alataleberis sensu stricto and Alatapacifica gen. nov. Alataleberis species possess poorly defined dorsal ridges marked by a few spines in adult specimens and lack a subcentral tubercle. Alatapacifica species possess well-developed and buttressed dorsal ridges and a well-developed subcentral tubercle. Pterygocytherine genera/species groups recognized here from the southwest Pacific region are Alataleberis, Alatapacifica (septarca and robusta species groups), Alatahermanites Whatley & Titterton, 1981 and the velivola species group of Pterygocythereis Blake, 1933.

Description of systenobythere gen. nov. (Ostracoda, Crustacea) from the late miocene of southeastern Australia with comments on its problematical taxonomic and palaeoecological affinities

A new ostracod genus and species, Systenobythere archboldi, is described from late Miocene open neritic strata of southeastern Australia. Specimens occur in argillaceous glauconitic sands deposited in offshore continental shelf settings that were periodically influenced by coastal upwelling. Systenobythere archboldi possesses an adductor muscle scar pattern typical of the Bythocytheridae, but has a pentodont hinge and sieve-type normal pore canals atypical of this family.

Carboniferous brachiopods from the "Levipustula Fauna" in central-western Argentina : biostratigraphic, palaeoclimatic, and palaeobiogeographic implications

The “Levipustula fauna” is a relatively diverse fossil assemblage composed of brachiopods, bivalves, bryozoans, gastropods and crinoids that appears in glaciomarine sequences related to the Carboniferous glacial event that affected the central-western Argentinean basins. Brachiopods that characterize this fauna have been studied in some of the classical localities of the Argentine Precordillera in San Juan province.

In the Hoyada Verde Formation, the “Levipustula fauna” is usually located immediately above the glacial diamictite horizons and appears to be associated with the mudstones facies of the postglacial transgression. From a palaeoecological study, three brachiopod subfaunas are distinguished in this formation: the lower “Neospirifer” (“Trigonotretidae” gen. nov.) subfauna, above which the more diversified Kitakamithyris subfauna occurs, and the upper Levipustula subfauna, with the dominant species being attributed to Levipustula levis Maxwell. The Hoyada Verde fauna, as well those identified in the La Capilla Formation (Cerro El Morado locality), have been proposed as the typical “Levipustula fauna”. However, in the Leoncito Formation, the “Levipustula fauna” occurs in sandstones horizons located below the glacial diamictite beds. This fauna is poorly diversified and the brachiopods are characterized by “Neospirifer” (“Trigonotretidae” gen. nov.)-Septosyringothyris assemblage and Levipustula is not abundant. This fauna has been considered a colder “pre-interglacial fauna”.

The significant taxonomic, palaeoecologic and taphonomic variations of the “Levipustula fauna”, as well as its position in the glacial sequences, suggest an important palaeoenvironmental control related to Carboniferous glacial dynamics. From the palaeobiogeographic viewpoint, this fauna shows the highest affinity with the Eastern Australian basins from where it was previously described.

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.

Ordovician nautiloid fossils of Xainza region, Tibet

The Taerma bridge-Zhakang in the Xainza area is the second spot of Ordovician in northern Tibet based on the discovery of some reliable fossils. The strata contain a large amount of fossils of many taxa, which developed well enough to attain reliable support for era and distinctive boundary. It is the best spot for the fossil study of the Ordovician in the northern Tibet up to now and provides important clues to the classification and correlation of the Ordovician and to the paleogeography distribution as well as to the tectonic evolution of the northern Tibet. 29 species of Nautiloid fossils, which belong to 3 orders, 8 families and 15 genera, have been identified. Among them,3 genera and 9 species are new. Here only one new genus Eneoceras gen. nov. and six new species are described in detail as example. Other two new genera Taremaocera's and Variabioceras will be described in other papers.Genus Eneoceras gen.nov.Diagnosis:The new genus Eneoceras gen. nov. is characterized by the features as “Conch orthoconic, medium in size. The surface is decorated with annulus which array in a distance as the septa. Conch enlarging slowly. Compressed laterally. Circular in cross section. Siphuncle small, situated central from ventral in position. Spetal neck subcyrtochoanitic. Slightly expanded in connecting rings. Siphuncle appears as a string of beads with thin parietal deposits in it. Medium in spetal density. Thin epithecal and hypothecal deposits developed in cameras

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.

First report of a phytogeographically mixed (transitional) Middle-Late Permian fossil wood assemblage from the Hami area, northwest China, and implications for Permian phytogeographical, paleogeographical and paleoclimatic evolution in central Asia

A diverse and well-preserved fossil wood assemblage is described, for the first time, from the Middle Permian Taerlang Formation and the Upper Permian Quanzijie Formation in the vicinity of the Tianshan Town, Hami City of northwestern China. On the basis of wood microstructure, the fossil woods are classified into three genera and five species, including one new genus: Prototianshanoxylon gen. nov. and two new species: Prototianshanoxylon erdaogouense sp. nov., Prototianshanoxylon hamiense sp. nov. The new genus is characterized by window-like cross-field pitting and mixed tracheid radial wall pitting that suggest a transitional type between araucarioid-type and protopinoid-type pittings.Phytogeographically, the fossil wood assemblage is characterized by an admixture of elements of both temperate Angaran (represented by wood specimens with moderately to well defined growth rings in their secondary xylem) and tropical-subtropical north subregion of the Cathaysian floras (with wood specimens lacking well-defined growth rings). Such a phytogeographically mixed fossil wood assemblage is interpreted to represent a transitional and complex climate condition between a cool temperate and tropical to subtropical zones, showing both seasonal variation and unstable climate conditions. Previously, similarly mixed floras have already been found to exist widely in northern China ranging in age from Early to Late Permian, but the mechanisms thought to be responsible for their formation were varied and remain controversial. In this study, the formation of these mixed Permian floras of North China is linked to the closure of the Tianshan-Hingan seaway coupled with the collision and amalgamation of Siberia with North China and the Tarim block, in a manner much like closing a pair of scissors with the closure of the seaway proceeding gradually and progressively from west to the east.

Permian brachiopods from the Selong Xishan section, Xizang (Tibet), China. Part 2: palaeobiogeographical and palaeoecological implications, spiriferida, athyridida and terebratulida

Brachiopods from the Selong Group at the Selong Xishan section indicate a typical Peri-Gondwanan affinity, but possibly a rapid invasion of tropical/subtropical Tethyan elements into the Himalayan region at the very end of Permian. A brief analysis of taphonomy and composition of the Selong fauna indicate that Selong Xishan lay on the shallow continental shelf near shore and brachiopods suffered substantial abrasion from contemporaneous wave action. Species of Spiriferida, Athyridida and Terebratulida are herein described and revised. New taxa are Nakmusiella selongensis nov. gen. et sp. and ? Bullarina striata nov. sp.

New Strophalosiidae (Brachiopoda) from the early Permian of Argentina

New representatives of the family Strophalosiidae (Brachiopoda) are described from the Tupe Formation of the Paganzo Basin, Argentina. The genus Coronalosia Waterhouse & Gupta is reviewed and the new taxa Coronalosia argentinensis sp. nov. and Tupelosia paganzoensis gen. et sp. nov. proposed. The age of the Tupe Formation is reviewed and a middle to late Asselian (Early Permian) age is preferred.
The new genus Guadalupelosia from the mid-Permian of West Texas, USA, is also proposed.

Description of loxocythere (novoloxocythere) pelius subgen. sp. nov. (ostracoda) from the cenozoic of S.E. Australia with comments on species of antarctiloxoconcha hartmann, 1986 and loxoreticulatum benson, 1964 from Australian and Antarctic marine waters

Loxocythere (Novoloxocythere) pelius subgen. et sp. nov. is described from Upper Miocene strata of the Port Phillip and Western Port Basins. Victoria. It has its acme in shallow open marine facies of latest Miocene (Cheltenhamian) age. This species, along with Loxocythere (Novoloxocythere) kerryswansoni Yassini and Jones, 1995, forms a discrete group of rotund Australian Loxocythere species that possess posterior extremities in both valves that are positioned well above mid carapace height (i.e. adjacent to dorsal margin). This feature along with a sub-triangular inner margin outline, defines a carapace shape that is distinct from that of rotund species of Loxocythere (loxocythere) Hornibrook, 1952 and Antarctiloxoconcha Hartmann, 1986. The type species of Antarctiloxoconcha – A.frigida (Neale. 1967), possesses internal carapace features that are very similar to the type species of Loxocythere - L. crassa Hornibrook, 1952. Both have relatively short carapaces and sub-quadrate inner margin outlines with posterior extremities in both valves positioned below mid carapace height. Species of Loxocythere (Novoloxocythere), in particular L. (N.) kerryswansoni, have a carapace shape that is transitional between Loxocythere and Loxoreticulatum Benson, 1964. Species of Loxoreticulatum generally possess a sub-parallelogram shaped carapace/inner margin and arched median hinge element. The latter feature is distinct from the mostly straight median hinge elements of Loxocythere (Loxocythere) and Loxocythere (Novoloxocythere) species. Species of Loxocythere (Novoloxocythere) are also readily distinguishable from relatively elongate species of Loxocythere, such as L. (L.) hornibrooki McKenzie, 1967, as the latter possess long (for genus), sub-rectangular shaped carapaces/inner margin outlines and posterior extremities below mid height.

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.

Gen Zeds: Arab women speaking with “still small voices”

The “Gen Zeds” of the title are female Emirati students in their early twenties at Zayed University who oscillate between the traditional Islamic culture of their families, and the highly mediated global culture they experience at university and on the Internet. In a typical week these women spend as much time on the Internet as they do in the combined activities of reading magazines, newspapers and books. They spend twice as much time on the Internet as they do watching television.