The first Sinomastodon (Gomphotheriidae, Proboscidea) skull from the Quaternary in China

The first Sinomastodon(Gomphotheriidae,Proboscidea) skull of the Early Pleistocene,collected from the Renzidong Cave deposits in Anhui Province,Eastern China,is described here as S.jiangnanensis sp.nov.As the only brevirostrine trilophodont gomphotheriid known from the Old World,Sinomastodon was mainly indigenous to China from the Early Pliocene to the Pleistocene.Compared with a few single Pleistocene teeth previously found in China,S.jiangnanensis sp.nov.is represented by a relatively complete skull,mandible and dentition,which is the first discovery of a Quaternary Sinomastodon skull from China.With a brevirostrine,elephant-like skull,no lower tusks,and simple bunodont and trilophodont intermediate molars,the new species is morphologically distinct from other gomphotheres and should belong to the genus Sinomastodon.The new species is more progressive than S.hanjiangensis and the Pliocene type species S.intermedius in its skull and mandible morphology,but is evidently more primitive than the Pleistocene S.yangziensis in its molar morphology.The faunal analysis suggests that the emergence of S.jiangnanensis sp.nov.in Jiangnan area and its southward migration may have been related to a cooling event at the beginning of the Quaternary in Eastern China.     

Mesozoic giant fleas from northeastern China (Siphonaptera): Taxonomy and implications for palaeodiversity

The recently discovered definite giant fleas from the Middle Jurassic Daohugou fauna and the Early Cretaceous Jehol fauna of northeastern China represent significant evidence for understanding ectoparasitism in the Mesozoic as well as the evolution of these giant blood feeders with their putative hosts (i.e. hairy or feathered vertebrates). On the basis of seven well-preserved specimens from Daohugou and Huangbanjigou we analyse the systematic classification of these primitive fleas, establishing two new genera and three new species as Pseudopulex wangi sp. nov., Hadropsylla sinica gen. et sp. nov., and Tyrannopsylla beipiaoensis gen. et sp. nov. All of them are assigned to the extinct siphonapteran family Pseudopulicidae, while the Early Cretaceous genus Tarwinia is transferred to Tarwiniidae fam. nov. The basal morphological disparities of Siphonaptera in the Mesozoic are evidenced by the occurrence of at least three distinct groups (pseudopulicids, tarwiniids, and saurophthirids). These disparate morphologies likely indicate adaptations to different hosts.     

A new eutriconodont mammal from the early Cretaceous Jehol Biota of Liaoning,China

A new genus and species of eutriconodont mammal, Chaoyangodens lii gen. et sp. nov., from the Dawangzhangzi bed of Yixian Formation, Lingyuan, Liaoning, is reported. The new species has a tooth formula I5-C1-P1-M3/i4-c1-p1-m4, unique among eutriconodonts in having only one premolar in lower and upper jaws, respectively, and a distinctive diastema between the canine and the premolar. Its simple incisors and reduced premolars show a mosaic combination of primitive and derived features. This new taxon adds to the diverse group of Jehol eutriconodonts. Among the known species from at least three horizons, there seems no evolutionary trend in morphology that is recognizable, except for that larger species are all from the Lujiatun bed of the Yixian Fm. A thorough and systematic analysis involving all the Jehol eutriconodonts is needed to understand their phylogenetic relationships.     

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.     

京西早白垩世丸甲（昆虫纲，鞘翅目）化石

根据北京西山下白垩统卢尚坟组的甲虫化石，建立化石丸甲二新属三新种：Ｍｅｓｏｂｙｒｒｈｕｓｔａｎａｅｇｅｎ．ｅｔｓｐ．ｎｏｖ，Ｍｅｓｏｂｙｒｒｈｕｓｐａｒｖｕｓｇｅｎ．ｅｔｎｏｖ．和Ｆａｎｇｓｈａｎｅｌａｓｔｏｌｉｄａｇｅｎ．ｅｔｓｐ．ｎｏｖ．．初步探讨了丸甲科昆虫的演化，认为丸甲科是鞘翅目中很古老的一类，和其它科关系不大，自中生代后期以来演化十分缓慢     

树蕨类化石在淮北煤田的发现及意义

淮北煤田早二叠世晚期下石盒子组树蕨类茎干印痕化石丰富，计有４０余块。分属于蹄痕茎属（Ｃａｕｌｏｐｔｅｒｉｓ）、大痕木属（Ｍｅｇａｐｈｙｔｏｎ）及皱痕茎属（ＰｔｙｃｈｏＰｔｅｒｉｓ），共３属９种；其中蹄痕茎属４种（包括２个新种，Ｃａｕｌｏｐｔｒｉｓｙａｎｇｚｈｕａｎｇｅｎｓｉｓｓｐ．ｎｏｖ．和Ｃａｕｌｏｐｔｅｒｉｓｐｓｉｌｏｃｉｃａｔｒｉｘｓｐ．ｎｏｖ．）；大痕木属在国内尚属首次报道，仅见１种；皱痕茎属在国内亦属首次发现，鉴定有４个未定种。该类化石在本区以极大的丰度和良好的保存为特征，其发育显示该区早二叠世晚期热带雨林气候盛行。其次，说明树蕨类在其晚期发育中心已由欧美区移至华夏区。此外，该类在本区的发育是华夏植物地理区分化渐趋强烈的直接证据。     

A newly discovered Gigantopithecus fauna from Sanhe Cave, Chongzuo, Guangxi, South China

Among the most important faunas in the Late Cenozoic, the Gigantopithecus faunas have received a good deal of attention. The Gigantopithecus fauna recently discovered in Sanhe Cave consists of more than 80 mammal species, including cf. Hominidae, Pongo sp., Hylobates sp., Sinomastodon yangziensis, Stegodon preorientalis, Cervavitus fenqii, Dicoryphochoerus ultimus and Sus xiaozhu. It is the southernmost Gigantopithecus fauna found so far in China. Its geological age is estimated to be Early Pleistocene based on the fauna and stratigraphic correlation. The significant increase in the estimated body sizes of Ailuropoda, Gigantopithecus and Tapirus shows that the Sanhe fauna is middle Early Pleistocene, later than those from Wushan and Liucheng (early Early Pleistocene). Paleomagnetic dating of the fossil-bearing strata in Sanhe Cave gives an age of approximately 1.2 Ma. The fauna is characterized by tropical-subtropical forest types, including Pongo sp., Tupaia sp., Ia sp., Typhlomys intermedius, etc., and it lacks Palaearctic types. It is a typical tropical forest fauna, suggesting an environment with a lush forest and a warm and humid climate. The discovery of the Sanhe Gigantopithecus fauna is significant for establishing the chronological stages of the Gigantopithecus faunas in China, and for discussing their origin, evolution and dynamics. Supported by Key Knowledge Innovation Project of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (KZCX2-YW-106) and National Basic Research Program of China (Grant No. 2006CB806400)     

中国宽蛾属分类学研究(鳞翅目:宽蛾科)

本文记述中国宽蛾属昆虫 8种 ,其中包括 3新种和 3中国新记录种 .并绘制了新种和新记录种的外生殖器特征图 ,编制了分种检索表 .模式标本保存在南开大学生物学系 .申氏宽蛾 Depressaria sheni Wang et Li新种 (图 1～ 2 )翅展 2 3.5～ 2 6 .5 mm.正模 ,河南内乡宝天曼 ,1 35 0 m,1 998- -1 3,李后魂采 .副模 :8 ,采集资料同正模 :1 ,1♀ ,黑龙江省黑河市 ,1 70 m,1 997- -2 6 ,李后魂采 .本种与 Depressaria basicostata Matsumura相似 ,但可通过下列特征区别 :雄性外生殖器抱器腹端突端部光裸 ,末端钝尖 ,阳茎中部具微刺 ;雌性外生殖器囊突呈菱形 .考宽蛾 Depressaria koskjuki Lvovsky中国新记录 (图 3～ 4 )研究标本 :1 ,1 993- -4 ,1♀ ,1 987- -9,甘肃榆中兴隆山 ,2 1 2 0 m,李后魂采 .分布 :甘肃 ,俄罗斯 .壮瓣宽蛾 Depressaria valida Wang et Li新种 (图 5～ 6 )翅展 1 3.0～ 2 3.0 mm.正模 ,陕西宁陕火地塘 ,1 6 2 0 m,1 990 - -1 6 ,李后魂采 ;副模 3♀♀ ,采集资料同正模 .本种与 Depressaria basicostalia Matsumura近似 ,但新种的雄性抱瓣宽短 ,抱器腹端突出自腹缘基部 3/5 ;雌性囊突靠近交配囊的一侧 ,形状为不规则长菱形 .新瓣宽蛾 Depressaria varivalvata Wang et Li     

陕西镇巴早寒武世的牙形刺形化石

记述了陕西镇巴小洋坝下寒武统筇竹寺阶灯影组西蒿坪段及水井沱组内的一些牙形刺形化石,共计4个属7个种,其中新属及新种各一个,我国首次发现的有2属4种。它们中的许多分子具有地理分布广泛、演化迅速的特点,已成为早寒武世洲际地层对比的重要依据。     

First discovery of Promimomys （Arvicolidae） in East Asia

Promimomys asiaticus sp. nov., the first known species of the genus in East Asia, is described. The material was collected from the early Pliocene cave deposit in Dajushah Hill, Huainan, Anhui Province. Promimomys was first found in Europe and considered as the ancestor of the family Arvicolidae. The new species from China is distinct from the type species, P. cor, and other known species in its thicker enamel of uniform thickness, simple anterior loop of ml, and blunt, salient angles. It is more primitive than other known species in Europe and North America and also more primitive than Mimomys bilikeensis of early Pliocene of Inner Mongolia. It is thus the earliest and the most primitive arvicolid rodent known. The discovery of Promimomys asiaticus sp. nov. is significant to the study on the origin and the phylogeny of arvicolids, and to the discussion of the intercontinental dispersal events of arvicolids.     

中国窃亚目一新属二新种(目:鳞科,跳科)

本文记述鳞 齿科云南无鳞齿lllepidopsocus Ⅰ.yunnanicus新属新种;跳齿科中华窃跳齿Psocathropos sinensis新种对窃跳齿属Psocathropos作了补充修订。     

A new small-bodied hominin from the Late Pleistocene of Flores, Indonesia

Currently, it is widely accepted that only one hominin genus, Homo, was present in Pleistocene Asia, represented by two species, Homo erectus and Homo sapiens. Both species are characterized by greater brain size, increased body height and smaller teeth relative to Pliocene Australopithecus in Africa. Here we report the discovery, from the Late Pleistocene of Flores, Indonesia, of an adult hominin with stature and endocranial volume approximating 1 m and 380 cm3, respectively--equal to the smallest-known australopithecines. The combination of primitive and derived features assigns this hominin to a new species, Homo floresiensis. The most likely explanation for its existence on Flores is long-term isolation, with subsequent endemic dwarfing, of an ancestral H. erectus population. Importantly, H. floresiensis shows that the genus Homo is morphologically more varied and flexible in its adaptive responses than previously thought.     

Discovery of Middle Jurassic palaeontinids from Inner Mongolia, China (Homoptera: Palaeontinidae)

A new genus and three new species of fossil Palaeontinidae， Papilioncossus conchatus sp. nov., P. giganteus sp. nov.　and P. pteroideus sp. nov.， are described. All of them were collected from Middle Jurassic Jiulongshan Formation in Inner Mongolia, China. Based on distal part of forewing broader and longer than basal and Sc usually with branches, the new taxa are attributed to Palaeontinidae of Homoptera and compared with genus Pseudocossus. A key to species of Papilioncossus gen. nov. is provided. All type specimens are deposited in the Capital Normal University.     

Discovery of Middle Jurassic palaeontinids from Inner Mongolia, China (Homoptera: Palaeontinidae)

A new genus and three new species of fossil Palaeontinidae, Papilioncossus conchatus sp. nov., P. giganteus sp. nov. and P. pteroideus sp. nov., are described. All of them were collected from Middle Jurassic Jiulongshan Formation in Inner Mongolia, China. Based on distal part of forewing broader and longer than basal and Sc usually with branches, the new taxa are attributed to Palaeontinidae of Homoptera and compared with genus Pseudocossus. A key to species of Papilioncossus gen. nov. is provided. All type specimens are deposited in the Capital Normal University.     

Discovery of fossil monocotyledons from Yixian Formation, western Liaoning

This is the first reports of a few fossil monocotyledons, includingLiaoxia chenii gen. et sp. nov. (belonging to Cyperaceae),Eragrosites changii gen. et sp. nov. (Gramineae) and a monocotyledonous leaf-shoot, obtained from the Late Jurassic Yixian Formation of western Liaoning Province, NE China. These fossils are the oldest known angiosperms in the world. It may be inferred that the earliest angiosperms probably appeared even earlier than the Late Jurassic.     

中国双距拟天牛属分类(鞘翅目,拟天牛科)

对中国双距拟天牛属Diplectrus Kirsch,1866进行了分类整理,给出已知种检索表,描述1新种:二斑双距拟天牛D.bistigmaeus sp.nov.(中国:西藏)和1中国新纪录种:栗色双距拟天牛D.casta-neicollisvihla,1999.模式标本保存于河北大学博物馆.     

New fossil ommatid (Coleoptera: Archostemata: Ommatidae) from Jehol Biota of western Liaoning, China

In this paper one new genus and one new species of fossil ommatid, Odontomma trachylaena gen. et sp. nov., is described and illustrated from the Late Jurassic or Early Cretaceous Yixian Formation of western Liaoning, China. Based on wide epipleural space of elytron with several rows of cells, the new taxa is attributed to tribe Brochocoleini of Ommatidae and compared with genus Brochocoleus. Due to the fact that most other Chinese Mesozoic ommatids are not complete, the complete preservation of the new specimens reported here enabled us to determine the characteristics of the body of these ancient ommatid. Moreover, based on the well-preserved individual of this new genus, we may suppose the affinities of the new species with extant and extinct groups.     

New discoveries from the classic Quaternary mammalian fossil area of Yanjinggou, Chongqing, and their chronological explanations

Yanjinggou in Wanzhou District of Chongqing is one of the earliest reported and most famous Quaternary mammalian fossil areas in China. The fauna from this area used to be taken as a benchmark for the biochronological comparison of Quaternary paleontology of South China, but the chronology of this fauna has many controversies for the lack of exact locational and stratigraphical records. The present article, on the basis of recent investigations and discoveries, discusses and explains the distribution and biochronology of the mammalian faunas in the Yanjinggou area. The newly discovered Dayakou fissure fauna, including Rhizomys troglodytes, Homotherium sp., Panthera pardus, Stegodon orientalis, Dicerorhinus sumatrensis, Hesperotherium sinense, Sus sp., Cervavitus fenqii, Cervus sp. and Muntiacus sp., is correlated to the middle Early Pleistocene. The presence of Early Pleistocene mammalian fauna in the Yanjinggou area is therefore confirmed. The “Wanhsien fauna” or “Yenchingkou (=Yanjinggou) fauna” as a Mid-Late Pleistocene biostratigraphical datum should be abandoned. The Dayakou fauna and the Upper Cave fauna of Pingba, both in the Yanjinggou area, are correlated to the middle Early Pleistocene and the early Middle Pleistocene in age, respectively.     

中国雏蝗属二新种记述（直翅目：网翅蝗科）

记述雏蝗属二新种,即额尔古纳雏蝗Chorthippus ergunaensis sp．nov．及宽前域雏蝗Chorthippus amplicosta sp．nov．．额尔古纳雏蝗近似于曲脉雏蝗Chorthippus flaxivanus Liu,1981及红胫雏蝗Chorthippus rufitibis Zheng,1989,其区别于二者为：1）前缘脉域宽为亚前缘脉域宽的2．5倍;2）中脉域与肘脉域等宽;3）后足胫节褐色;4）腹端部红色．宽前域雏蝗近似于黄腹雏蝗Chorthippus flavabdomen Liu,1981,主要区别为：1）雄性头侧窝长为宽的3．0倍;2）中胸腹板侧叶间中隔最狭处宽为长的2．0倍;3）前缘脉域宽为亚前缘脉域宽的3．0-4．5倍;4）中脉域为肘脉域宽的4．0—6．0倍,为前缘脉域宽的1．5倍,为径脉域宽的1．5倍;5）雌性前翅到达后足股节2／3处;6）雌性中脉域为肘脉域宽的3．0倍．模式标本保存于陕西师范大学动物研究所昆虫标本室．