The main Karoo Basin of South Africa has yielded a treasure trove of fossil synapsids ranging from the middle Permian to the Early Jurassic, spanning approximately 80 Myr. Hewittia albanensis was first described by Brink (1959) based on AMG 4208 collected from the Chris Hani District Municipality (former Cradock District), Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Since then, the taxon has been mostly ignored in published research. Here, we provide a redescription of H. albanensis based on a new specimen recovered from the Chris Hani District Municipality within rocks of the Lystrosaurus maccaigi–Moschorhinus Subzone of the Daptocephalus Assemblage Zone. We propose a new genus name for this species, Cradognathus, since Hewittia Brink, 1959, is preoccupied by Hewittia de Lessert, 1928, a crab spider from Congo. The position of Cradognathus within the Akidnognathidae, as well as its generic diagnosis, are revisited and discussed. The new specimen consists of an almost complete skull with some dorsoventral distortion. Cradognathus differs from other akidnognathids by the dental formula, a sharply pointed pterygoid transverse process, a median keel anterior to a short interpterygoid vacuity, and the presence of prominent lateral tuberosities at the ends of the ventromedial pterygoid flanges. We find that Cradognathus forms a clade with Euchambersia, Cerdosuchoides, and Moschorhinus within Akidnognathidae.
The first representatives of the genus Rhabdomastix (Diptera, Limoniide) with extremely long antennae (much lon
ger than the body) is discovered in the fossil record. The paper presents new data on Eocene species of the genus
Rhabdomastix including a new species with surprisingly long and tiny antennae with characteristic almost black spots
on individual flagellomeres from Bitterfeld amber: Rhabdomastix (Rhabdomastix) woottoni sp. nov. Two other species
have been discovered and described based on inclusions in Baltic amber: Rhabdomastix (Rhabdomastix) setosa sp.
nov. and Rhabdomastix (Rhabdomastix) rafali sp. nov. Antennae with similar morphology are characteristic for the
American Recent species collectively known as “Rhabdomastix illudens”. New nomenclature decisions include a trans
fer of three species from Baltic amber with antenna longer than the body to the subgenus Rhabdomastix. These species:
Rhabdomastix (Rhabdomastix) grussica Podenas, 2006 comb. nov., Rhabdomastix (Rhabdomastix) mastix Podenas,
2006 comb. nov. and Rhabdomastix (Rhabdomastix) setix Podenas, 2006 comb. nov., were not previously classified to
any subgenus. New discovery of a species of Rhabdomastix with extremely elongate, very narrow antennae, sheds new
light on the evolutionary history of this genus. The paper also presents interpretations of the ecological preferences of
some modern representatives of the genus and their Eocene ancestors.
Jamilya B. YAKUPOVA, Rysty A. KHALELOVA, Ainur K. KHAIRULLINA
et al.
Paleontology is an important and integral branch of geology and is an important scientific discipline that helps to
better understand the history of life on Earth. The popularization of paleontology is currently based on fossil finds. The
purpose of this work was to identify potential locations for paleontological tourism in Western Kazakhstan. The materials
were studied using the experience and techniques used in classical paleontology. The article discusses the possibility of
developing paleontological tourism in Western Kazakhstan. A description of the main locations of natural locations of fossils
of invertebrate and vertebrate organisms is given, such as the village of Pogodaevo, the Aktolagai Cretaceous Plateau,
Akkegershin, the Kara Bala-Kan Temir necropolis, the Koi-Kara, Iman-Kara mountains, the Sululy Kapy gorge, the tracts of
the Mangistau region, and places are given storage of fossils, inspection and study of paleontological finds. A model of
paleontological tourism is proposed. The role of paleotourism among the population has been determined by conducting
sociological research. In general, Western Kazakhstan has the prospect of developing paleontological tourism of an excursion
and educational nature. For this purpose, the region has a large number of resources and various local history and
environmental museums containing paleontological materials.
The family Simoceratidae Spath, 1925, lumps various formsbelonging to lineages with different roots and is clearlyparaphyletic. One of its genera is Lytogyroceras Spath, 1924,which stands apart from the typical forms of the familybearing strong ribbing and tubercles. The sexual dimorphismof Lytogyroceras was supposed to be based only onadult size differences. Here we describe a recently collectedlappeted microconch of Lytogyroceras subbeticum (Olóriz,1978) from the Ponti Zone of Carchelejo (southern Spain).This microconch shows that the sexual dimorphism in thegenus Lytogyroceras is not only characterized by differentadult size of the sexes as formerly assumed, but also by differentadult peristome morphology.
Meike Köhler, Carmen Nacarino-Meneses, Josep Quintana Cardona
et al.
Summary: The island syndrome describes morphological, behavioral, and life history traits that evolve in parallel in endemic insular organisms. A basic axiom of the island syndrome is that insular endemics slow down their pace of life. Although this is already confirmed for insular dwarfs, a slow life history in giants may not be adaptive, but merely a consequence of increasing body size.We tested this question in the fossil insular giant leporid Nuralagus rex. Using bone histology, we constructed both a continental extant taxon model derived from experimentally fluorochrome-labeled Lepus europaeus to calibrate life history events, and a growth model for the insular taxon. N. rex grew extremely slowly and delayed maturity well beyond predictions from continental phylogenetically corrected scaling models. Our results support the life history axiom of the island syndrome as generality for insular mammals, regardless of whether they have evolved into dwarfs or giants.
Marco Merella, ALBERTO COLLARETA, VALERIO GRANATA
et al.
An incomplete cranium, three cervicals (including the axis) and two likely lumbars of a monodontid cetacean are here described from lower Pliocene (ca. 5.1–4.5 Ma) marine sandstones cropping out at Arcille (Grosseto Province, Tuscany, Italy). This fossil find comes from the same locality as the holotype of Casatia thermophila, which it resembles in terms of overall size and cranial morphology, and especially, by displaying a similarly depressed portion of the dorsal surface of the premaxillae anterior to the premaxillary sac fossae and medial to the anteromedial sulci. Our new find is thus assigned to C. thermophila, and significant anatomical parts that are missing in the holotype are described in order to improve the diagnosis of this monodontid species. Some dentigerous fragments of the maxillae hint at a homodont and polydont dentition, which in turn suggests a ram prey capture method that differs from the highly derived suction method that is proper of extant monodontids. This second find of C. thermophila from the warm-water Arcille palaeoenvironment lends further support to the hypothesis that monodontids once thrived in tropical and subtropical habitats.
Sita Manitkoon, Uthumporn Deesri, Komsorn Lauprasert
et al.
The Khok Pha Suam locality in the province of Ubon Ratchathani, northeastern, Thailand, is known as “the last home of Thai dinosaurs”, because it belongs to the Lower Cretaceous Khok Kruat Formation (Aptian-Albian) which is currently the youngest Mesozoic vertebrate fossil producing formation in the Khorat Group. Here, we describe a diverse vertebrate assemblage, including hybodonts, ray-finned fishes, turtles, crocodyliforms, pterosaurs, and dinosaurs from the Khok Pha Suam locality. The updated data on the Khok Kruat fauna provides a better understanding of the variety and distribution of Early Cretaceous continental ecosystems, which are useful for palaeoenvironmental reconstruction. In addition to consolidating unincorporated data on fauna, this study also provides the palaeontological data necessary to illustrate the palaeoecosystem to the general public, as well as improving the academic value of the Pha Chan-Sam Phan Bok Geopark.
Antonio G. Checa, Carmen Salas, Francisco M. Varela-Feria
et al.
Abstract The external surface microornament of the glass scallops Catillopecten natalyae and malyutinae is made by calcitic spiny projections consisting of a stem that later divides into three equally spaced and inclined branches (here called aerials). C. natalyae contains larger and smaller aerials, whereas C. malyutinae only secreted aerials of the second type. A remarkable feature is that aerials within each type are fairly similar in size and shape and highly co-oriented, thus constituting a most sophisticated microornament. We demonstrate that aerials are single crystals whose morphology is strongly controlled by the crystallography, with the stem being parallel to the c-axis of calcite, and the branches extending along the edges of the {104} calcite rhombohedron. They grow epitaxially onto the foliated prisms of the outer shell layer. The co-orientation of the prisms explains that of the aerials. We have developed a model in which every aerial grows within a periostracal pouch. When this pouch reaches the growth margin, the mantle initiates the production of the aerial. Nevertheless, later growth of the aerial is remote, i.e. far from the contact with the mantle. We show how such an extremely sophisticated microornament has a morphology and co-orientation which are determined by crystal growth.
Nicolas Jeantet, Ronan Ledevin, Monica Gala
et al.
Past bird communities are still under-studied in several Caribbean regions, including the Lesser Antilles. In order to improve our understanding of this area’s avifauna, we explore morphometrical variations of the carpometacarpus (CMC) within West Indies Mimidae species. We combine geometric morphometric (GMM) and conventional osteology focusing on characters of the entire or distal portion of the CMC. Morphological variation related to their phylogenetic history is investigated using uni- and multi-variate statistics, and the expression of certain osteological characters. Fossil bone remains from the Guadeloupe Islands were included in the datasets to test the applicability of these results to the archaeological and paleontological record. Our results are consistent with the known phylogeny of Mimidae. The GMM analysis clearly differentiated taxa at both inter- and intra-generic levels, which when combined with osteological characters, allow fossil specimens to be determined to species. For the fossil record of Guadeloupe Islands, this concerns three taxa: the Scaly-breasted Thrasher 'Allenia fusca', the Gray Catbird 'Dumetella carolinensis', the first fossil occurrence of this bird in the Greater and Lesser Antilles, and the Brown Trembler 'Cinclocerthia ruficauda' in Desirade and Marie-Galante, where the bird is now extirpated. These results are of particular interest for tracking the impact of environmental changes on the composition of West Indian bird communities.
EMANUELE PERI, ALBERTO COLLARETA, GIOVANNI BIANUCCI
We report on a partial skeleton of sperm whale (Cetacea, Odontoceti, Physeteroidea) from the Pietra leccese, a Miocene limestone widely exposed in the Salento Peninsula (southern Italy). This specimen was found in Tortonian strata cropping out at the Cisterna quarry, not far from the holotype of the stem physeteroid Zygophyster varolai. The presence of a deep and rectilinear groove medial to the tympanosquamosal recess of the squamosal, the bowed mandibles, and some dental features suggest that this specimen belongs to a still undescribed new genus and species of macroraptorial sperm whale that displays some affinities with the late Miocene Acrophyseter from Peru. Nevertheless, due to the incompleteness and poor preservation state of the skull, we abstain from creating a new taxon. The teeth exhibit both apical wear and deep occlusal facets, and three teeth even lost their crowns. These dental modifications suggest that the studied specimen used a raptorial feeding strategy for preying upon food items such as large-sized bony fishes or diminutive marine mammals. The bones are mostly disarticulated and broken, and some of them preserve traces hinting at the action of macro-scavengers, possibly including both sharks and bony fishes. Furthermore, the skull is pervasively encrusted by oysters, which suggests that it laid on the seafloor for a long time before being buried. This find provides new clues about the composition of the Miocene vertebrate assemblage of the Pietra leccese and indicates that various macroraptorial sperm whale species inhabited the Mediterranean Basin during the Tortonian.
Abstract Stratigraphic and paleontological investigations in Mugi Town, on the Pacific coast of Shikoku Island, revealed evidence of as many as five tsunami inundations from events along the Nankai Trough between 5581 and 3640 cal yr BP. Nine event deposits (E1–E9) were identified in cores ranging in length from 2 to 6 m, consisting of sandy and gravelly layers interbedded with organic-rich mud. Sedimentary structures in the event deposits observed by computed tomography included normal grading and sharp lower stratigraphic contacts. Event deposits E3, E6, E7, and E8 contained mainly brackish-marine diatom species, suggesting that they had been deposited during inundation by seawater. In addition, fossil diatom assemblages were markedly different above and below event deposits E3, E4, E6, and E8. For example, assemblages below event deposit E6 were dominated by a freshwater species (Ulnaria acus), whereas assemblages above it were predominantly brackish-marine (Diploneis smithii, Fallacia forcipata, and Fallacia tenera). We attributed these changes to the increase of marine influence due to coastal subsidence associated with subduction-zone earthquakes, as documented in the 1946 Showa-Nankai earthquakes. We conclude that event deposits E3, E6, and E8 and perhaps E4 and E7 were deposited by tsunamis generated by subduction zone earthquakes along the Nankai Trough. The ages of these event deposits, as constrained by ten radiocarbon ages, suggest that some of the tsunamis that impacted Mugi Town were correlated with those reported elsewhere along the Nankai Trough, thereby complementing the existing but still incomplete geological record for these events.
Alexey Pakhnevich, Andrey Kurkin, Alexander Lavrov
et al.
The most important results of tomographic studies of paleontological objects on the facilities of the National Research Centre “Kurchatov Institute” are described. It is shown that the use of the synchrotron and neutron tomography makes it possible to obtain new information on the structure of fossil animals, which is of fundamental importance for taxonomy and morphological analysis of extinct fauna.
Photography, Computer applications to medicine. Medical informatics
Rossana Sanfilippo, Agatino Reitano, Gianni Insacco
et al.
A new tubeworm, Palaeotubus sosiensis gen. et sp. nov., is described from the Permian Pietra di Salomone limestone (Sosio Valley, W Sicily). The new species is characterized by a thick tube ornamented with slightly flared peristomes and numerous longitudinal keels. The internal structure of the tube was obliterated during diagenesis, which prevents the tube unequivocal systematic attribution. Nevertheless, all preserved morphological characters strongly suggest that the new tube belongs to serpulids. When confirmed by further findings, the positive attribution of this new species to serpulids will imply that it represents the ancestor of the Serpulidae, and the earliest evidence of calcareous tubeworm polychaetes from the Palaeozoic.
Valid publication of new names of fossil plant taxa published since 1 January 1996 requires a diagnosis or description in English, besides other requirements included in the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (Melbourne Code) adopted by the Eighteenth International Botanical Congress, Melbourne, Australia, July 2011 (McNeill et al. 2012). In order to validate names published from the late Eocene flora of the Staré Sedlo Formation, North Bohemia, diagnosed only in German (Knobloch et al. 1996), English translations are provided, including references to the type material and further relevant information.
Virtual paleontology unites a variety of computational techniques and methods for the visualization and analysis of fossils. Due to their great potential and increasing availability, these methods have become immensely popular in the last decade. However, communicating the wealth of digital information and results produced by the various techniques is still exacerbated by traditional methods of publication. Transferring and processing three-dimensional information, such as interactive models or animations, into scientific publications still poses a challenge. Here, we present different methods and applications to communicate digital data in academia, outreach and education. Three-dimensional PDFs, QR codes, anaglyph stereo imaging, and rapid prototyping—methods routinely used in the engineering, entertainment, or medical industries—are outlined and evaluated for their potential in science publishing and public engagement. Although limitations remain, these are simple, mostly cost-effective, and powerful tools to create novel and innovative resources for education, public engagement, or outreach.