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Cyathophycus is one of the most widespread reticulosan sponges in Ordovician to Devonian rocks, but was mostly limited to the Iapetus region during the Ordovician and Silurian periods. Having an unfused skeleton, these sponges require an element of exceptional preservation (abrupt burial as a minimum) to enter the fossil record. Most species are a few centimetres in size, and found in muddy offshore environments. A new species of Cyathophycus, C. balori nov. sp., from the Kilkee Cyclothem of the Namurian Central Clare Group of County Clare, Ireland, substantially extends the stratigraphic range of the genus into the upper Palaeozoic. At more than 50 cm in height, the new species is the largest known Cyathophycus, and one of the largest reticulosan sponges. The sponges are found abundantly as monospecific assemblages in a particular band of laminated mudstone in prodelta cyclothem deposits. This unexpected discovery reveals a new component to Carboniferous prodeltaic ecosystems, and is further evidence that early sponge groups persisted in some unusual and marginal environments.

Based on drill hole sampling and sedimentary rock dating by palynology, the present research focuses on the palynostratigraphic events established in the key geological section of Guedelhinha–Lançadoiras–Algaré located in the Portuguese Neves–Corvo mine region, Iberian Pyrite Belt. The age data allow detailing the lithostratigraphic sequence and further understanding the complex structural setting, representing an important contribution to the geological knowledge of this sector located to the immediate WNW of the Neves–Corvo VMS deposit. The combination of the studied events allows the reconstruction of the Devonian-Carboniferous sedimentation and paleoenvironments along the Iberian Pyrite Belt. Several stratigraphic hiatuses identified in the Neves–Corvo region by the palynological record are confirmed, mainly occurring from the mid Frasnian to mid Famennian, from the early and mid Strunian, and from the early to late Tournaisian, which were mainly coincident with the worldwide extinction events, in particular during Frasnian–Famennian and Late Devonian times. Extensional tectonics and related gravitational faults, local uplift mechanisms and intense volcanic activity could also explain the lack of palynological data and sedimentary hiatus. In this research, the importance of the late Strunian times in the Iberian Pyrite Belt (Miospore Biozone LN of the Neves Formation) is highlighted, confirming the contemporaneity of felsic volcanism, hydrothermalism, sulphide mineralization precipitation and black shale anoxic sedimentation.

Karnezeika is an Early Pleistocene locality in the Peloponnese, South Greece. More than 3000 specimens have been unearthed and studied, revealing the presence of a large mammal assemblage, which corresponds to the middle Villafranchian biochronological unit. The bovid fauna of the site has already been presented, as well as the scarce remains of a large cercopithecid, which characterizes Karnezeika as a primate-bearing fossil site. Herein, we describe the Carnivora of this locality. The carnivore guild of Karnezeika was found to consist of seven different taxa including Vulpes alopecoides, Felis sp., Megantereon cultridens, Ursus etruscus, Pachycrocuta brevirostris, Baranogale helbingi, and a Mustelidae indet. Interestingly, the presence of the giant, short-faced hyena P. brevirostris among the assemblage shows that this species was present in SE Europe before the Olduvai subchron, similarly to Western Europe. Furthermore, based on the new and relatively well-preserved specimens belonging to the rare mustelid B. helbingi, we discuss some possible taxonomic interpretations of this species. Finally, the majority of the carnivora taxa present in Karnezeika indicate a mixed habitat which agrees with previous palaeoenvironmental results concerning the site.

A fungal chasmothecium-like structure resembling those of the contemporary members of the Erysiphaceae was found during palynological investigations of Upper Pliocene deposits from Mizerna (borehole Mizerna-Nowa), southern Poland. This chasmothecium-like remain, preserved without any asci, ascospores and mycelium attached, is morphologically most similar to the chasmothecia of modern powdery mildews from the genera Erysiphe, Neoerysiphe, Podosphaera, and Salmonomyces. It differs from hitherto described fossil or modern fungi producing globose, closed ascomata with appendage-like setae. Therefore, a new fossil-genus and species name, Szaferomyces pliocenicus, is introduced for the fossil remains from Mizerna. Contrary to all previous putative fossils of powdery mildews, Szaferomyces pliocenicus nov. gen., nov. sp. is the most probable fossil of spore-producing organs of the Erysiphaceae found so far. However, due to the absence of some diagnostic morphological structures (other than presumptive chasmothecium) and DNA data, the affinity of this fungal fossil remains unclear.

Rodents play an important role in all current and extinct ecosystems. In this study we present the fossil record of cricetids, eomyids and murids from Devínská Nová Ves–Bonanza (Vienna Basin, Slovakia). A detailed morphometric analysis revealed the presence of Eumyarion cf. latior, Democricetodon vindobonensis, Karydomys sp., Anomalomys sp., Neocometes brunonis, Keramidomys carpathicus, and Eomyops sp. This species association with other taxa available from the locality indicates an early MN6 age, probably slightly younger than the neighbouring locality Devínská Nová Ves–Štokeravská vápenka = Neudorf an dem March – die Spaltenfüllung or Zapfe’s Fissures. Paleoenvironmental specificities of the locality dated after the peak of the Mid-Miocene Climatic Optimum are discussed. This faunal assemblage, together with geological setting, suggests a mixed insular or peninsular area with subtropical forests close to freshwater bodies in the vicinity of a saltwater sea.

A new genus, Meroncarcinus, and two new species, M. boursicoti and Verrucarcinus marsae, are described from Callovian (Middle Jurassic) deposits of Calvados and Maine-et-Loire, France. New material of the type species of the genus Verrucarcinus, V. torosus, is examined, which improves our understanding of the peculiar morphology of this group of crabs. A new genus and species, Vilsercarcinus keuppi, is recognised from Lower-Middle Jurassic strata of Germany-Austria. Charassocarcinus, a Lower-Middle Jurassic crustacean genus of doubtful taxonomic affinity, is revived and here assigned to the Glaessneropsidae. All of this material forms the basis for a re-examination of the Glaessneropsidae, and an enhanced diagnosis is compiled. The morphology of Glaessneropsidae, one of the oldest known brachyuran families, is discussed; its complex orbital structure is remarkable for such an ancient group of crab and raises questions about its relationship with the basal brachyuran group Homolodromioidea. A solid support for a suprafamilial rank for the Glaessneropsidae is lacking.

The systematics of the coral assemblages of the Vršatec Limestone from the Pieniny Klippen Belt (Western Carpathians) that inhabited the NW Tethyan margin during the Bajocian is revisited here based on a new and extensive sampling of coral specimens collected at four outcrops. The assemblage consists of 12 genera and 13 species, including the new species Proaplophyllia slovakensis and the first Bajocian occurrence of the genus Enallhelia. Morphometric analyses also allow us to synonymize multiple species citations of the genus Thecosmilia into a single species. A quantitative study shows that five genera tend to be most common at all outcrops, namely Cladophyllia, Dendraraea, Isastrea, Periseris, and Thecosmilia, documenting relatively high homogeneity in the qualitative generic composition of coral assemblages but quantitative differences among the four outcrops. Coral specimens are frequently affected by macroborings (Gastrochaenolites, Entobia, and Trypanites) and coated by microbialitic components. We suggest that these reefs grew in the optimum of the Bajocian reefal window (i.e., shallow-water photic environments above storm wave base). We also identify three traps (typological, nominal, and induction traps) that led in the past to the false stratigraphic attribution of these reefs, when they were erroneously assigned to the Oxfordian rather than to the Bajocian.

The Aptian–Albian (A–A) transition encompassed a critical timing in the evolution of Fars Platform (Zagros Basin, SW Iran), such that a number of previous studies on its proximal part (called “Coastal Fars”) illustrated platform recovery after sustained demise due to latest Aptian maximum sea-level lowstand. So far, much less attention has been given to the distal part of the platform – “Interior Fars” – where the lack of proper geological age interpretations, in particular, has been limiting a full paleoenvironmental reconstruction of the southern shallower Neo-Tethys. In order to establish the chronostratigraphic framework of Interior Fars, this study presents a novel set of planktonic foraminiferal record for the A–A Kazhdumi Formation at the Saroie section. The identified fauna comprises nine species from four genera, all of which are reported for the first time from Fars Platform. The observed new bioevents are generally consistent with those of the proposed reference section at a deeper intrashelf setting (Tang-e-Maghar, Dezful Embayment), allowing for the establishment of a local upper Aptian–Lower Albian zonation and leading to adequate constraints on the local Aptian/Albian boundary and the timing of prominent black shale deposition (possible “Jacob” equivalent). Based on this new Saroie chronostratigraphic scheme, it is evident that sedimentation across the A–A transition was maintained fully marine at the Saroie section, Interior Fars. This finding does not support the previous inference of extensive subaerial exposure of the entire Fars Platform at that time, thereby calling for a major revision of the published prevailing model for latest Aptian paleogeography of this region. These new insights will facilitate better understanding of the Fars Platform evolution in the Zagros Basin as well as paleoenvironmental reconstructions along the southern Neo-Tethys.

Glirid dental material is described from the Middle Miocene channel fill of the Hambach open-cast lignite mine in northwestern Germany. The fauna Hambach 6C shows a high diversity with seven species in six genera: Glirudinus undosus, Muscardinus thaleri, Muscardinus sansaniensis, Miodyromys aegercii, Paraglirulus werenfelsi, Microdyromys koenigswaldi, and Paraglis astaracensis, which are characteristic taxa in Middle Miocene European localities. Regarding the faunal composition and high diversity, the Hambach 6C assemblage is closest to that of the MN 5 locality Schönenberg in southern Germany, but also shares many taxa with late Middle Miocene faunas. The species richness of glirids, combined with other vertebrate remains in Hambach 6C indicates a warm, humid forested environment during the Mid-Miocene Climate Optimum (MCO).

Understanding the evolutionary history of biodiversity hotspots has important implications for their future survival. India hosts four biodiversity hotspots: the Western Ghats of South India, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the Eastern Himalaya, and the Indo-Myanmar region. Northeast India (NEI) is an important region that hosts 43% of the total plant species occurring in India, of which ∼39% are endemic. This region also acts as a gateway for biotic exchange between India and southeast Asia. The area also receives exceptional rainfall during the pre-monsoon (March to May), in addition to the summer monsoon (June to September) season. In rainforests of NEI, forest-forming plant species make up a large proportion of the biodiversity. Understanding the evolutionary history of rainforests of NEI has implications for the conservation of biodiversity hotspots. Here we report the evergreen rainforest genus Duabanga Buch.-Ham. of the family Lythraceae from the late Oligocene sediments of Assam, NEI. Fossil records of this genus (from south and southeast Asia) suggest its Gondwanan origin, while its modern distribution is dominantly controlled by moisture availability.