Precambrian phosphatized embryos and larvae from the Doushantuo Formation and their affinities, Guizhou （SW China）

Weng＇an phosphates of the Precambrian Doushantuo Formation, Guizhou （southwestern China） preserve a large number of exquisite biological structures, which are mostly micro-spherical and represent seaweeds, acritarchs and developing eggs related to various groups of metazoans. Here is a report of a variety of developing eggs and larvae, which are most probably of Cnidarian affinity. The eggs examined in the study are composed of early cleavage embryos and two-layered gastrulae. The early cleavage embryos are radial and total cleavage with equal-size blastomeres. The gastrulae mostly bear a large archenteron, which is filled with yolk-degrading organic matter. Ovoid to fusiform planula-like larvae identified in thin sections under light microscope are mostly mouthless and their gastrovascular cavity is filled with possible yolk-degrading organic matter. They are likely representatives of non-feeding larva. The uncommon planula-like structures are hollow, with each having a mouth-like structure on its narrow end. We interpret them as feeding larva. Study of these embryos with possible Cnidarian affinities shed new insight on the origin of metazoans.     

A detailed Lower Triassic conodont biostratigraphy and its implications for the GSSP candidate of the Induan–Olenekian boundary in Chaohu, Anhui Province

Chaohu is located in a deep part of carbonate ramp on the Lower Yangtze Block, which belonged to the low-latitude eastern Tethyan archipelago during the Early Triassic. Fossils were very rich in the Lower Triassic of Chaohu. Bivalves, ammonoids, conodonts were very common throughout the Lower Triassic, while fish fossils were generally rich in some beds of the upper part. It is one of the most typical sections for the Early Triassic chronostratigraphy in the world. Although various fossils had been studied in the 1980s and 1990s, recent studies based upon new and more detailed collections from the Lower Triassic of Chaohu showed that the conodont zonation needs revision. We collected Lower Triassic conodont fossils from continuous sections of the West Pingdingshan, North Pingdingshan and South Majiashan, Chaohu, Anhui Province, and updated zonations were made for each section. Eight conodont zones have been distinguished. They are, in ascending order, Hindeodus typicalis zone, Neogondolella krystyni zone, Neospathodus kummeli zone, Neospathodus dieneri zone, Neospathodus waageni zone, Neospathodus pingdingshanensis zone, Neospathodus homeri zone, and Neospathodus anhuinensis zone. The first occurrence of Neospathodus waageni eowaageni of the N. w. eowaageni subzone （i.e. the base of the N. waageni zone） is suggested as the marker to define the Induan-Olenekian boundary.     

Original component of grain size index in core sediment from southwestern slope of the South China Sea and its paleoenvironmental implication

Traditional grain size analysis was basically used to discriminate sediment type based on its particle dimension for sedimentary naming[1,2] and to analyze the dynamic feature of transport medium, including water current and wind strength[3―5]. Recently, some patency advances havebeen made by using different methods to separate different grain sizes in various original composition from sediments for searching a new way of paleoenvironmental study[6―8]. Grain size analysis is even playing an …     

New fossil elaterids （Insect： Coleoptera： Polyphaga： Elateridae） from the Middle Jurassic of Inner Mongolia, China

A new genus with a new species of fossil elaterid, Paraprotagrypnus superbus gen. et sp. nov., from the Middle Jurassic Jiulongshan Formation in Daohugou Village (N41°18.979′, E119°14.318′), Shantou Township, Ningcheng County, Inner Mongolia, China is described and illustrated. The genus Paraprotagrypnus belongs to the family of Elateridae, subfamily of Protagrypninae and tribe of Protagrypnini. Some primitive characters of the new genus and new species shed light on the ages between the Jiulongshan Formation in Inner Mongolia and the Yixian Formation in the western Liaoning Province of China. The habitat of the new species is briefly discussed.     

New dragonflies （Insecta： Odonata： Gomphaeschnidae） from the Yixian Formation in Inner Mongolia,China

Two fossil dragonflies from the Upper Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation in Liutiaogou Village, Ningcheng County, Inner Mongolia, China are described and illustrated. They are assigned to two new genera and species, i.e., Sophoaeschna frigida gen. et sp. nov. and Falsisophoaeschna generalis gen. et sp. nov. within the family Gomphaeschnidae Tillyard ＆ Fraser, 1940. This is the first report of Odonata from Yixian Formation in Inner Mongolia and the second record of fossil Gomphaeschnidae from China.     

Microbial control of diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella L. （Lepidoptera： Yponomeutidae） using bacteria （Xenorhabdus nematophila） and its metabolites from the entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema carpocapsae

Cells and cell-free solutions of the culture filtrate of the bacterial symbiont, Xenorhabdus nematophila taken from the entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema carpocapsae in aqueous broth suspensions were lethal to larvae of the diamondback moth Plutella xylostella. Their application on leaves of Chinese cabbage indicated that the cells can penetrate into the insects in the absence of the nematode vector. Cell-free solutions containing metabolites were also proved as effective as bacterial cells suspension. The application of aqueous suspensions of cells of X.nematophila or solutions containing its toxic metabolites to the leaves represents a possible new strategy for controlling insect pests on foliage.     

A new fossil genus of Mesosciophilidae （Diptera, Nematocera） with two new species from the Middle Jurassic of Inner Mongolia, China

A new genus within the family Mesosciophilidae,Jurasciophila gen.nov.,with two new species,J.curvula gen.et sp.nov.and J.lepida gen.et sp.nov.,are described and illustrated.They are established based on fossil specimens with bodies and complete wings.All of them were collected from the late Middle Jurassic Jiulongshan Formation of Daohugou in southeastern Inner Mongolia,China.Comparing with two known genera,Mesosciophilina (Kovalev,1985) and Mesosciophilopsis (Blagoderov,1994),the new genus has transitional characters.The distribution pattern of Mesosciophilidae is briefly discussed.     

A new section of Kaili Formation （Cambrian） and a biostratigraphic study of the boundary interval across the undefined Cambrian Series 2 and Series 3 at Jianshan,Jianhe County,China with a discussion of global correlation based on the first appearance datum of Oryctocephalus indicus （Reed, 1910）

A trilobite biostratigraphic study of a new section of the Kaili Formation at Jianshan, Chuandong Village, Jianhe County, Guizhou is reported. Additional occurrences of key species associated with the Ovatoryctocara granulata-Bathynotus holopygus Zone and the overlying Oryctocephalus indicus Zone that were originally defined from the trilobite assemblages at the WuliuZengjiayan section of the Kaili are reported from this new section. The first appearance datum （FAD） of Oryctocephalus indicus occurs at the 44.52 m above the base of the unit. Based on study of abundant specimens （n = 800） from the Kaili Formation, we argue that Oryctocephalus indicus is a widespread taxon with a global distribution. O. reticulatus （Lermontova, 1940） from the middle part of the Kounamkites Zone of the Amganian Stage in the Molodo River region of Siberia and O. americanus （Sundberg and McCollum, 2003） from Nevada, North America are similar to representatives of O. indicus which occur in the O. indicus Zone of the Kaili Formation. O. reticulatus and O. americanus are here synonymized with O. indicus （Reed, 1910）. This study strengthens the Wuliu-Zengjiayan section of the Kaili Formation as a candidate section for a Global Stratotype for the base of the unnamed Cambrian Series 3.     

盘县动物群研究进展

盘县动物群是以保存完整、精美、属种丰富的海生爬行动物化石为特色,伴生海生无脊椎动物化石的一套完整的珍稀古生物群落。盘县动物群产于中三叠统关岭组上段,属于牙形石Nicoraella kockeli带,时代为中三叠世安尼期的Pelsonian亚期,早于著名的意大利—瑞士交界处Monte San Giorgio地区的Grenzbitumenzone动物群（安尼阶—拉丁阶界线附近）,是目前世界上中三叠世最老的海生爬行类动物群。它的发现和研究填补了海生爬行动物演化的早期链条,增强了人们对海生爬行动物各类群的起源、演化、系统发育、古生物地理以及动物群特异埋藏理论的认识。近期研究表明,盘县动物群中的海生爬行动物：（1） 具有较高的分异度,已报道5属5种,拥有了目前发现的最古老的混鱼龙科分子、鸥龙属分子、较老的幻龙属分子和真正适应水生生活的原龙类以及诸多未描述的类群;（2） 动物群多由适应近岸浅水环境的类群组成,在面貌上呈现出强烈的西特提斯生物亲近性;（3） 动物群属特异埋藏,赋存层分布有4～5层凝灰岩,化学特征分析显示存在7次火山间歇性喷发活动,火山活动导致的生态环境急剧恶化可能是动物群集群绝灭的直接诱因。     

贵州中三叠世盘县动物群比耶鱼属未定种的发现及其意义

记述采集自贵州省盘县中三叠统安尼阶关岭组上段盘县动物群的一件仅残存尾部的比耶鱼标本。这是比耶鱼在该动物群的首次报道, 也是目前比耶鱼在中国地质时代最早的化石记录。依据标本个体大、仅尾上叶及尾柄后缘背侧覆盖有狭长条状且缺失硬鳞质的鳞片、尾部发育单个愈合的神经棘和脉棘、尾鳍背缘棘鳞发育等特征, 将其归入比耶鱼属。同时, 该标本以个体更大(推测身长超过2 m)、尾下骨更多(9 根)、尾下叶棘鳞发育以及上、下叶外缘交角超过 70°等特征, 不同于已报道的其他比耶鱼物种。但是, 考虑到标本信息有限, 暂定为比耶鱼未定种Birgeria sp.。比耶鱼是仅见于三叠纪海洋中的全球性分布的大型肉食鱼类, 其在盘县动物群中的首次发现丰富了该动物群鱼类多样性, 增加了其群落生态结构的复杂性。基于当前化石发现的情况, 认为比耶鱼在东特提斯生物区(中国)较西特提斯生物区的出现可能更晚, 前者最早的化石记录见于中三叠世安尼期, 而后者最早见于早三叠世史密斯亚期。     

贵州中三叠世盘县动物群产出地层的稀土元素特征及其地质意义

对产出盘县动物群化石的贵州羊件剖面岩石样品中稀土元素含量(质量分数)变化规律进行了研究,结果表明：剖面大部分沉积时间是处于弱还原的沉积环境;样品中稀土元素含量的异常波动主要受当时的火山作用影响,其沉积物物源有2大类4亚类,分别来自拉斑玄武岩和沉积岩;沉积岩样品的轻稀土、中稀土、重稀土配分极为相似,表现为稳定的演化特征,指示出当时剖面所处位置的构造环境较为稳定。     

贵州省盘县中三叠世羊圈幻龙新材料的研究

详细描述产自贵州省盘县新民乡羊圈村中三叠统关岭组上段的一件近于完整的羊圈幻龙新标本,并补充完善该种头后骨骼学信息。厘定后的羊圈幻龙的鉴定特征为:4个前颌骨獠齿后面跟着一个小的前颌骨齿;5~6个小的上颌骨齿后面跟着一对上颌骨獠齿;腕骨4块;间锁骨没有后突;荐椎4块;存在多指(趾)式。新标本的头后骨骼首次呈现一些原认为仅出现在幻龙属姊妹群——鸥龙属的一些特征,如间锁骨没有后突,腕骨4块,荐椎4块及存在多指(趾)式。这些特征的发现为深入认识和区分幻龙属和鸥龙属之间性状的异同提供了重要的信息。另外,新标本与羊圈幻龙模式标本,以及相同地点、相同地层层位产出的小吻幻龙模式标本IVPP V 14294在体型、齿式和头骨骨骼模式等高度一致,且与幻龙属其他种明显不同,因此认为它们系同物异名。鉴于N.rostellatus后出,应予弃用。     

贵州兴义中三叠世黔鱼龙属(爬行纲: 鱼龙目)一新种

A new species of Qianichthyosaurus Li, 1999 from the Zhuganpo Member of the Falang Formation (Ladinian, Middle Triassic), Wusha Town, Xingyi City of Guizhou is described here, namely Qianichthyosaurus xingyiensis sp. nov. The recognition of the new species revises the diagnosis of the genus: tooth size relative to the skull width slightly below 0.1; ulna peripheral “shaft” notched or largely reduced; hindlimb nearly equal or longer than forelimb; tibia peripheral “shaft” notched or largely reduced. Qianichthyosaurus xingyiensis sp. nov. differs from the type species in having relatively longer snout (snout length/skull length over 60%); humerus radial facet being prominently larger than ulnar facet; unenclosed obturator foramen on pubis; fibula posterior process on the posterior margin and the ischium sub-triangular lacking shaft. The new species is stratigraphically older than Q. zhoui, the specimens of which were exclusively known from the Wayao Member of the Falang Formation (Carnian, Late Triassic). Along with askeptosaurid thalattosaur Anshunsaurus and shastasaurid ichthyosaur Guizhouich- thyosaurus, the occurrence of Q. xingyiensis sp. nov. in Xingyi Fauna suggests a closer relationship between Xingyi Fauna (late Ladinian, Middle Triassic) and Guanling Biota (Carnian, Late Triassic).     

贵州中南部中三叠世群落古生态研究

文章从群落古生态学的角度,结合岩相学等方面的研究,详细地探讨了贵州中南部中三叠世时的4个生物相、13个群落的特征及其生境,指定了其地理分布范围和生存时限,建立了生物和沉积相模式。认为底栖群落的更替主要由外因——外界环境的变迁引起,而浮游群落的更替则主要由内因——生物自身的进化引起。     

贵州兴义中三叠世胡氏贵州龙形态特征及生殖方式初探

通过对两件胡氏贵州龙标本进行详细的形态学描述和解剖学对比, 确认标本中所有个体均具有颞孔小、眼孔大、肋骨粗肿、尺骨异常宽阔等典型特征, 并对胡氏贵州龙的形态特征进行了补充。通过骨块测量数据, 可鉴定出3个成年个体的性别和1个幼体的个体发育阶段。结合古地理和胚胎保存信息, 认为胡氏贵州龙的生殖方式可能是胎生, 但尚不能完全排除卵胎生的可能性。     

贵州三叠纪化石群古地理和古生态全球对比分析与世界遗产价值

在世界范围内,\"贵州三叠纪化石群\"是为数不多的三叠纪化石群产地之一。该生物群是海生爬行动物类、海百合类、脊椎动物类、无脊椎动物类、鱼类、植物类等为一体的生物群,世界罕见。为探究该化石群具有的潜在遗产价值,以对比的思想为指导,从化石群的古地理与古生态环境等几个方面为切入点,采用对比分析的方法,与世界范围内有关三叠纪生物群的世界遗产地或重要的、具有可比性的三叠纪生物群进行对比,探究其潜在的世界遗产价值和全球唯一性。结果表明:该地区在古地理上位于特提斯洋的东段,属于西特提斯古地理构架与东太平洋古地理构架的过渡地区,具有特殊性。同时,记录了三叠纪安尼期—卡尼期的连续完整的地质演化史与生物演化过程,代表着中生代古生物演化的重要阶段,在世界自然遗产提名中具有突出普遍价值。