This is the first comprehensive systematic study of the Middle Jurassic scleractinian corals from the Qiangtang block, based on 225 fossil coral specimens collected from the Buqu Formation in the Biluocuo area of northern Xizang (Tibet). Three species of three genera are identified: Montlivaltia zangbeiensis, Pseudocoenia slovenica, and Kobyastraea coquandi. The assemblage is dominated by solitary Montlivaltia (92.44%), with significantly fewer compound colonies of Pseudocoenia (4.89%) and Kobyastraea (2.67%). Comparative analysis reveals that the Qiangtang coral fauna shows strong affinities with contemporaneous Tethyan assemblages, particularly showing the closest similarities to coral communities from East-Central Iran. These findings provide compelling evidence for a close palaeobiogeographic connection between the Qiangtang block and the central Tethyan region during the Middle Jurassic.
{"title":"Scleractinian corals from the Middle Jurassic Buqu Formation, Qiangtang block and their palaeogeographic implications","authors":"Xiu-Ping Zhu , Kun Liang , Wei-Hua Liao , Jia-Run Yin , Xin Rao , Yi-Chun Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.palwor.2025.200978","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.palwor.2025.200978","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This is the first comprehensive systematic study of the Middle Jurassic scleractinian corals from the Qiangtang block, based on 225 fossil coral specimens collected from the Buqu Formation in the Biluocuo area of northern Xizang (Tibet). Three species of three genera are identified: <em>Montlivaltia zangbeiensis</em>, <em>Pseudocoenia slovenica</em>, and <em>Kobyastraea coquandi</em>. The assemblage is dominated by solitary <em>Montlivaltia</em> (92.44%), with significantly fewer compound colonies of <em>Pseudocoenia</em> (4.89%) and <em>Kobyastraea</em> (2.67%). Comparative analysis reveals that the Qiangtang coral fauna shows strong affinities with contemporaneous Tethyan assemblages, particularly showing the closest similarities to coral communities from East-Central Iran. These findings provide compelling evidence for a close palaeobiogeographic connection between the Qiangtang block and the central Tethyan region during the Middle Jurassic.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48708,"journal":{"name":"Palaeoworld","volume":"35 1","pages":"Article 200978"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145929002","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-01Epub Date: 2025-09-18DOI: 10.1016/j.palwor.2025.201026
Andrej Ernst , İzzet Hoşgör , Olev Vinn
The Halevikdere Formation of southern Türkiye yields an under-explored archive of Late Ordovician marine ecosystems. Our knowledge about Ordovician bryozoans in Türkiye is restricted due to the poor preservation of material. The first report of the Hirnantian high-latitude north Gondwanan bryozoans from southeastern Türkiye (Mardin-Derik area, Halevikdere Formation) is presented here. The Late Ordovician (Sandbian–Hirnantian) predominantly fine-grained succession of Derik is among the most remarkable Early Palaeozoic successions in southeastern Türkiye, but its precise geological age is poorly constrained. New bryozoan-rich sequence of glacio-marine related deposits contains indeterminate crinoids and brachiopods. Here we describe a new fauna of bryozoans from the ice-distal glaciomarine succession of the Halevikdere Formation, corresponding to the northern margin of the Arabian Plate. Three palaeostomate bryozoan species were identified: the esthonioporate Esthonioporata sp. indet., cryptostomes Graptodictya sp., and Ptilodictyina sp. indet. (aff. Proavella proava). In this study, a new trace fossil assemblage comprising several ichnotaxa is also documented from the upper part of the bryozoan-bearing sequence of the Hirnantian Halevikdere Formation. The identified bryozoans are related to the typical Ordovician taxa, but their presence in the assemblage, previously reported only from the Upper Ordovician of the Baltic region, is noticeable. These bryozoans and ichnofossils are typically associated with shallow marine environments, reflecting the conditions that prevailed during the time of their formation.
{"title":"First report of Hirnantian (Late Ordovician) palaeostomate bryozoans and associated biota of the northern Arabian Plate in southeastern Türkiye","authors":"Andrej Ernst , İzzet Hoşgör , Olev Vinn","doi":"10.1016/j.palwor.2025.201026","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.palwor.2025.201026","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Halevikdere Formation of southern Türkiye yields an under-explored archive of Late Ordovician marine ecosystems. Our knowledge about Ordovician bryozoans in Türkiye is restricted due to the poor preservation of material. The first report of the Hirnantian high-latitude north Gondwanan bryozoans from southeastern Türkiye (Mardin-Derik area, Halevikdere Formation) is presented here. The Late Ordovician (Sandbian–Hirnantian) predominantly fine-grained succession of Derik is among the most remarkable Early Palaeozoic successions in southeastern Türkiye, but its precise geological age is poorly constrained. New bryozoan-rich sequence of glacio-marine related deposits contains indeterminate crinoids and brachiopods. Here we describe a new fauna of bryozoans from the ice-distal glaciomarine succession of the Halevikdere Formation, corresponding to the northern margin of the Arabian Plate. Three palaeostomate bryozoan species were identified: the esthonioporate Esthonioporata sp. indet., cryptostomes <em>Graptodictya</em> sp., and Ptilodictyina sp. indet. (aff. <em>Proavella proava</em>). In this study, a new trace fossil assemblage comprising several ichnotaxa is also documented from the upper part of the bryozoan-bearing sequence of the Hirnantian Halevikdere Formation. The identified bryozoans are related to the typical Ordovician taxa, but their presence in the assemblage, previously reported only from the Upper Ordovician of the Baltic region, is noticeable. These bryozoans and ichnofossils are typically associated with shallow marine environments, reflecting the conditions that prevailed during the time of their formation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48708,"journal":{"name":"Palaeoworld","volume":"35 1","pages":"Article 201026"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145929108","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-01Epub Date: 2025-07-29DOI: 10.1016/j.palwor.2025.201000
Kui Yan , Long-Long Shan , Jun Li , Thomas Servais
The investigation of acritarch and prasinophyte assemblages from the Tangchih Formation of Lower Ordovician outcrops from the eastern Yunnan Province reveals the presence of 39 genera and 54 species. The assemblages are dominated by the genera Coryphidium, Dactylofusa, Leiosphaeridia, Lophosphaeridium, Micrhystridium, Polygonium, Rhopaliophora, and the galeate acritarch plexus. The first occurrences of Aryballomorpha, Aureotesta clathrata simplex, Barakella, Coryphidium, C. bohemicum, Dactylofusa velifera, Dasydorus, Peteinosphaeridium, Rhopaliophora, Striatotheca and Vulcanisphaera indicate that the age of the Tangchih Formation corresponds to the latest Tremadocian to Floian. The microflora can be correlated to the messaoudensis-trifidum assemblage of western Europe and coeval assemblages worldwide. In terms of palaeoecology, the composition of the palynomorph assemblage, together with sedimentological and trace fossil evidence, indicates a shallow-water environment in the study area during the late Tremadocian to early Floian. In the context of palaeobiogeography, the palynomorph assemblage contains elements of both the ‘warm water’ Aryballomorpha-Athabascaella-Lua assemblage and the ‘cold water’ diacromorph acritarchs, possibly showing a mixed microflora in South China during the Early Ordovician.
{"title":"Early Ordovician acritarch and prasinophyte assemblages from eastern Yunnan, South China: Biostratigraphical and palaeobiogeographical implications","authors":"Kui Yan , Long-Long Shan , Jun Li , Thomas Servais","doi":"10.1016/j.palwor.2025.201000","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.palwor.2025.201000","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The investigation of acritarch and prasinophyte assemblages from the Tangchih Formation of Lower Ordovician outcrops from the eastern Yunnan Province reveals the presence of 39 genera and 54 species. The assemblages are dominated by the genera <em>Coryphidium</em>, <em>Dactylofusa</em>, <em>Leiosphaeridia</em>, <em>Lophosphaeridium</em>, <em>Micrhystridium</em>, <em>Polygonium</em>, <em>Rhopaliophora</em>, and the galeate acritarch plexus. The first occurrences of <em>Aryballomorpha</em>, <em>Aureotesta clathrata simplex</em>, <em>Barakella</em>, <em>Coryphidium</em>, <em>C</em>. <em>bohemicum</em>, <em>Dactylofusa velifera</em>, <em>Dasydorus</em>, <em>Peteinosphaeridium</em>, <em>Rhopaliophora</em>, <em>Striatotheca</em> and <em>Vulcanisphaera</em> indicate that the age of the Tangchih Formation corresponds to the latest Tremadocian to Floian. The microflora can be correlated to the <em>messaoudensis-trifidum</em> assemblage of western Europe and coeval assemblages worldwide. In terms of palaeoecology, the composition of the palynomorph assemblage, together with sedimentological and trace fossil evidence, indicates a shallow-water environment in the study area during the late Tremadocian to early Floian. In the context of palaeobiogeography, the palynomorph assemblage contains elements of both the ‘warm water’ <em>Aryballomorpha</em>-<em>Athabascaella</em>-<em>Lua</em> assemblage and the ‘cold water’ diacromorph acritarchs, possibly showing a mixed microflora in South China during the Early Ordovician.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48708,"journal":{"name":"Palaeoworld","volume":"35 1","pages":"Article 201000"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145929107","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-01Epub Date: 2025-10-01DOI: 10.1016/j.palwor.2025.201031
Tao Dai , Xing-Liang Zhang , Shan-Chi Peng
An investigation of growth and segmentation of a ptychopariid trilobite Maotunia iddingsi from the middle Cambrian (Miaolingian, Drumian) Zhangxia Formation, North China is presented. This is the first time the essentially complete post-embryonic ontogenetic series from protaspid to holaspid period based on numerous articulated specimens is clearly demonstrated and reported as a ptychopariid representative. The full post-embryonic developmental sequence, which exhibited a heteronomous trunk segment condition and an unbalanced rate in segment expression and liberation during ontogeny, witnessed a marked intraspecific variation in somitogenesis and tagmosis during the life cycle. The progressive release of the trunk segments may vary at rates among different individuals, revealing a potential developmental strategy how early diversified arthropods controlled the form of the body patterning as well as the proportion of head to trunk in size during the enrollment process of its life cycle.
{"title":"The first complete developmental case of ptychopariid trilobite","authors":"Tao Dai , Xing-Liang Zhang , Shan-Chi Peng","doi":"10.1016/j.palwor.2025.201031","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.palwor.2025.201031","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>An investigation of growth and segmentation of a ptychopariid trilobite <em>Maotunia iddingsi</em> from the middle Cambrian (Miaolingian, Drumian) Zhangxia Formation, North China is presented. This is the first time the essentially complete post-embryonic ontogenetic series from protaspid to holaspid period based on numerous articulated specimens is clearly demonstrated and reported as a ptychopariid representative. The full post-embryonic developmental sequence, which exhibited a heteronomous trunk segment condition and an unbalanced rate in segment expression and liberation during ontogeny, witnessed a marked intraspecific variation in somitogenesis and tagmosis during the life cycle. The progressive release of the trunk segments may vary at rates among different individuals, revealing a potential developmental strategy how early diversified arthropods controlled the form of the body patterning as well as the proportion of head to trunk in size during the enrollment process of its life cycle.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48708,"journal":{"name":"Palaeoworld","volume":"35 1","pages":"Article 201031"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145929157","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-01Epub Date: 2025-09-04DOI: 10.1016/j.palwor.2025.201011
Anna Savvidou, Dimitris S. Kostopoulos
New cranial, mandibular and dental canid material from Dafnero-3 site, in northern Greece confirms previous reports of Nyctereutes megamastoides and Vulpes sp. from either Dafnero-3 or/and Dafnero-1 sites but allows a reassignment of specimens previously referred to as Nyctereutes tingi from Dafnero-3 to Nyctereutes vulpinus. The results further support the previous hypothesis of a close phylogenetic link between N. tingi and N. vulpinus, revise the intraspecific diversity of the latter, and allow the establishment of a working phylogeographic hypothesis. Nyctereutes vulpinus is noted for the first time in southeast Europe, expanding its geographical range, confirming the simultaneous presence of two distinct Nyctereutes species in the Balkan area as in China.
{"title":"New and revised middle Villafranchian canid material from Dafnero-3 (Greece): Implications to Nyctereutes systematics and zoogeography","authors":"Anna Savvidou, Dimitris S. Kostopoulos","doi":"10.1016/j.palwor.2025.201011","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.palwor.2025.201011","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>New cranial, mandibular and dental canid material from Dafnero-3 site, in northern Greece confirms previous reports of <em>Nyctereutes megamastoides</em> and <em>Vulpes</em> sp. from either Dafnero-3 or/and Dafnero-1 sites but allows a reassignment of specimens previously referred to as <em>Nyctereutes tingi</em> from Dafnero-3 to <em>Nyctereutes vulpinus</em>. The results further support the previous hypothesis of a close phylogenetic link between <em>N</em>. <em>tingi</em> and <em>N</em>. <em>vulpinus</em>, revise the intraspecific diversity of the latter, and allow the establishment of a working phylogeographic hypothesis. <em>Nyctereutes vulpinus</em> is noted for the first time in southeast Europe, expanding its geographical range, confirming the simultaneous presence of two distinct <em>Nyctereutes</em> species in the Balkan area as in China.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48708,"journal":{"name":"Palaeoworld","volume":"35 1","pages":"Article 201011"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145929158","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-01Epub Date: 2025-09-04DOI: 10.1016/j.palwor.2025.201009
Claudia V. Rubinstein , María C. Vargas , Felipe de la Parra
A palynological investigation of a Cambrian sedimentary succession drilled in well A, located in the Llanos Basin of Colombia, revealed moderately preserved and relatively diverse acritarchs. This analysis allows for the identification of two distinct acritarch assemblages. Based on the presence of key diagnostic species and correlation with established middle–late Cambrian acritarch biozones, the lower acritarch assemblage is dated to the middle Cambrian, corresponding to the Drumian–Guzhangian stages of the Miaolingian Series. The upper acritarch assemblage is dated as late Cambrian, corresponding to the Jiangshanian–Stage 10 of the Furongian Series on the Global Chronostratigraphic Scale. The presence of globally-occurring species such as Eliasum llaniscum, Cristalinium cambriense, Ninadiacrodium dumontii, Timofeevia phosphoritica, Vulcanisphaera mougnoana, and V. africana supports the cosmopolitanism of middle and late Cambrian acritarchs. The identification of middle and upper Cambrian strata in the Llanos Basin’s Palaeozoic sequence helps to establish a more accurate biostratigraphic framework for the Palaeozoic of Colombia.
{"title":"Middle–late Cambrian acritarchs from the Llanos Basin in Colombia: Implications for biostratigraphy and palaeobiogeography","authors":"Claudia V. Rubinstein , María C. Vargas , Felipe de la Parra","doi":"10.1016/j.palwor.2025.201009","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.palwor.2025.201009","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A palynological investigation of a Cambrian sedimentary succession drilled in well A, located in the Llanos Basin of Colombia, revealed moderately preserved and relatively diverse acritarchs. This analysis allows for the identification of two distinct acritarch assemblages. Based on the presence of key diagnostic species and correlation with established middle–late Cambrian acritarch biozones, the lower acritarch assemblage is dated to the middle Cambrian, corresponding to the Drumian–Guzhangian stages of the Miaolingian Series. The upper acritarch assemblage is dated as late Cambrian, corresponding to the Jiangshanian–Stage 10 of the Furongian Series on the Global Chronostratigraphic Scale. The presence of globally-occurring species such as <em>Eliasum llaniscum</em>, <em>Cristalinium cambriense</em>, <em>Ninadiacrodium dumontii</em>, <em>Timofeevia phosphoritica</em>, <em>Vulcanisphaera mougnoana</em>, and <em>V</em>. <em>africana</em> supports the cosmopolitanism of middle and late Cambrian acritarchs. The identification of middle and upper Cambrian strata in the Llanos Basin’s Palaeozoic sequence helps to establish a more accurate biostratigraphic framework for the Palaeozoic of Colombia.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48708,"journal":{"name":"Palaeoworld","volume":"35 1","pages":"Article 201009"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145929160","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-01Epub Date: 2025-08-05DOI: 10.1016/j.palwor.2025.201002
Ainul H. Ansari , Rajan Shukla , Avneet Kumar , Abu Talib
This study reports the Middle to Late Jurassic (Bajocian–Oxfordian) benthic foraminiferal assemblages from Kachchh, India, and assesses their significance as palaeoenvironmental proxies. Four distinct assemblages are identified to evaluate marine benthic foraminiferal groups along the inner-to-outer shelf gradient. From Bajocian to Oxfordian, four environmental fluctuation events were recognised. These fluctuations were examined in relation to bathymetry, organic matter (food availability), oxic and anoxic conditions, and species diversity. Except for the lower Callovian assemblages, the others exhibit favourable environments, ranging from moderately mesotrophic to eutrophic, middle to outer neritic (100–150 m), well-oxygenated conditions and specific diversities. The fluctuations may be due to the increased food influx (Bajocian–Callovian) and decreased dissolved oxygen in the bottom water (Callovian–Oxfordian). Fluctuations in dissolved oxygen and supply of organic matter were the primary environmental factors influencing the distribution pattern of benthic foraminiferal species in the Kachchh Basin. In shallow marine environments with well-oxygenated bottom waters, food availability and oxygen levels played a more decisive role in shaping assemblage structure than bathymetry. However, water depth exerted a greater influence on species distribution in deeper settings.
{"title":"Benthic foraminiferal assemblages from the Middle to Upper Jurassic rocks of the Kachchh Basin, India: Insights into taxonomy and palaeoenvironmental reconstruction","authors":"Ainul H. Ansari , Rajan Shukla , Avneet Kumar , Abu Talib","doi":"10.1016/j.palwor.2025.201002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.palwor.2025.201002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study reports the Middle to Late Jurassic (Bajocian–Oxfordian) benthic foraminiferal assemblages from Kachchh, India, and assesses their significance as palaeoenvironmental proxies. Four distinct assemblages are identified to evaluate marine benthic foraminiferal groups along the inner-to-outer shelf gradient. From Bajocian to Oxfordian, four environmental fluctuation events were recognised. These fluctuations were examined in relation to bathymetry, organic matter (food availability), oxic and anoxic conditions, and species diversity. Except for the lower Callovian assemblages, the others exhibit favourable environments, ranging from moderately mesotrophic to eutrophic, middle to outer neritic (100–150 m), well-oxygenated conditions and specific diversities. The fluctuations may be due to the increased food influx (Bajocian–Callovian) and decreased dissolved oxygen in the bottom water (Callovian–Oxfordian). Fluctuations in dissolved oxygen and supply of organic matter were the primary environmental factors influencing the distribution pattern of benthic foraminiferal species in the Kachchh Basin. In shallow marine environments with well-oxygenated bottom waters, food availability and oxygen levels played a more decisive role in shaping assemblage structure than bathymetry. However, water depth exerted a greater influence on species distribution in deeper settings.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48708,"journal":{"name":"Palaeoworld","volume":"35 1","pages":"Article 201002"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145929164","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-01Epub Date: 2025-07-22DOI: 10.1016/j.palwor.2025.200996
Ding-Ge Guo , Sayyed Ghyour Abbas , Qi-Gao Jiangzuo , Chun-Xiao Li , Yan-Wu Yang , Jia-Yong Cao , Bin Zou , Shi-Qi Wang , Xue-Ping Ji
As a small-sized Bovini, Pachyportax, originated in the Late Miocene Siwaliks and subsequently dispersed to neighbouring regions in Southeast Asia and the Arabian Peninsula, and eventually reached Yunnan, China. However, no fossil material of this genus had been discovered in China prior to this study. Here we report a new species Pachyportax zhaotongensis n. sp., from an important fossil ape locality, the Shuitangba site in Zhaotong, Yunnan, China, dated at approximately 6.2 Ma. The new species displays the diagnostic characteristics of Pachyportax, such as a robust horn core that extends laterally and backward, with a slightly convex medial side and a flatter lateral side, featuring anterior and posterior keels; the cheek teeth are hypsodont, with moderately developed ribs, folds and basal pillars. It also shows some differences from the known species: the horn core insertion is distant from the orbit and shows no significant torsion, and the anterior and posterior keels on the horn core are less pronounced. These advanced characteristics indicated that Pachyportax zhaotongensis n. sp. represents a late evolutionary stage of Pachyportax. This is also the first report of Pachyportax in China. In addition, based on a phylogenetic analysis, we clarify the relationship of Selenoportax and Pachyportax, and briefly explore the evolution and geographical distribution of the two genera.
Pachyportax是一种小型的Bovini，起源于晚中新世的siwalik，随后分散到东南亚和阿拉伯半岛的邻近地区，最终到达中国云南。然而，在此研究之前，在中国尚未发现该属的化石材料。本文报道了一新种Pachyportax zhaotongensis n. sp，来自中国云南昭通水塘坝类人猿化石重要产地，其年代约为6.2 Ma。该新种表现出Pachyportax的诊断特征，如强健的角核向外侧和向后延伸，内侧略凸，外侧较平，具有前后龙骨；颊齿是下齿，有中等发育的肋骨、褶皱和基柱。它也显示出与已知物种的一些差异：角核插入距离轨道较远，没有明显的扭转，角核上的前后龙骨不太明显。这些先进的特征表明，Pachyportax zhaotongensis n. sp代表了Pachyportax的晚期进化阶段。这也是国内首次报道Pachyportax。此外，在系统发育分析的基础上，明确了Selenoportax和Pachyportax的关系，并简要探讨了这两个属的进化和地理分布。
{"title":"New Pachyportax fossils from the Late Miocene Shuitangba locality, Yunnan, revealing the early Bovini evolution and radiation","authors":"Ding-Ge Guo , Sayyed Ghyour Abbas , Qi-Gao Jiangzuo , Chun-Xiao Li , Yan-Wu Yang , Jia-Yong Cao , Bin Zou , Shi-Qi Wang , Xue-Ping Ji","doi":"10.1016/j.palwor.2025.200996","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.palwor.2025.200996","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>As a small-sized Bovini, <em>Pachyportax</em>, originated in the Late Miocene Siwaliks and subsequently dispersed to neighbouring regions in Southeast Asia and the Arabian Peninsula, and eventually reached Yunnan, China. However, no fossil material of this genus had been discovered in China prior to this study. Here we report a new species <em>Pachyportax zhaotongensis</em> n. sp., from an important fossil ape locality, the Shuitangba site in Zhaotong, Yunnan, China, dated at approximately 6.2 Ma. The new species displays the diagnostic characteristics of <em>Pachyportax</em>, such as a robust horn core that extends laterally and backward, with a slightly convex medial side and a flatter lateral side, featuring anterior and posterior keels; the cheek teeth are hypsodont, with moderately developed ribs, folds and basal pillars. It also shows some differences from the known species: the horn core insertion is distant from the orbit and shows no significant torsion, and the anterior and posterior keels on the horn core are less pronounced. These advanced characteristics indicated that <em>Pachyportax zhaotongensis</em> n. sp. represents a late evolutionary stage of <em>Pachyportax</em>. This is also the first report of <em>Pachyportax</em> in China. In addition, based on a phylogenetic analysis, we clarify the relationship of <em>Selenoportax</em> and <em>Pachyportax</em>, and briefly explore the evolution and geographical distribution of the two genera.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48708,"journal":{"name":"Palaeoworld","volume":"35 1","pages":"Article 200996"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145929003","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-01Epub Date: 2025-08-26DOI: 10.1016/j.palwor.2025.201005
Xin-Yi Zhang , Han-Ting Zhong , Xin Li , Hui Chen , Shan Ye , Ming-Cai Hou , Chao Ma
Due to the great abundance of microfossils even in a small sample, they are ideal specimens for machine learning, which needs sufficient sample size. Taking the taxonomic controversy in a certain radiolarian lineage as a case study, a quantitative and objective approach and its advantage to fossil taxonomy is discussed in this study. Unsupervised machine learning algorithms are used to determine the species of radiolarians based on their morphological characteristics. K-Means, Agglomerative Clustering, and Meanshift are applied to build clustering models, with the centroid-based K-Means algorithm providing the most accurate classification results at a 92.26% accuracy. This method improves the efficiency of fossil identification and presents an accurate and objective method for assessing controversies associated with traditional methods.
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Pub Date : 2026-02-01Epub Date: 2025-10-01DOI: 10.1016/j.palwor.2025.201032
Lin-Jun Zou , Joseph P. Botting , Jie Yang , Xiao-Yu Yang , Wei Li , Qing-Hao Guo , Yu Wang , Chun-Li Li , Xi-Guang Zhang , Ai-Lin Chen
Sponge body fossils from the Cambrian Period are abundant and can provide vital insights into their evolutionary history. Here, we describe a new ascosponge, Chimeraspongia lii n. gen. n. sp. from the lower Cambrian (Stage 4) Guanshan Biota in Luquan, Yunnan Province, China. The species is characterized by a reticulate skeleton composed of interwoven spicules oriented in four distinct directions: large vertical monaxons, fine horizontal monaxons, and two opposing sets of diagonal monaxons. In addition, the species exhibits distinctive marginalia and prostalia. The combination of skeletal traits also helps us to explore the potential relationships among ascosponges such as leptomitids, halichondritids-piraniids, and Quadrolaminiella. The new species therefore provides significant information on the early evolution and relationships among ascosponges and expands our understanding of sponge diversity in the Guanshan Biota.
来自寒武纪的海绵体化石丰富，可以为了解它们的进化史提供重要的见解。本文报道了一种新的囊海绵，chimerasongia lii n. gen. n. sp.，来自云南禄泉关山生物群下寒武统（第4期）。该物种的特点是网状骨架由相互交织的针状体组成，定向于四个不同的方向：大的垂直monaxon，细的水平monaxon和两组相对的对角monaxon。此外，该物种具有独特的边缘和前列腺。骨骼特征的结合也有助于我们探索腹膜海绵动物（如leptomiids， halichondriids -piraniids和Quadrolaminiella）之间的潜在关系。因此，这一新物种为研究观山生物群海绵的早期进化和相互关系提供了重要信息，并扩大了我们对观山生物群海绵多样性的认识。
{"title":"A new sponge (Ascospongiae) from the early Cambrian Guanshan Biota","authors":"Lin-Jun Zou , Joseph P. Botting , Jie Yang , Xiao-Yu Yang , Wei Li , Qing-Hao Guo , Yu Wang , Chun-Li Li , Xi-Guang Zhang , Ai-Lin Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.palwor.2025.201032","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.palwor.2025.201032","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Sponge body fossils from the Cambrian Period are abundant and can provide vital insights into their evolutionary history. Here, we describe a new ascosponge, <em>Chimeraspongia lii</em> n. gen. n. sp. from the lower Cambrian (Stage 4) Guanshan Biota in Luquan, Yunnan Province, China. The species is characterized by a reticulate skeleton composed of interwoven spicules oriented in four distinct directions: large vertical monaxons, fine horizontal monaxons, and two opposing sets of diagonal monaxons. In addition, the species exhibits distinctive marginalia and prostalia. The combination of skeletal traits also helps us to explore the potential relationships among ascosponges such as leptomitids, halichondritids-piraniids, and <em>Quadrolaminiella</em>. The new species therefore provides significant information on the early evolution and relationships among ascosponges and expands our understanding of sponge diversity in the Guanshan Biota.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48708,"journal":{"name":"Palaeoworld","volume":"35 1","pages":"Article 201032"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145929001","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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