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

Ten 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.     

Microdictyon plates from the lower Cambrian Ajax Limestone of South Australia: Implications for species taxonomy and diversity

A small assemblage of isolated Microdictyon plates is described from the lower Cambrian Ajax Limestone, Mt Scott Range (Flinders Ranges), South Australia. Microdictyon plates are primarily known from single, isolated, perforated phosphatic sclerites; only one species (M. sinicum) from the Chengjiang Lagerstätte is known from soft-bodied preservation of the complete organism. The isolated plates from South Australia display a wide range of morphologies potentially reflecting: 1, considerable diversification within the group at this time; 2, extensive intraspecific morphological variation; 3, different plate morphotypes along the trunk of the animal; or 4, significant ontogenetic variation in successive growth stages. The South Australian specimens are similar to several individual sclerites described from other Cambrian palaeocontinents, but appear closest to faunas described from South China. Problems associated with the taxonomy of isolated Microdictyon plates are discussed, including the lack of knowledge associated with intraspecific and/or ontogenetic variability and how individual plate morphology may relate to size or relative position along the length of the complete organism.     

Fusulinoideans from the early Midian (late Middle Permian) Metadoliolina dutkevitchi-Monodiexodina sutchanica Zone of the Senkina Shapka section,South Primorye,Far East Russia

Fusulinoideans from the Metadoliolina dutkevitchi-Monodiexodina sutchanica Zone of the lower part of the Chandalaz Formation in the Senkina Shapka section in South Primorye, Far East Russia, are described. The fusulinoidean zone is assigned to the early Midian (=Capitanian: late Middle Permian) based mainly on the morphologie and biostratigraphic characteristics of Metadoliolina dutkevitchi. Previously, a Midian age has been established for the Metadoliolina dutkevitchi-Monodiexodina sutchanica Zone by the coexistence of Lepidolina species. However, the occurrence of Lepidolina with the two zonal species in this area has not been verified by the illustration of Lepidolina specimens. We examined a fusulinoidean-bearing sample from the Metadoliolina dutkevitchi-Monodiexodina sutchanica Zone, and three fusulinoidean species, Monodiexodina sutchanica, Pseudofusulina sp. and Metadoliolina dutkevitchi, are de-scribed and illustrated.     

Vertebrate microremains from the presumed earliest Carboniferous of the Mansfield Basin,Victoria

The Agnostida are the most important part of the fauna of the Abbey Shales, which is the best-known middle St David's (Middle Cambrian) sequence in Britain. Revision of Illing's (1916) collections allows a correlation of the Paradoxides hicksii fauna with Westergaard's (1946) Ptychagnostus atavus-Tomagnostus fissus Zone, and the Paradoxides davidis fauna with Westergaard's Hypagnostus parvifrons Zone and Ptychagnostus punctuosus Zone (based on the Swedish sequence). A Metadiscus sp. is described. Six species of Condylopygidae are discussed, of which three show a pygidial ‘fringe’. Eleven species of Quadragnostinae, three of Ptychagnostinae (one showing a hypostome), and four of Tomagnostinae (including young growth-stages) are illustrated or discussed. Two species of Diplagnostidae, one species of Phalacroma and two of Phalagnostus are illustrated.     

Permeability of the Mercia Mudstone: suitability as caprock to carbon capture and storage sites

The Upper Triassic Mercia Mudstone is the caprock to potential carbon capture and storage (CCS) sites in porous and permeable Lower Triassic Sherwood Sandstone reservoirs and aquifers in the UK (primarily offshore). This study presents direct measurements of vertical (k_v) and horizontal (k_h) permeability of core samples from the Mercia Mudstone across a range of effective stress conditions to test their caprock quality and to assess how they will respond to changing effective stress conditions that may occur during CO₂ injection and storage. The Mercia samples analysed were either clay‐rich (muddy) siltstones or relatively clean siltstones cemented by carbonate and gypsum. Porosity is fairly uniform (between 7.4 and 10.7%). Porosity is low either due to abundant depositional illite or abundant diagenetic carbonate and gypsum cements. Permeability values are as low as 10^?20 m² (10nD), and therefore, the Mercia has high sealing capacity. These rocks have similar horizontal and vertical permeabilities with the highest k_h/k_v ratio of 2.03 but an upscaled k_h/k_v ratio is 39, using the arithmetic mean of k_h and the harmonic mean of k_v. Permeability is inversely related to the illite clay content; the most clay‐rich (illite‐rich) samples represent very good caprock quality; the cleaner Mercia Mudstone samples, with pore‐filling carbonate and gypsum cements, represent fair to good caprock quality. Pressure sensitivity of permeability increases with increasing clay mineral content. As pore pressure increases during CO₂ injection, the permeability of the most clay‐rich rocks will increase more than carbonate‐ and gypsum‐rich rocks, thus decreasing permeability heterogeneity. The best quality Mercia Mudstone caprock is probably not geochemically sensitive to CO₂ injection as illite, the cause of the lowest permeability, is relatively stable in the presence of CO₂–water mixtures.     

Bat cave and Hobbit hole,microbats of Liang Bua (Flores,Indonesia)

Liang Bua is a limestone cave on the island of Flores, Indonesia. Palaeontological and archaeological excavations at this site have unearthed one of the best insular records of fossil bats to date. The assemblage is numerically dominated by the horseshoe bat species Rhinolophus euryotis, followed by the leafnosed bat Hipposideros diadema. In addition to these species, remains of Rhinolophus simplex, Hipposideros sp. cf. H. sumbae, Murina sp. aff. M. florium, Taphozous sp., Kerivoula sp. and Miniopterus sp. have also been recovered. Two taxa found in Liang Bua, Rhinolophus euryotis and Miniopterus sp., are not apparent in the modern bat fauna of Flores. Some specimens, found during the more recent excavations, are known from specific depths. Two age-groups are represented. The stratigraphically oldest is 74–61 ka and includes Murina sp. aff. M. florium and Rhinolophus euryotis. Conversely, the younger, Holocene, assemblage is much more diverse. Despite the relatively small amount of microbat material collected thus far, it displays a higher diversity than the rodents from the site. This is presumably related to the better dispersal ability of bats relative to other, non-volant mammals.     

A new giant python from the Pliocene Bluff Downs Local Fauna of northeastern Queensland

Liasis dubudingala n. sp., described on the basis of isolated vertebrae from the Early Pliocene Bluff Downs Local Fauna, is the largest snake known from Australia. Dependance of vertebral proportions on intracolumnar position indicates that the fossil taxon can be excluded from the Morelia/Python clade. High neural spines suggest possible affinity with Liasis olivacea, whereas a posterior dentary fragment with small teeth is unlike L. olivacea and more similar to Liasis mackloti or species of Bothrochilus and Leiopython. As these extant species have all recently been treated as members of Liasis, the new species is assigned to that genus.     

Redescription of Parexus recurvus,an Early Devonian acanthodian from the Midland Valley of Scotland

Parexus Agassiz was one of the first Early Devonian ‘spiny sharks’ to be described. The genus is readily recognized by the large size and ornament of its anterior dorsal fin spine. Although two species were erected, reappraisal of all known specimens indicate they should be synonymized in the type species Parexus recurvus. Farnellia tuberculata Traquair, originally described as a vertebral column, is actually tooth rows of jaw dentition, and is also now considered to be a junior synonym of P. recurvus. Parexus has a perichondrally ossified scapulocoracoid of typical acanthodian shape, and diagnostic features of the family Climatiidae, but has distinctive scales comprising appositional growth zones that closely resemble those of the putative stem chondrichthyan Seretolepis elegans Karatajute-Talimaa.     

A new Jungle-fowl from the Pleistocene of Europe

The domesticated Red Jungle-fowl G. gallus is believed to have been dispersed by man from India during the Holocene. The distal end of a radius from the Ipswichian Interglacial deposits at Crayford, Kent, was indistinguishable from that of the wild form of Red Jungle-folw. A coracoid from the early Middle Pleistocene of N Norfolk was also very similar to that species but showed differences comparable with those found between different species of Gallus. At least one species referable to Gallus is known from the Pliocene of South-eastern Europe. Extrapolating from zoogeographical speciation patterns it would be possible for a Gallus species to have evolved through Pleistocene speciation in the European region. The species might have become extinct during a glaciation or have been exterminated by early man. A new species Gallus europaeus is described with the coracoid as a holotype, and the radius from Kent is tentatively referred to it.     

Two new cowries (Gastropoda: Cypraeidae) from the middle Miocene of South Australia

Yates, A.M., December, 2008. Two new cowries (Gastropoda: Cypraeidae) from the middle Miocene of South Australia. Alcheringa 32, 353–364. ISSN 0311-5518.

The South Australian specimens of the cypraeids Umbilia leptorhyncha (McCoy, 1877) and Lyncina (Austrocypraea) contusa (McCoy, 1877) are re-examined. Umbilia caepa sp. nov. differs from U. leptorhyncha in its smaller size, more strongly pyriform shape, weaker and less extensive apertural dentition, plate-like columellar margin of the posterior canal and more extensive basal flanges. True U. leptorhyncha is also recorded from the Cadell Formation of South Australia, demonstrating that the two species were sympatric in the Murray Basin. The specimens originally referred to Cypraea contusa var. from the Cadell Formation have had a confusing taxonomic history and they are here named as a new species Lyncina (Austrocypraea) cadella sp. nov. The new species differs from true L. (A.) contusa in its smaller size, less extensive malleations of the dorsal surface, fewer apertural teeth and a projecting internal margin of the fossula. These two new species boost a small but growing list of species that were endemic to the Murray Basin during the middle Miocene.     

First record of Acesta (Bivalvia: Limidae) from the Cretaceous of Australia

The cosmopolitan, Jurassic to Recent, bivalve Acesta (Limidae) is documented from Australian Cretaceous (upper Albian) rocks in the lowermost section of the Mackunda Formation of Queensland. These specimens from Landsborough Downs, Flinders Shire, represent an endemic new species, herein named Acesta (Acesta) backae n. sp. Acesta (A.) backae n. sp. was a shallow-water suspension feeder that inhabited the Cretaceous Australian epicontinental sea of the Great Artesian Basin. Although hinge details of Acesta (A.) backae n. sp. are wanting, this new taxon is most closely allied with Acesta? sp. of the Miria Formation of Western Australia and can clearly be discriminated from other Cretaceous Austral forms.     

Evaluating Ancient Whale Exploitation on the Northern Oregon Coast Through Ancient DNA and Zooarchaeological Analysis

Whales have long been an important part of Pacific Northwest Coast human subsistence and lifeways. Native peoples on the Oregon Coast were not known to hunt whales, but a humpback whale phalange with an embedded bone harpoon at the Par-Tee site (35CLT20) and ethnographic accounts raised the possibility of opportunistic whale hunting. We analyzed a suite of whale remains from Par-Tee and performed ancient DNA-based species identifications on 30 specimens. The assemblage includes gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus, 60.7% of the assemblage), humpbacks (Megaptera novaeangliae, 32.1%), minkes (Balaenoptera acutorostrata, 3.6%), and orcas (Orcinus orca, 3.6%). While the species composition is similar to those found in archaeological deposits from systematic whaling areas in Washington and Vancouver Island, bone modification patterns and element representation reveal important differences. Our analysis demonstrates that whales were likely a supplementary part of human subsistence at Par-Tee and, while opportunistic whale hunting likely occurred, it may have been secondary to scavenging and utilization of beached and/or drift whales.     

Surface controls on the characteristics of natural CO2 seeps: implications for engineered CO2 stores

CO₂ injected into rock formations for deep geological storage must not leak to surface, since this would be economically and environmentally unfavourable, and could present a human health hazard. In Italy natural CO₂ degassing to the surface via seeps is widespread, providing an insight into the various styles of subsurface ‘plumbing’ as well as surface expression of CO₂ fluids. Here we investigate surface controls on the distribution of CO₂ seep characteristics (type, flux and temperature) using a large geographical and historical data set. When the locations of documented seeps are compared to a synthetic statistically random data set, we find that the nature of the CO₂ seeps is most strongly governed by the flow properties of the outcropping rocks, and local topography. Where low‐permeability rocks outcrop, numerous dry seeps occur and have a range of fluxes. Aqueous fluid flow will be limited in these low‐permeability rocks, and so relative permeability effects may enable preferential CO₂ flow. CO₂ vents typically occur along faults in rocks that are located above the water table or are low permeability. Diffuse seeps develop where CO₂ (laterally supplied by these faults) emerges from the vadose zone and where CO₂ degassing from groundwater follows a different flow path due to flow differences for water and CO₂ gas. Bubbling water seeps (characterized by water bubbling with CO₂) arise where CO₂ supply enters the phreatic zone or an aquifer. CO₂‐rich springs often emerge where valleys erode into CO₂ aquifers, and these are typically high flux seeps. Seep type is known to influence human health risk at CO₂ seeps in Italy, as well as the topography surrounding the seep which affects the rate of gas dispersion by wind. Identifying the physical controls on potential seep locations and seep type above engineered CO₂ storage operations is therefore crucial to targeted site monitoring strategy and risk assessment. The surface geology and topography above a CO₂ store must therefore be characterized in order to design the most effective monitoring strategy.     

Free and mobile brachiopods from New Zealand Oligocene deposits and Australian waters

The musculature of the Recent Australian species, Magadina cumingi (Davidson 1852), is revised and previously unknown dorsal median pedicle muscles are described. The behaviour of M. cumingi is analysed in relation to the physical properties of the bryozoan sands it occupies on the Australian shelf. Functional morphology of a New Zealand Oligocene species, Rhizothyris amygdala Thomson 1920, indicates that this species would also have lived as a free and mobile form in the originally unconsolidated sediments (greensands) in which it is preserved. Shell characters of members of both Magadina and Rhizothyris are incompatible with an attached sedentary existence.     

Rhexoxylon cortaderitaense (Menéndez) comb. nov., a species of permineralized stems newly assigned to the Corystospermaceae,from the Triassic of Argentina

Bodnar, J., June, 2008. Rhexoxylon cortaderitaense (Menéndez) comb. nov., a species of permineralized stems newly assigned to the Corystospermaceae, from the Triassic of Argentina. Alcheringa 32, 171–190. ISSN 0311-5518.

Anatomically preserved stems of Late Triassic corystosperms from the upper Cortaderita Formation in San Juan province, Argentina are described and assigned to Rhexoxylon cortaderitaense (Menéndez) comb. nov. These specimens were originally attributed to conifers, a group not closely related to corystosperms. The silicified axes preserve features of the cortex, pith, and secondary vascular system. Like all Rhexoxylon species, these axes have two discontinuous cambial rings that develop centrifugal secondary xylem (normal secondary xylem) and centripetal secondary xylem (inverted secondary xylem). Both types of xylem are separated by a band of parenchymatous tissue developed by a remnant cambium. The centrifugal xylem is divided by parenchymatous rays following differential cambial activity. The secondary xylem is pycnoxylic with uniseriate rays; tracheids have mainly biseriate and alternate bordered pits on radial and tangential walls, and one simple oval pit in cross-fields. The distinctive feature of R. cortaderitaense is the conspicuous amount of centripetal secondary vascular tissues not forming perimedullar bundles, this being interpreted as an apomorphic trait. This interpretation of the character modifies previous hypothesized phylogenetic relationships of corystosperm wood taxa.     

High latitude,late Campanian (Cretaceous) Radiolaria from offshore south-eastern Tasmania

A well-preserved, low diversity (ten species), high latitude (palaeolatitude 70°S) radiolarian fauna is recorded from shallow-water late Campanian (Late Cretaceious) sediments recovered in cores taken from the continental slope of southeastern Tasmania. These are the first Radiolaria described from Cretaceous rocks of southeastern Australia. Most forms are previously described species but a new species of Petasiforma is described. Age control is provided by dinoflagellates but the radiolarian fauna is similar to late Campanian-Maastrichtian faunas described from Campbell Plateau. A late Campanian age can also be determined from the Radiolaria, which are correlated with the Patulibracchium dickinsoni Zone. The site has subsided some 3200 m since deposition, at an average rate of about 40–45 m/Ma, consistent with other indicators in the region. Radiolaria are similar to other coeval plankton in exhibiting high latitude characteristics.     

Conodont fauna and biostratigraphy of the Honghuayuan Formation (Early Ordovician) of Guizhou,South China

Serratognathus diversus An, Cornuodus longibasis (Lindström), Drepanodus arcuatus Pander, and eleven other less common conodonts, including Cornuodus? sp., Oistodus lanceolatus, Protopanderodus gradatus, Protoprioniodus simplicissimus, Juanognathus variabilis, Nasusgnathus dolonus, Paltodus? sp., Scolopodus houlianzhaiensis, Semiacontiodus apterus, Semiacontiodus sp. cf. S. cornuformis and Serratognathoides? sp., are described and illustrated from the Honghuayuan Formation in Guizhou, South China, concluding revision of the conodont fauna from this unit, which comprises 24 species in total. The most distinctive species in the fauna, S. diversus, consists of a trimembrate apparatus, including symmetrical Sa, asymmetrical Sb and strongly asymmetrical Sc elements. This species concept is supported by the absence of any other element types in a large collection represented by nearly 500 specimens of this species. The fauna indicates a late Tremadocian to mid-Floian age (Early Ordovician) for the Honghuayuan Formation, which was widely distributed on the Yangtze Platform in shallow water environments. Previously published biostratigraphic zonations for the Honghuayuan Formation are reviewed, and revised on the basis of our knowledge of the entire conodont fauna, supporting the establishment of three biozones, Triangulodus bifidus, Serratognathus diversus, and Prioniodus honghuayanensis biozones in ascending order. Species of Serratognathus enable correlation between Ordovician successions of South China, North China (North China Platform and Ordos Basin), Tarim Basin, and further afield into Malaysia and northwestern Australia.     

Taxonomic status of the Eocene penguins Orthopteryx gigas Wiman, 1905 and Ichtyopteryx gracilis Wiman, 1905 from Antarctica

Traditionally, the systematics of the Seymour Island fossil penguins has been based on Wiman's groups defined by the robustness and size of isolated postcranial bones. However, current evaluations of fossil penguins necessitate that new species be established when the specimens include at least a tarsometatarsus or in some cases a humerus. Accordingly, neither of the two species reviewed herein (Orthopteryx gigas and Ichtyopteryx gracilis) are represented by remains sufficiently complete to validate a new taxon. Orthopteryx gigas is based on an isolated synsacrum lacking diagnostic characters. Ichtyopteryx gracilis is based on a tarsometatarsus but with insufficient preservational quality to justify discrimination of the species. For these reasons both Orthopteryx gigas and Ichtyopteryx gracilis should be considered nomen dubia.     

Solubility of corundum + kyanite in H2O at 700°C and 10 kbar: evidence for Al‐Si complexing at high pressure and temperature

The solubility of the assemblage corundum + kyanite in H₂O was determined at 700°C and 10 kbar, using a piston‐cylinder apparatus and rapid‐quench/fluid‐extraction techniques. Weighted mean concentrations of total Al and Si were 5.80 ± 0.03 mmol kg^?1 H₂O and 0.308 ± 0.003 mol kg^?1 H₂O, respectively (1σ errors). The Al concentration is nearly five times higher than that of corundum solubility in pure H₂O. This difference is interpreted to arise from complexing between Si and Al to form HAlSiO_4,aq species. Charged or more polymerized species are also possible, but their abundance cannot be constrained based on these experiments. Assumption of a single aqueous aluminosilicate complex permits calculation of the thermodynamic consequences of Al‐Si interaction in high‐pressure fluids, as well as phase diagrams for the system Al‐Si‐O‐H. Formation of Al‐Si complexes leads to a large increase in dissolved Al with increasing Si in solution, such that Al concentration in equilibrium with kyanite + quartz is predicted to be 7.1 mmolal, higher than with kyanite + corundum. The elevated concentration of Si in deep‐crustal and mantle aqueous fluids suggests that Al must readily be dissolved and transported by Al‐Si complexing in high‐pressure metamorphic and metasomatic environments. The results provide a simple explanation for the common observation of kyanite + quartz segregations in eclogites and Barrovian metamorphic rocks.     

Monograptus deubeli and praedeubeli (Wenlock,Silurian) in the Asian part of the former Soviet Union

Koren', T. N., & Suyarkova, A. A., 1994:03:28. Monograptus deubeli and praedeubeli (Wenlock, Silurian) in the Asian part of the former Soviet Union. Alcheringa 18, 000–000. ISSN 0311-5518.

During the last decade the sequence and composition of the later Homerian (Wenlock) graptolite fauna has become comparatively well known in many regions of the world. A complete and detailed graptolite biozonation has been elaborated in Europe, and partly confirmed in Australia and Arctic Canada. Valuable new data have been obtained from several widely scattered areas within the Asian part of the former U. S. S. R. M. praedeubeli Jaeger (rare) and M. deubeli (common) have been found in the Homerian sequences in the Novosibirsk Islands and Novaya Zemlya, as well as in the southern Urals and the Turkestan-Alai Mountains of central Asia. In sections studied here, especially in the Alai Range, both species have well defined stratigraphic ranges in a variety of pelagic and hemipelagic facies. Their well established taxonomy based on sicular shape and thecal structure allows their recognition in material of different preservation. They belong to a single phylogenetic line and can be used as important biostratigraphic markers for interregional correlation, especially considering the distinct differences in the composition of associated monograptids. Thus, members of the Pristiograptus idoneus—Lobographu? claudiae lineage parallelling the development of M. praedeubeli and M. deubeli in the Homerian of central Asia, Australia, Arctic Canada and Arctic Russia are unknown from European and northern African sections.