Article
Entomology
Yan-Da Li, Di-Ying Huang, Chen-Yang Cai
Summary: Throscidae is a relatively small lineage in the beetle superfamily Elateroidea, with sparse fossil records in the Mesozoic. Three new species found in mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber indicate a high diversity of Throscidae during the Cretaceous period. These new findings greatly extend the Mesozoic diversity of Throscidae and suggest a high degree of morphological disparity for this family in the Cretaceous.
Article
Paleontology
Yasser Salama, Mostafa Sayed, Shaban Saber, Ibrahim Abd El-Gaied
Summary: The Eocene succession in Beni Suef-El Zaafarana District is characterized by rich planktonic foraminiferal assemblages, with three biozones identified and correlated with neighboring regions. Changes in planktonic/benthic foraminiferal ratio suggest a shallowing upward trend in paleodepth, supporting the subdivision of the Eocene succession into four depositional sequences in alignment with global sea-level changes.
PALAEONTOLOGIA ELECTRONICA
(2021)
Article
Spectroscopy
Xingping Li, Yamei Wang, Guanghai Shi, Ren Lu, Yan Li
Summary: This research investigates the changing spectral features of ageing Burmese amber and develops regression models to predict its micro-hardness. The results show an increase in the content of C-O groups (of esters) during amber ageing. The CARS-PLSR model achieved optimal results for predicting the Vickers hardness of amber samples.
SPECTROCHIMICA ACTA PART A-MOLECULAR AND BIOMOLECULAR SPECTROSCOPY
(2023)
Article
Geology
Corentin Jouault, Andre Nel
Summary: The mid-Cretaceous amber from Kachin State of Myanmar reveals a new genus and species of aulacid wasps, highlighting the underestimated diversity of this group in the Burmese AlbianeCenomanian amber. The newly discovered genus shares characteristics with two known tribes, challenging its clear placement and suggesting the need for further research to determine its position or potentially establish a new tribe. This fossil also shows similarities in wing venation with an extant genus, Aulacus Jurine, 1807.
CRETACEOUS RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Kun Zhang, Graham A. Shields
Summary: This study presents a comprehensive compilation of Ce anomaly data from more than 6000 samples, including carbonates, iron formations, phosphorites, and cherts. The results suggest that the Ce anomalies can provide valuable insights into oxygen levels in ancient oceans. The data reveals a gradual increase in oxygenation during the early Paleoproterozoic, with fluctuations during the early Ediacaran-Cambrian transition, and expanded ocean anoxia in the early Paleozoic.
EARTH-SCIENCE REVIEWS
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Noureddine Boualem, Emad Nagm, Miloud Benhamou, Aziz Abu Shama
Summary: This study presents the first record of two late Albian ammonites, Elobiceras (Elobiceras) sp. and Pervinquieria (Pervinquieria) pricei (Spath), from northwest Algeria. These ammonites were collected from the Mcharref Formation, which is interpreted as a lagoonal carbonate ramp located south of Tiaret city based on facies analysis. The recognition of the well-known Pervinquieria (Pervinquieria) pricei biozone from the study area significantly improves the age assignment for the studied sections. The identified biozone shows a strong correlation with Tethyan, European, American, and Asian biozones, indicating a cosmopolitan distribution during the late Albian time.
JOURNAL OF AFRICAN EARTH SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Geology
Zhipeng Zhao, Chungkun Shih, Taiping Gao, Dong Ren
Summary: Termites originated in the Late Jurassic and underwent an evolutionary radiation in the Early Cretaceous, establishing delicate microecosystems in the surrounding environments. Cretaceous amber preserves clues of their ecological history, providing insights into the ecosystems of this geological age. Research on fossil termites in the last two decades has revealed diverse taxa, early eusociality, feeding habits, and termitophiles, demonstrating the complex interactions within their nests and associated communities.
CRETACEOUS RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Zoology
Manfred R. Ulitzka
Summary: In this study, 11 new species and four new genera of the Rohrthripidae, a family of fossil thrips, are described from Burmese Cenomanian amber. Additionally, a species from Spanish Cretaceous amber is reinterpreted as male and placed into the Rohrthripidae. The study also provides a tighter definition and more detailed description of important character states for the Rohrthripidae.
Article
Geology
Yali Yu, Richard A. B. Leschen, Adam Slipinski, Dong Ren, Shuo Wang, Hong Pang
Summary: This study describes and illustrates two new genera and two new species of Mesozoic lophocaterids from the mid-Cretaceous amber of northern Myanmar. The new taxa expand the diversity of lophocaterids and provide additional information for calibrating phylogenetic trees. Additionally, it suggests maintaining certain genera in separate families for more accurate classification.
CRETACEOUS RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Hirdesh Kumar, John R. Jimah, Santosh A. Misal, Nichole D. Salinas, Michal Fried, Paul H. Schlesinger, Niraj H. Tolia
Summary: The cell-traversal protein CelTOS plays a critical role in apicomplexan parasites and malaria vaccine development. Through studying different protein regions, researchers have identified the mechanism of pore formation and critical regions in CelTOS. These findings are important for understanding the escape mechanism of malaria and other apicomplexan parasites, as well as studying the function of other pore-forming proteins.
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Geology
Shahin Abd-Elhameed, Abdel Aziz Mahmoud, Yasser Salama
Summary: This study investigates two stratigraphic sections in the Galala Plateaus of the north Eastern Desert, Egypt, and records a diverse larger benthic foraminiferal assemblage from the upper Paleocene-lower Eocene Southern Galala Formation. Analysis identifies 28 larger foraminiferal species belonging to 13 genera, and compares their stratigraphic range with established Tethyan zonations. The study designates nine shallow benthic zones and identifies seven microfacies types, suggesting restricted tidal flat inner ramp to open-marine middle ramp environments for deposition.
CARBONATES AND EVAPORITES
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Joachim T. Haug, Patrick Muller, Carolin Haug
Summary: This passage discusses the presence of aquatic larvae in three early branches of Pterygota and the impact of new fossil findings on this theory. The discovery of a new dragonfly-type larva supports the common origin of these larvae, helping to resolve the controversy surrounding this issue.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Daniel Rincon-Martinez, Peter O. Baumgartner, Maria Isabel Sandoval, Sandra M. Restrepo-Acevedo, Claudia Baumgartner-Mora
Summary: This study reports the first inventory of late Cretaceous and early Paleocene radiolarians in the Cansona and San Cayetano formations in northwestern Colombia, providing important insights into the geological evolution of the Cretaceous proto-Caribbean margin.
JOURNAL OF SOUTH AMERICAN EARTH SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Geography, Physical
Zhu-Ding Qiu, Lu Li
Summary: This paper presents the Miocene squirrels of the Linxia Basin in Gansu Province, which reflects a relatively dry climate and open shrub-steppe environment. The analysis suggests that northern China represents a single biotic province with uniform paleoenvironment, while southern China has a humid forest biotope. The differences in squirrel distribution indicate distinct provinciality and latitudinal ecological variation in China during the Miocene.
PALAEOGEOGRAPHY PALAEOCLIMATOLOGY PALAEOECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Geology
Corentin Jouault, Vincent Perrichot, Andre Nel
Summary: Examination of Burmese ambers reveals two new genera and species of tLancepyrinae, providing useful clues to understand the paleobiogeographic evolution of the group and suggesting a major paleobiogeographic scenario related to the separation of an island from Gondwana during the Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous.
CRETACEOUS RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
William Ausich, Mariusz A. Salamon, Bartosz J. Plachno, Tomasz Brachaniec, Wojciech Krawczynski, Andrzej Boczarowski, Karolina Paszcza, Magdalena Lukowiak, Przemyslaw Gorzelak
Summary: This paper describes the discovery of aboral cups and partial crowns of crinoids from the Emsian strata in the Holy Cross Mountains of Poland. These crinoid taxa are the first to be described from Polish strata.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sze Ling Ho, Jia-Kang Wang, Yu-Jou Lin, Ching-Ren Lin, Chen-Wei Lee, Chia-Hsin Hsu, Lo-Yu Chang, To-Hsiang Wu, Chien-Chia Tseng, Hsiao-Jou Wu, Cedric M. John, Tatsuo Oji, Tsung-Kwei Liu, Wen-Shan Chen, Peter Li, Jiann-Neng Fang, Jih-Pai Lin
Summary: Researchers reconstructed past environmental and oceanic conditions off northwest Taiwan by analyzing fossils and found that Scaphechinus mirabilis thrived during the Pleistocene-Holocene transition but likely went extinct due to a drastic temperature change.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Paleontology
Abha Singh, Sreepat Jain, Mohamed Benzaggagh, Guenter Schweigert, Mariusz A. Salamon, Mahider Mulugeta
Summary: The Jurassic rocks in the Blue Nile Basin of Ethiopia have been dated as early Callovian to late Tithonian based on the occurrence of calcareous nannofossils. The top part of the Antalo Limestone Formation (ALF) was sampled at the Kurar section and found to be of late Tithonian age. This age was supported by the presence of calpionellids and ammonites.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
William J. Foster, Amanda Godbold, Arnaud Brayard, Anja B. Frank, Stephen E. Grasby, Richard J. Twitchett, Tatsuo Oji
Summary: This study presents a paleoecological analysis of the Hiraiso Formation in northeast Japan, revealing the temporal and spatial variations of diversity, ecological structure, and taxonomic composition in the Early Triassic marine ecosystems. The study suggests that the benthic fauna in the Hiraiso Formation represents an advanced stage of ecological recovery, but not full recovery. The distribution of the benthic fauna supports the habitable zone hypothesis and is consistent with oxygen gradients in modern environments.
Article
Paleontology
Mohamed Benzaggagh, Hanane Khaffou, Mohamed El Ouali, Touria Hssaida, Mariusz A. Salamon, Badre Essafraoui
Summary: This study describes the Toarcian strata in the Amellago area of the central High Atlas, including the Tagoudite and Agoudim formations. Ammonites from the Polymorphum Zone of the Tagoudite Formation, such as Canavaria cf. rosenbergi, C. aff. zancleana, Dactylioceras (Eodactylites) mirabile, D. (E.) aff. Meneghini, Neolioceratoides cf. hoffmanni, and Praepolyplectus are described for the first time. The presence of similar ammonite assemblages in other Tethyan basins and the Northwest European Subboreal Realm suggests marine connections between the Moroccan Jurassic basins and the central Atlantic trough. The ammonite assemblages in the overlying Agoudim Formation from the Levisoni and Bifrons zones are also discussed, along with the potential causes for four significant changes in the early-middle Toarcian ammonite fauna.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Mariusz A. Salamon, Sreepat Jain, Marcin Krajewski, Piotr Duda, Bruno Ferr, Mohamed Benzaggagh, Bartosz J. Plachno
Summary: Sheltered preservation is a known phenomenon where organisms are trapped within cephalopod shells, providing important paleontological data. This study reports the discovery of the first crinoid preserved inside an early Albian ammonite in Madagascar. The crinoid belongs to the phyllocrinid family and represents the first finding of this family from Africa and the second from the southern margin of the Tethys. This finding highlights the potential use of ammonite shells for studying echinoderms.
JOURNAL OF PALAEOGEOGRAPHY-ENGLISH
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Abdelmoumen Garah, Marcin Krajewski, Mariusz Salamon, Abdia Sebbane, Bruno Ferre, Madani Benyoucef
Summary: Field description and laboratory analysis were used to establish the lithostratigraphic and biostratigraphic framework for the 'mid'-Cretaceous deposits in the southern part of the Aures Range. The research provided valuable insights for regional correlations and paleoenvironmental reconstruction along the South Tethysian margin. The study identified different formations and faunal zones, as well as analyzed microfacies types to reconstruct marine settings and correlate with adjacent areas.
JOURNAL OF AFRICAN EARTH SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biology
Przemyslaw Gorzelak, Dorota Kolbuk, Jaroslaw Stolarski, Pawel Bacal, Bartlomiej Januszewicz, Piotr Duda, Dorota Srodek, Tomasz Brachaniec, Mariusz A. Salamon
Summary: Due to their exceptional physical properties, cellular structures have various applications in different disciplines. Although triply periodic minimal surfaces (TPMS) are rarely found in living organisms, a similar microstructure has been discovered in a 385 million-year-old crinoid. This discovery reveals the evolutionary optimization process of echinoderms in forming a lightweight, stiff, and damage-tolerant skeleton, which can inspire the development of biomimetic materials.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biology
Sreepat Jain, Mariusz A. Salamon
Summary: The first record of Erymnocerites Jeannet genus from Poland is presented. A single specimen assigned to Erymnocerites argoviensis Jeannet was found in the Callovian Lamberti Zone at the Ogrodzieniec quarry in southern Poland. It was found in association with upper Callovian forms of other fossils. The specimen differs from the middle Callovian Coronatum Zone E. argoviensis but is referred to as the same species based on septal suture line and ribbing pattern.
HISTORICAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Hsin Lee, Kwen-Shen Lee, Chia-Hsin Hsu, Chen-Wei Lee, Ching-En Li, Jia-Kang Wang, Chien-Chia Tseng, Wei-Jen Chen, Ching-Chang Horng, Colby T. Ford, Andreas Kroh, Omri Bronstein, Hayate Tanaka, Tatsuo Oji, Jih-Pai Lin, Daniel Janies
Summary: The classification of the Class Echinoidea is being revised based on emerging molecular phylogenetic evidence, particularly concerning the sister-group relationships within the superorder Luminacea. The placement of many families remains unresolved due to incongruent evidence from different data sources. This study investigates the phylogenetic relationships of 25 taxa, proposing three new superfamilies and revealing the importance of the tropical western Pacific and eastern Indian Oceans in the early diversification of sand dollars. The study also highlights the role of Taiwan fauna in understanding the historical migration and dispersal events in the evolutionary history of Luminacea.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Paleontology
Mohamed Benzaggagh, Mariusz A. Salamon, Hanane Khaffou, Touria Hssaida, Mohamed El Ouali, Badre Essafraoui
Summary: The Ait Athmane section in the eastern part of the central High Atlas consists of Toarcian series of silty marl and silty marly limestone. The section is rich in brachiopods, with six new taxa discovered.
ANNALES DE PALEONTOLOGIE
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Dawid Surmik, Justyna Slowiak-Morkovina, Tomasz Szczygielski, Maciej Kamaszewski, Sudipta Kalita, Elzbieta M. Teschner, Dawid Drozdz, Piotr Duda, Bruce M. Rothschild, Dorota Konietzko-Meier
Summary: This study documents the first confirmed record of primary malignant bone tumor in a non-amniotic Mesozoic animal. The study reveals the growth dynamics and pathophysiological aspects of the tumor formation through data collected from gross anatomy, histology, and microstructure of the affected bone. The results are consistent with the Tissue Organization Field Theory of tumorigenesis.
BMC ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Paleontology
Mohamed Benzaggagh, Hanane Khaffou, Mariusz A. Salamon, Touria Hssaida, Mohamed El Ouali, Badre Essafraoui
Summary: This study provides important information about the Toarcian Stage in the central High Atlas through the analysis and description of ammonite assemblages.
ANNALES DE PALEONTOLOGIE
(2022)
Article
Paleontology
Sreepat Jain, Mariusz A. Salamon, Tomasz Brachaniec
Summary: In this study, a late Jurassic aptychus called Lamellaptychus rectecostatus was found embedded in an allochthonous perisphinctid specimen, alongside a late early Oxfordian Cordatum Subzone ammonite assemblage.
ANNALES DE PALEONTOLOGIE
(2022)