Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Joerg Maletz
Summary: Benthic graptolites were common and diverse in the Miaolingian period, with encrusting and erect growing colonies already evolved. The Rhabdopleuridae provide few fossils, while the Dithecodendridae with their bushy colonies are more common. In the Wuliuan period, benthic graptolites reached a considerable diversity at the genus level. The encrusting genus Sphenoecium is the most common, showing a worldwide distribution.
PALAEOBIODIVERSITY AND PALAEOENVIRONMENTS
(2023)
Review
Plant Sciences
Claudia G. Amuedo, Veronica S. Lema
Summary: This study reveals the presence of Datura ferox in South America during the 15th century and its use in rituals by the inhabitants of the Inca empire through the analysis of botanical remains from an archaeological site in Argentina.
VEGETATION HISTORY AND ARCHAEOBOTANY
(2023)
Review
Biology
Daniel Hontecillas, Leopoldo H. Soibelzon, Claudia I. Montalvo, Ricardo A. Bonini
Summary: This study presents a detailed taxonomic analysis of fossil specimens belonging to Procyonidae from Cerro Azul Formation in Argentina. A new species, Cyonasua zettii sp. nov., was proposed based on specimens from La Pampa Province. Additionally, six specimens were assigned to Cyonasua longirostris and four specimens remained assigned to Cyonasua sp. due to their fragmented nature. These specimens represent some of the oldest known records of the Order Carnivora (Mammalia) in South America.
HISTORICAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biology
Federico J. Degrange, Ricardo A. Bonini, Sergio M. Georgieff, Lucia M. Ibanez
Summary: This study presents a new fossil species of Cathartidae found in Argentina, belonging to the extant genus Vultur. The discovery coincides with the rise of the pampean hills and Andes, and the beginning of regional aridification, indicating an earlier arrival and diversification of condors in South America.
HISTORICAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Khadija Boumir, Driss Ouarhache, Monique Feist, Ahmed Oussou, Kawtar Ech-charay, Mustapha Ouaskou, Andre Charriere
Summary: This study presents new age constraints and identification of depositional environments based on stratigraphical, sedimentological, and micropalaeontological studies in the Marmoucha syncline. The discovery of the Ait Bazza Formation, with evidence of marine influences, indicates palaeogeographical connections between the Eastern Middle Atlas and the Tethyan domain located in the Rif foreland.
PALAEOBIODIVERSITY AND PALAEOENVIRONMENTS
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Jerry Z. X. Lei, Martyn L. Golding, Jon M. Husson
Summary: Late Triassic conodont species Mockina ex gr. carinata and Mockina ex gr. englandi were prevalent in the marine fauna of the Panthalassan realm and underwent significant changes near the Triassic/Jurassic boundary. These changes may be linked to shifts in diet and the suppression of carbonate biomineralization.
Article
Paleontology
Semion E. Golovanov, Vladimir S. Zazhigin
Summary: This paper presents a description of the West Siberian lineage of zokors and an analysis of molar development in other zokor lineages. Differences in molar development and paleontological data suggest a new view on the systematics of Myospalacinae.
JOURNAL OF PALEONTOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biology
Kantapon Suraprasit, Chotima Yamee, Yaowalak Chaimanee, Jean-Jacques Jaeger, Herve Bocherens
Summary: This study describes a Pleistocene mammal fauna discovered in a cave in Peninsular Thailand and investigates its paleoecological and paleoenvironmental characteristics using stable isotope analysis. The results suggest that the area was dominated by mixed woodland to grassland ecosystems with C-4 vegetation, supporting the hypothesis that the expansion of Pleistocene tropical savanna ecosystems facilitated the southward distribution of grazing mammals into the Thai-Malay Peninsula. The presence of this fauna may be linked to major biogeographic events during the Pleistocene glaciation period.
HISTORICAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biology
Matteo Belvedere, Emmanuel Fabre, Luca Pandolfi, Stephane Legal, Pauline Coster
Summary: The Saignon ichnosite in the Apt syncline contains hundreds of well-preserved mammal tracks, particularly focusing on the perissodactyl trackways. A new analysis of the site with updated ichnotaxonomy reveals possible evidence of social behavior in early rhinocerotids. The site represents an important faunal turnover following the Grande Coupure, with the presence of newcomer rhinocerotids from Asia and the persistence of pre-Grande Coupure palaeotheriids.
HISTORICAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Paleontology
Rao Fu, Yazhou Hu, Timothy P. Topper, Fan Liu, Yue Liang, Zhifei Zhang
Summary: Sphenothallus is a tubular organism that has been discovered for the first time in North China in Jiangsu Province. The specimens show typical characteristics of the genus, but with higher rates of apertural expansion and tube curvature in early growth stages. As the aperture diameter increases, the transverse cross-section and wall thickness of the tube change. This discovery extends the palaeogeographic range of Sphenothallus during the Cambrian.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Daniel C. Segessenman, Shanan E. Peters
Summary: This study presents a quantitative analysis of the rock and fossil records of North American Ediacaran-Cambrian, revealing a correlation between sea level rise and continental flooding with the increase in animal diversity during the Cambrian period.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Caroline P. Abbott, Mark Webster, Kenneth D. Angielczyk
Summary: Body size has a significant impact on macroevolution, and its patterns in the fossil record can be explained by various mechanisms. By studying ontogeny and phylogeny, a theoretical framework for size change can be developed and tested empirically. The influence of geological factors should also be considered when investigating the mechanisms of size change.
Article
Biology
Yikun Li, Shiqi Wang, Tao Deng
Summary: This study describes new cervid and bovid materials from Yongdeng, Gansu Province, China, which are identified as Cervavitus cf. C. shanxius and 'Gazella' paotehensis. The coexistence of at least 12 mammal species, including Stegodon sp., Chilotherium habereri, Chleuastochoerus stehlini, Cervavitus cf. C. shanxius, and 'Gazella' paotehensis, indicates a typical Baodean fauna at the Xingjiawan locality. The age of the Xingjiawan mammalian assemblage is also supported by the reinterpretation of paleomagnetic correlation, dating back to approximately 6.54 to 6.62 million years.
HISTORICAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biology
Ioan I. Bucur, Eugen Gradinaru, Bruno Granier
Summary: Triassic deposits were found in the Macin Unit of Northern Dobrogea in SE Romania. A new species of calcareous algae, Ioanella dobrogiaca, was discovered in the lower part of the unit. This finding enhances our understanding of calcareous algae classification.
HISTORICAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biology
Jiahao Cai, Tao Yang, Weiyu Liang, Lei Han, Xujun Li, Yanzhi Dai, Wenjia Li, Jiale Zhao, Defei Yan
Summary: Fossil fruits of Trapa qaidamensis sp. nov. were discovered in the late Miocene Shangyoushashan Formation of southeastern Qaidam Basin, indicating a warmer climate in the region during the Miocene compared to the present day.
HISTORICAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biology
De-Liang Tang, Zhuo-Er Wang, Hong Ding, Yong-Tong Huang, Su-Ting Ding, Jing-Yu Wu
Summary: This study reports the discovery of Mahonia fossils in the Mangbang Formation in Yunnan, China, extending the stratigraphic range of the genus in East Asia and providing new insights into the potential differentiation and migration routes of the Group Orientales.
HISTORICAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biology
Milan Libertin, Jiri Kvacek, Jiri Bek, Stephen McLoughlin
Summary: This paper provides a detailed documentation and revision of the morphology of Cooksonia bohemica from the Barrandian area in the Czech Republic. By comparing its features with other related species, the authors differentiate Cooksonia bohemica and interpret it as the sporophyte of an early land plant. The presence of vascular strands in its axes supports its classification as a tracheophyte.
HISTORICAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biology
Lucas R. P. Gomes, Diego de S. Souza
Summary: A new flat bark beetle fossil from Mexico is described, belonging to a large extant genus of Laemophloeidae. It is compared with other living species from North America and the Neotropics.
HISTORICAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biology
Oleksandr Kovalchuk, Matus Hyzny, Ewa Swidnicka, Zoltan Barkaszi, Anatoly Berezovsky, Simina Dumitriu, Ionut Gradianu, Rok Gasparic, Tomas Prikryl, Krzysztof Stefaniak
Summary: Decapod taxa found in Oligocene and Early Miocene fish beds of the Central and Eastern Paratethys were studied to understand the taphonomic features at different locations. The preserved crabs were mostly complete individuals with some locations showing more moults. This suggests calm depositional conditions and different crab behaviors at burial sites.
HISTORICAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biology
Gerald Mayr, Andrew C. Kitchener
Summary: This study provides a detailed analysis of the fossil birds from the early Eocene London Clay, focusing on the Psittacopedidae and Zygodactylidae specimens. The study suggests that these fossil species may represent stem group representatives of the Passeriformes (passerines), but the exact relationships between them are still unclear.
HISTORICAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
