Vol 51, No 3 (2017)

This paper discusses the morphogenesis and evolutionary history of the genus Biarmeaspira in the Kazanian Paleobasin. Based on an analysis of variability, morphotypes are recognized for B. striata and B. jusupovi, and patterns in the changes of characters are established. The stratigraphic distribution and facies affinity of the species and morphotypes of Biarmeaspira in the Kazanian of the Volga-Urals Region are reviewed.

A new ammonite genus of the subfamily Garantianinae, family Stephanoceratidae, from the Upper Bajocian Strenoceras niortense Zone in the Bolshoi Zelenchuk River basin (Karachay-Cherkessia), with two new species from two different localities, is established. The type species Keppleritiana rostovtsevi gen. et sp. nov. is homeomorphic to some species of the Upper Bathonian–Lower Callovian genus Kepplerites (Fam. Kosmoceratidae) but is distinguished by the presence of a ventral furrow in adults. An isolated valve of an aptychus possibly belonging to this species is illustrated. Keppleritiana graebensteini sp. nov. has a more archaic morphology and is apparently ancestral to the type species. The macroconchs and microconchs of both species are described.

The trilobites Oryctocarella sibirica (Tomash.) and Lancastria plana (Tomash.) from the basal Middle Cambrian in the vicinity of Dolgii Mys Mountain (Batenevsky Ridge, Khakassia) are described. These trilobites were previously described by V.D. Tomashpolskaya, but the original collection was subsequently lost. Repeated finds allowed a detailed study of these species. It is established that relatively small specimens of Oryctocarella sibirica are more similar to Ovatoryctocara granulata. In addition, these species have much in common with the genus Arthricocephalus in morphological characters. New material of Lancastria plana is described in detail. These trilobites were originally assigned to the genus Paraoryctocephalops, although according to the data of Blacker and Peel (1997), they should be transfered to the genus Lancastria.

A new genus and four new species are described from the Upper Mesozoic locality of Khasurty, Western Transbaikalia: Mesobaetis crispa sp. nov. and Proameletus branchiatus sp. nov. from the family Siphlonuridae s. l., Furvoneta khasurtensis sp. nov. from Mesonetidae, and Baikalogenites firmus gen. et sp. nov. from the family Hexagenitidae. One poorly preserved specimen is identified as Mesogenesia from the family Mickoleitiidae. The unique mayfly generic assemblage of this locality, its possible age, and ecology are discussed.

Five new species of sepulcids (Hymenoptera: Sepulcidae) are described from the Lower Cretaceous of Transbaikalia and Mongolia (localities Khasurty, Baissa, and Bon-Tsagan). The new species belong to the subfamilies Ghilarellinae and Trematothoracinae: Ghilarella alexialis sp. nov., G. masculina sp. nov., Trematothorax zhangi sp. nov., T. brachyurus sp. nov., and T. extravenosus sp. nov. The genus Trematothoracoides Zhang et al., 2001 (syn. nov.) is synonymized with Trematothorax Rasnitsyn, 1988. A complete list of species of Sepulcidae is provided.

A new anomodont genus and species, Parasuminia ivakhnenkoi sp. nov. (Galeopidae), from the Sundyr-1 locality (Upper Severodvinian Substage, Upper Permian) is described. Based on morphological analysis of tooth wear, the type of work of the jaw apparatus similar to that of Suminia Ivachnenko, 1994 is revealed.

Fossil pollen grains of Castaneoideae from Holocene sediments from the southern Sea of Japan (J-3) at a depth of 200–202, 165–167, and 120–122 cm were studied with a scanning electron microscope. Pollen of some extant species of Castaneoideae, native to the region (Castanopsis cuspidata, C. sclerophylla, and Lithocarpus glaber) were also studied. As a result, four types of fossil pollen grains were revealed; type I is identified to species as Castanopsis cuspidata, type II is referred to the genus Castanopsis, type III is assigned to the genus Lithocarpus, and type IV is only identifined to subfamily (Castaneoideae type).