Camouflage strategies, including several types of concealments, are known for several insect groups today, such as immatures of some species within reduviid bugs (Hemiptera), lace wings (Neuroptera), caddisflies (Trichoptera) and bark lice (Psocodea). However, camouflage has only rarely been reported in the fossil record. Here we report findings of four bark lice preserved in 100 Million year old amber

The Cambrian Explosion by nature is a three-phased explosion of animal body plans alongside episodic biomineralization, pulsed change of generic diversity, body size variation, and progressive increase of ecosystem complexity. The Cambrian was a time of crown groups nested by numbers of stem groups with a high-rank taxonomy of Linnaean system (classes and above). Some stem groups temporarily succeeded

A restudy of the Barkhausen dinosaur tracksite shows that the track-bearing surface reveals considerably more detail than previously indicated, and a new map is presented, showing the trackways of nine sauropods, traveling north, possibly as a group. These are among the smallest sauropod tracks recorded in Europe. There is also evidence of two large theropods crossing the area, one moving to the south

New foraminiferal assemblages consisting of fusulinids and smaller foraminifers have been described from a basalt/carbonate rock block (locality 51F7) and small outcrop of thin-bedded limestone (locality 51F6) located near the entrance to Marble Canyon west–southwest of the town of Cache Creek in southern British Columbia, Canada. The locality 51F7 contains diverse fusulinid and smaller foraminiferal

Late Viséan foraminiferal assemblages from a section in the Sikasya (Sikaza) River Valley (South Urals) are studied to provide a reliable framework for stratigraphy and correlation of the Viséan-Serpukhovian boundary beds on the western slope of the South Urals. The middle–upper Viséan deposits on the Sikasya River are composed of shallow shelf carbonates with abundant foraminifers, corals, and brachiopods

A small sample of fossil vertebrae of amphibians and reptiles found in the historical collection of the Museum of Geology and Palaeontology of the University of Torino is here described. The fossils most likely originate from the same deposits as the old collections from Weisenau, in the Mainz Basin. In spite of the small number of remains, at least five taxa are recognized: one urodele (Salamandra

The re-discovery of a distal pluricolumnal of the Middle Triassic Eckicrinus radiatus requires separation of Eckicrinus from Holocrinidae and to establish the new family Eckicrinidae of undetermined systematic position. The pluricolumnal with enlarged radicular cirri with multiradiate articulations acted as a rhizoid holdfast. In the Early and Middle Triassic, three attachment modes occurred among

Trilobite malformations are often ascribed to failed predation and represent key evidence for Paleozoic arthropod predator–prey systems. A large number of malformed trilobites are known to Cambrian-aged deposits and have recently been discussed at length. Conversely, most post-Cambrian records are noted as anecdotal points within larger taxonomic works. To expand the consideration of post-Cambrian

Recent discovery of a previously unknown outcrop in the vicinity of the Zengővárkony lime-kilns (Mecsek Mountains, Hungary) provided a few identifiable upper Oxfordian brachiopods that exhibit a truly Mediterranean (Tethyan) character. Dating of the outcrop is based on a rich ammonite fauna: Benetticeras benettii; Trimarginites ex gr. trimarginatus; Orthosphinctes (Orthosphinctes) ex gr. tiziani clearly

Tuberculate fragments referred to Nikolarites spasskyi are compared with a complete carapace and other material of Spinospitella from Cambrian Series 2, Stage 4 in North Greenland. The descriptions expand earlier brief records from Laurentia of the two bradoriids, originally described from Siberia and Australia, respectively. The mutually exclusive occurrences of the two taxa indicate ecological control

Pseudoscorpions belong to the oldest terrestrial lineages with origins in the Devonian (ca. 385 Ma) but their fossil record is extremely sparse and little is known about their diversification over time. Here, we describe the first fossil species of the pseudoscorpion family Pseudotyrannochthoniidae that resemble the Devonian fossils in major details, such as the chaetotaxy of the pedipalps. We describe

Occurrence of the European extinct cordylid genus ‘Bavaricordylus’ from the early middle Miocene of Switzerland was recently questioned. Reanalysis of the Swiss material supports its assignment to the lacertid genus Janosikia, the presence of which is, therefore, indicated for the first time outside from southern Germany. Based on dentary morphology, it seems that two Janosikia morphotypes were present

Nymphidae, the group of split-footed lacewings, is a rather species-poor group. Split-footed lacewings nowadays are restricted to Australasia, while fossil forms are also known from other areas of the world, indicating that the group was more species-rich and therefore likely diverse in the past. Split-footed lacewings have rather distinct larvae, roughly resembling antlion larvae, but differing from

In an exceptional preservation state, bones conserve the entire pattern of extracellular bone matrix proteins over thousands or sometimes even millions of years. Here we present typical extracellular bone matrix proteins, which were extracted from a 3.0-million-year-old gomphothere proboscidean, and identified with special antibodies. For the first time, osteonectin, osteopontin and BMP-2 were confidently

The Paleogene record of caviomorph rodents has substantially increased over the last decades, and their evolutionary history better understood by the discovery of their earliest representatives, so far recorded in several pre-Deseadan localities in Peruvian Amazonia. We report here the discovery of new caviomorph fossils from the Balsayacu area in Peru (TAR-55/TAR-55bis, TAR-76 and TAR-77 localities

A fairly preserved ammonite of Early Cretaceous age from the Mecsek Mountains, southern Hungary is described. Tescheniceras subpachydicranum is the first record of late Valanginian ammonites from the Mecsek tectonic zone from a previously unknown locality indicating the uppermost Valanginian Criosarasinella furcillata Zone. This is the first ammonite-supported evidence for the presence of upper Valanginian

This study presents a case in trunk regionalization and functional morphology of redlichiid trilobites, based on a globally distributed Bathynotus, collected from the base of the Kaili Formation in the late Cambrian Series 2 of China. This micropygous trilobite processed a body pattern with four types of thoracic tergites within two batches at maturity: a homonymous morphotype with similar thoracic

Within Isopoda (woodlice and relatives), there are lineages characterised by a parasitic lifestyle that all belong to Cymothoida and likely form a monophyletic group. Representatives of Epicaridea (ingroup of Cymothoida) are parasitic on crustaceans and usually go through three distinct larval stages. The fossil record of Epicaridea is sparse and thus little is known about the palaeoecology and the

The terrestrial origins of the diapsid Sauropterygia and Testudines are uncertain, with the latter being highly controversially discussed to this day. For only 15 Ma, Nothosauroidea lived in shallow-marine seas of the Triassic. Contrastingly, the pelagic Plesiosauria evolved in the Late Triassic, dispersed globally, and inhabited the oceans of the Jurassic and Cretaceous for approximately 135 Ma. Since

Radiodonts were cosmopolitan and diverse stem-euarthropods that have been generally regarded as the apex Cambrian predators. Four major groups have been distinguished including tamisiocaridids, primarily based on the endite features of the frontal appendages. Anomalocaris saron Hou, Bergström and Ahlberg, 1995, one of the most well-known radiodonts in the Chengjiang Lagerstätte, is generally treated

Excavations in the Sand district of Bergisch Gladbach (Rhenish Massif, Germany) yielded a rich ammonoid fauna of the upper Frasnian “Archoceras” varicosum Zone (Upper Devonian I-K, interval between the two Kellwasser levels). The previously unknown assemblages include six tornoceratid genera with 20 species, including seven new species (Aulatornoceras steinhauseni sp. nov., Aul. frenklerae sp. nov

An associated incomplete skeleton of a ceratopsid dinosaur from the Campanian deposits of the Allison Member of the Menefee Formation in New Mexico, USA is described. Although it was originally described over two decades ago, newly prepared portions of the Menefee Formation skeleton and reinterpretations of previously known morphology, in addition to newly described specimens have provided new information

Whip spiders (Amblypygi), as their name suggests, resemble spiders (Araneae) in some aspects, but differ from them by their heart-shaped (prosomal) dorsal shield, their prominent grasping pedipalps, and their subsequent elongate pair of feeler appendages. The oldest possible occurrences of whip spiders, represented by cuticle fragments, date back to the Devonian (c. 385 mya), but (almost) complete

Multiple calcareous worm-like boring casts occur on the inner surface of the calcitic external layer of the bivalve Leptodesma sp. from the Kaugatuma Formation (lower Přídolí, Upper Silurian) of Saaremaa Island, Estonia. Most of the boring casts are oriented with their apertures towards the posterior margin of Leptodesma sp. The worm-like casts were originally borings in the aragonitic layer of the

Newfoundland’s Mistaken Point is home to some of the world’s oldest known complex body fossils. Detailed observation of newly discovered specimens has led to a reconsideration of Hapsidophyllas flexibilis, which is diagnosed as being a complex epifaunal multifoliate rangeomorph with a basal stolon. This study has revealed that published material of H. flexibilis includes a cryptic epifaunal recliner

Remains of at least three species of large aegypiine vultures from early Palaeolithic and Iberomaurusian of Ifri n’Ammar, Morocco are the first substantial fossil record of these taxa in the Maghreb. They can be tentatively referred to the two extant species Aegypius monachus (Cinereous Vulture) and Gyps fulvus (Griffon Vulture), and to the extinct Gyps melitensis. Few fragments of remarkably large

A river otter hemimandible has been rediscovered during the revision of the historical collections of G.A. Blanc from Grotta Romanelli, complementing the ongoing multidisciplinary research fieldwork on the site. The specimen, recovered from the level G (“terre rosse”; early Late Pleistocene or late Middle Pleistocene), is here assigned to Lutra lutra. Indeed, morphological and morphometric comparisons

A new cornuproetine trilobite with nine thorax segments from upper Emsian strata in the NE Draa Valley (southern Morocco) is described as Timsaloproetus alissae sp. nov. Morphological evidence is reviewed to suggest a semi-endobenthic life mode, possibly with a carnivorous feeding habit.

Osteoderms of Hoplophorus euphractus are historically mistaken by other glyptodonts osteoderms, such as Glyptodon, Glyptotherium and Neosclerocalyptus, which has created confusion regarding the proper identification of the remains. Recent revisions have granted a better taxonomic understanding of these taxa. In this work, we present a morphological description of a carapace fragment with four articulated

The Tielugou section, Shennongjia Anticline, Hubei Province (China) includes a relatively complete succession of Hirnantian (latest Ordovician) to basal Telychian (Llandovery, early Silurian) graptolite faunas. The section shows the first record of a fauna of the late Aeronian Stimulograptus halli Biozone from South China, even though the index species was not reported. The Stimulograptus sedgwickii

Here we report on four highly peculiar skate teeth from Arcille and Certaldo, two Pliocene localities of Tuscany (central Italy). While being attributable to Rajiformes and somewhat reminiscent of Dipturus and Rostroraja, these specimens display an unusual multicuspid tooth design that does not match any extinct or extant skate taxon known to date. The studied teeth are thus referred to a new genus

Tynskya eocaena is an early Eocene bird with a raptor-like skull and semi-zygodactyl feet, whose description is based on a skeleton from the North American Green River Formation. In the present study, three-dimensionally preserved bones of a new species of Tynskya, T. waltonensis, are reported from the London Clay of Walton-on-the-Naze (Essex, UK). The fossils belong to a single individual and provide

Low magnification dental microwear analysis is a widespread dietary proxy for palaeoenvironmental analyses. The limitations of the method, such as observer bias or variation of microwear scars between different tooth positions, are still not quite understood. This study aims to reveal that reproducibility and variability of low magnification dental microwear is better, than it was previously thought

UV-light-induced fluorescence is widely used in the study of coal macerals and palynological samples, but to date has not been described in great detail for plant macrofossils. Here, we report the characteristics of bright UV-light-induced fluorescence of various fossil angiosperm leaf taxa from the Upper Pliocene of Willershausen, Lower Saxony, Germany. The fluorescence is exceptional, since different

The first Cambrian (Miaolingian to Furongian) rhynchonelliform brachiopods are described from the Chingiz–Tarbagatai early Palaeozoic island arc system in eastern Central Kazakhstan. The Miaolingian (Wuliuan) assemblage from the volcano-sedimentary Athei Formation includes the kutorginide Bellistrophia askarensis sp. nov. Popov and Nikitina, protorthide Psiloria karasuensis sp. nov. Popov and Nikitina

Reasonably well preserved rhinocaridid archaeostracan phyllocarids from the late Emsian Heckelmann Mill Lagerstätte in the Lahn Syncline are described and figured. For comparison, the holotype specimen of Nahecaris lata is re-figured along with a new specimen assigned here to Nahecaris cf. frankei. The Heckelmann Mill specimens clearly fit the concept of the genus Nahecaris, but differ slightly from

A conulariid preserved in three dimensions from Ordovician fluvioglacial erratics of the Northern European Lowlands (North German Plain) is described under open nomenclature. It is assigned to the genus Conularia with similarities to Baltoscandian conulariids. The lithology of the erratic boulder and fauna contained in it provide important information on the origin and transport direction of the sediment

A single terebratulide brachiopod valve found in a middle Eocene limestone deposit in the Humptulips Formation in western Washington State is the first record of a megathyridid brachiopod in a hydrocarbon seep deposit, the first fossil record of the genus Argyrotheca in western North America, and the northernmost record for Argyrotheca from the north-eastern Pacific Ocean.

Elements of the jaw apparatuses of the ammonite genus Kepplerites (Ammonoidea: Stephanoceratoidea, Kosmoceratidae, Keppleritinae) are described from two Upper Bathonian and one Lower Callovian localities of the Russian Platform. The lower jaws (aptychi), based on their size and shape can be assigned to two groups and certainly belonged to the co-occurring macroconchs K. (Kepplerites) and theirs microconchs

The Permian–Triassic mass extinction included a potentially catastrophic decline of biodiversity, but ecosystem change across this event remains poorly characterized. Here we reconstruct sedimentary factories and ecosystem change across the Permian–Triassic Critical Interval (P–TrCI) in the Xiakou area (South China). Six microfacies (MF) were classified. The succession begins with a eukaryote-controlled

The enigmatic microfossil Triskelia scotlandica from the Lower Devonian Rhynie chert is an acritarch-like, usually spheroidal to ovoid vesicle with a surface ornamentation comprised of isolated triradiate and meandering, high membranous ridges. The form has been formally described based on dispersed specimens preserved inside the remains of a land plant axis, and interpreted as the resting stage of

Halitherium antillense Matthew, 1916 was established on a left mandibular fragment and two vertebrae from late Oligocene deposits of Puerto Rico. This species was only provisionally referred to the genus Halitherium and its taxonomic status and systematic affinities remained doubtful. In the course of the revision of the Halitherium-species complex and the meanwhile invalid generic name “Halitherium”

An unusual dicynodont specimen from the historical collection of von Huene and Stahlecker (1928/1929) is described from the Middle Triassic Dinodontosaurus Assemblage Zone of the Santa Maria Formation of Chiniquá, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Hitherto only two dicynodont species, the stahleckeriid Stahleckeria potens and the more basal kannemeyeriiform Dinodontosaurus turpior, were recorded from this

We present a list of Ostracoda (Crustacea) from stratigraphic sections of Mio–Pleistocene lacustrine deposits from Zhada Basin, western Tibetan Plateau. In this area, almost no taxonomical studies were carried out so far, and, aiming to a future use of ostracods as palaeoenvironmental proxy for this sector of the Tibetan Plateau, a documentation of several species was performed. The taxa Leucocytherella

A new eurypterid specimen from the Early Devonian of Willwerath is described. The character combination seen in this fossil suggests that it is probably an adelophthalmoid eurypterid morphologically not unlike the co-occurring Parahughmilleria. However, it differs in many respects and a new genus and species, Pruemopterus salgadoi gen. et sp. nov., is proposed to accommodate this fossil. This finding

A large new edrioasteroid genus from the Seifen Formation (Lower Devonian, Germany), Seifenia gen. nov., is introduced. The type species, S. ostara sp. nov., is described and figured, and its systematic position is discussed. Seifenia shows a highly derived evolutionary position in comparison with other Lower Devonian genera. With a diameter up to 57 mm, it is the largest known domal genus of the Agelacrinitidae

The remarkable holometabolan larva, Trialarva coburgensis gen. et sp. nov., is described from the Upper Triassic Hassberge Formation in Lower Franconia, southern Germany. It is the second described fossil larva of so-called “Sialidae-type” after the Middle Permian Kargalarva permosialis Prokin et al., to which it is morphologically close. The overall morphology of the new larva is best compatible with

Thalassinoides paradoxicus (Woodward, 1830) is a prevalent and frequently reported ichnotaxon, but given its early erection and subsequent revisions, it now is poorly understood and lumps together three different kinds of trace fossils having distinct characteristics. A clear definition (i.e., diagnosis) of each individual component is crucial for ichnotaxonomic stability and the application of these

Elasmobranch remains are quite common in Miocene deposits and were the subject of numerous studies since the middle of the nineteenth century. Nevertheless, the taxonomic diversity of the Marine Molasse sharks, rays and skates is still largely unknown. Here, we describe 37 taxa from the lower Miocene of the Molasse Basin: 21 taxa could be identified at species level, whereas 15 taxa could only be assigned

Many aspects of the paleobiology and biomineralization of belemnites, the most common fossil coleoid cephalopods of the Mesozoic, are still unclear. Here, we describe a pearl from an Early Cretaceous belemnite rostrum (Duvalia emerici) using high-resolution micro-CT imaging. After initial formation of a free pearl within the soft tissue, the pearl was fused to the rostrum and later overgrown by rostrum

This paper deals with new finds from the Upper Paleozoic Santa Elena Formation that crops out to the east of Uspallata, western Argentina. Current studies reveal the existence in these rocks of a faunal assemblage characterized by the bivalve Myonia aparicioi sp. nov, fossil guide of a new biozone. This fauna is regarded as the youngest of the Pennsylvanian, age confirmed by its relationships with

The middle Cambrian (Miaolingian Series; Wuliuan Stage) Spence Shale of Utah and Idaho preserves a diverse assemblage of biomineralized and soft-bodied taxa. Among the rarest specimens of this fauna are palaeoscolecid worms. Until recently, only one specimen was known from the Spence Shale, the holotype specimen of Palaeoscolex ratcliffei Robison, 1969, later included in the genus Wronascolex. This

The new ellipsocephaloid trilobite species Kingaspidoides spinirecurvatus has a spectacular morphology because of a unique set of two long and anteriorly recurved spines on the occipital ring and the axial ring of thoracic segment 8. Together with the long genal spines this whimsical dorsally directed spine arrangement is thought to act as a non-standard protective device against predators. This is

The information of diet, habitat and geographic location of animals obtained from fossil deposits is important to understand the environmental changes of a place that occurred through time. Most of the paleoecological research in Mexico is centered on large mammal taxa. A minimal research effort is allocated to small vertebrates which due to their relative brief longevity and small territories, provide

A few lower cheek teeth of rhinocerotid, probably belonging to the same individual, from the upper Pliocene Tsubusagawa Formation in Ajimu, Oita Prefecture, southwestern Japan, are described. Morphologically, the Ajimu specimen is obviously distinguished from the subtribe Teleoceratina (Brachypotherium), Elasmotheriina (Elasmotherium) and a species of subtribe Rhinocerotina, Coelodonta, but it is similar

A new collection provided some brachiopods assigned to Lacunosella hoheneggeri, Pygope diphya and P. janitor from the lower Tithonian (Micracanthoceras ponti Zone) and lower Berriasian (Calpionella Zone), and from the limestone succession at Zengővárkony, Mecsek Mountains, Hungary. This is the first taxonomic description and photographic documentation of these fossils. We provide reliable documentation

This paper critically reviews the Lopingian (Late Permian) to Early Triassic palaeofloral successions on both the South and North China blocks. From the Late Cisuralian (Early Permian) to the middle of the Lopingian, North and South China, both located in the equatorial domain, sheltered a homogeneous ‘Cathaysian Palaeoflora’ resulting from a Cisuralian southern extension and diversification from the

Eight species in six genera of cheilostome bryozoans are described from an early Maastrichtian outcrop located in the Saratov Region, middle Volga River region, southern Russia. The studied bryozoan assemblage includes a new species, Cheethamia volgaensis sp. nov., as well as Dionella sp., Cheethamia aktolagayensis Koromyslova et al., Rhagasostoma cf. saltans (Brydone), and Luganella goldfussi (von

Swimming tetrapods may leave their traces under water if their digits or limbs stir the bottom sediment. Resulting trace fossils are evidence of a swim behavior. Tetrapods swim techniques depend on the functional morphology of the swimmers. Examination of swim trace fossils may reveal the swim techniques employed and swimmers’ functional morphologies behind the behaviors. The present paper analyzes

The recent demonstrations that widespread mid-Palaeozoic Prototaxites and other nematophytes had fungal affinities indicate that terrestrial fungi were important elements in carbon cycling in the Early Devonian. Here, we provide evidence for their participation in the recycling of nutrients by early terrestrial invertebrates. Evidence is in the form of coprolites, both those associated with nematophytes