Description and ontogeny of a 40-million-year-old parasitic isopodan crustacean: Parvucymoides dvorakorum gen. et sp. nov.

A collection of exceptionally well-preserved fossil specimens of crustaceans, clearly representatives of Isopoda, is presented here. Excavated from the late Eocene (approximately 40 million years ago) freshwater sediments of the Trupelník hill field site near Kučlín, Czech Republic, these specimens are preserved with many details of the appendages. The morphological characteristics of the fossils were documented using macro-photography with polarised light, as well as stereo imaging. These characteristics, especially including the trunk appendage morphology, were compared to those of related extant groups from different ontogenetic stages. All specimens are conspecific, representing a single species Parvucymoides dvorakorum gen. et sp. nov. Morphometric analysis of body shapes and sizes of the reconstructed fossils and related extant species were performed. These analyses provided insight into the ontogenetic stages of each reconstructed fossil specimen. In combination with the morphological assessment, the results indicate that the fossils represent at least two (possibly three) developmental stages, including immatures. The morphology of the appendages suggests that these fossils were parasites. The fossils are interpreted as either representatives of Cymothoidae or at least closely related to this group.

Paleobotany collections: fossil woods available at the Bandung Geological Museum

Indonesia is a country which has plants species diversity. The form of ancient plants that grew in the past are recorded as fossil woods. Several fossil woods from regions in Indonesia were collected and became exhibition collections at the Bandung Geological Museum. These fossil woods on display requires biology identity to provide more information to visitors. Identification of species of fossil woods were carried out based on the anatomical features on the smoothed cross-section. Observations were carried out by a loop hand (a magnification of 10 times and a digital loop (with a magnification of 16 times). The fossil woods anatomy features observed included vessel cells, parenchyma cells, rays cells, and the presence of resin channels. The fossil specimen which had unclear anatomy features compared by detailed description of wood anatomy available at the library and collections of wood samples owned by the Xylarium Bogoriense. The fossil woods species are Canarioxylon sp., Terminalioxylon sp., Anisopteroxylon sp., Dipterocarpoxylon sp., Dryobalanoxylon sp., Hopenium/Hopeoxylon sp., Shoreoxylon sp., Kompassioxylon sp., and Xanthophyllum sp. The mostly fossil woods species resvectively belonging to the Dipterocarpaceae, Combretaceae, Polygalaceae, Burseraceae, and Leguminosae. The fossil woods member of Dipterocarpaceae family are conspicuously characterized with the presence of resin canals.

Ordovician to Silurian graptolite specimen images for global correlation and shale gas exploration

Multi- elemental and -dimensional data are more and more important during the development of data-driven research, as is the case in modern palaeontology, in which visual examination, by experts or someday the artificial intelligence, to every fossil specimen acts a crucial and fundamental role. We here release an integrated image dataset of 113 Ordovician to Silurian graptolite species or subspecies that are significant in global stratigraphy and shale gas exploration. The dataset contains 1550 high-resolution graptolite specimen images and scientific information related to the specimen, e.g., every specimen's taxonomic, geologic, geographic, and related references. We develop a tool, FSIDvis (Fossil Specimen Image Dataset Visualiser), to facilitate the human-interactive exploration of the rich-attribution image dataset. A nonlinear dimension reduction technique, t-SNE (t-Distributed Stochastic Neighbor Embedding), is employed to project the images into the two-dimensional space to visualise and explore the similarities. Our dataset potentially contributes to the analysis of the global biostratigraphic correlations and improves the shale gas exploration efficiency by developing an image-based automated classification model. All images are available from https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5205216 (Xu, 2021).

The first Fulgoridae (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha) from the Eocene of the central Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau

The Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau (QTP) played a crucial role in shaping the biodiversity in Asia during the Cenozoic. However, fossil records attributed to insects are still scarce from the QTP, which limits our understanding on the evolution of biodiversity in this large region. Fulgoridae (lanternfly) is a group of large planthopper in body size, which is found primarily in tropical regions. The majority of the Fulgoridae bear brilliant colors and elongated heads. The fossil records of Fulgoridae span from the Eocene to Miocene in the Northern Hemisphere, and only a few fossil species from Neogene deposits have been reported in Asia so far. Here, we report a new fossil record of Fulgoridae from the middle Eocene Lunpola Basin, central QTP. The specimen is in lateral compression, with complete abdomen, thorax, and part of the wings preserved, while most of the head is missing. It belongs to the “lower Fulgoroidea” judging by several strong lateral spines on the hind tibia and a row of teeth at the apex of the second metatarsomere. This fossil specimen is assigned to Fulgoridae by comparison with nine families of the “lower Fulgoroidea”. The specimen represents the earliest Fulgoridae fossil record in Asia and was considered a new morphotaxon based on the peculiar legs and wings. Based on the modern distribution of fulgorid and other paleontological evidence, we suggest a warm climate with relatively low elevation during the middle Eocene in the central QTP. Therefore, this new fossil record not only provides important information on insect diversity in the middle Eocene, but also gives new evidence on the paleoenvironment in the core area of the QTP from the perspective of an insect.

First finding of a fossilized Cantharidae (Insecta: Coleoptera) from the Middle Miocene deposits in Romania

The extraordinary fossil sites of Vlădiceni (Iaşi, Romania) recently discovered, with lithostratigraphy of Middle Miocene age, have uncovered a rich fauna especially of fishes, molluscs, amphipods and insects. This includes also the first fossil specimen of family Cantharidae from both this geological formation and from Romania: Malthodes (Malthodes) vladiceniensis sp. nov., which is illustrated and described and compared with living and fossil species of the genus.

Nubian Levallois technology associated with southernmost Neanderthals

Neanderthals occurred widely across north Eurasian landscapes, but between ~ 70 and 50 thousand years ago (ka) they expanded southwards into the Levant, which had previously been inhabited byHomo sapiens. Palaeoanthropological research in the first half of the twentieth century demonstrated alternate occupations of the Levant by Neanderthal andHomo sapienspopulations, yet key early findings have largely been overlooked in later studies. Here, we present the results of new examinations of both the fossil and archaeological collections from Shukbah Cave, located in the Palestinian West Bank, presenting new quantitative analyses of a hominin lower first molar and associated stone tool assemblage. The hominin tooth shows clear Neanderthal affinities, making it the southernmost known fossil specimen of this population/species. The associated Middle Palaeolithic stone tool assemblage is dominated by Levallois reduction methods, including the presence of Nubian Levallois points and cores. This is the first direct association between Neanderthals and Nubian Levallois technology, demonstrating that this stone tool technology should not be considered an exclusive marker ofHomo sapiens.

A new species of extinct genus Electromyiomma Popov & Herczek (Hemiptera: Miridae: Isometopinae) from Eocene Baltic amber, with the key to Electromyiomma species

A new fossil isometopine species, Electromyiomma herczeki sp. nov. is described and illustrated from Eocene Baltic amber. The morphological information of the fossil specimen and the key to the species of the extinct genus Electromyiomma are provided. The restatement of paratype female of E. weitschati is discussed with the support of previous remarks based on antenna structure.

Robust framework and software implementation for fast speciation mapping

One of the greatest benefits of synchrotron radiation is the ability to perform chemical speciation analysis through X-ray absorption spectroscopies (XAS). XAS imaging of large sample areas can be performed with either full-field or raster-scanning modalities. A common practice to reduce acquisition time while decreasing dose and/or increasing spatial resolution is to compare X-ray fluorescence images collected at a few diagnostic energies. Several authors have used different multivariate data processing strategies to establish speciation maps. In this manuscript, the theoretical aspects and assumptions that are often made in the analysis of these datasets are focused on. A robust framework is developed to perform speciation mapping in large bulk samples at high spatial resolution by comparison with known references. Two fully operational software implementations are provided: a user-friendly implementation within the MicroAnalysis Toolkit software, and a dedicated script developed under the R environment. The procedure is exemplified through the study of a cross section of a typical fossil specimen. The algorithm provides accurate speciation and concentration mapping while decreasing the data collection time by typically two or three orders of magnitude compared with the collection of whole spectra at each pixel. Whereas acquisition of spectral datacubes on large areas leads to very high irradiation times and doses, which can considerably lengthen experiments and generate significant alteration of radiation-sensitive materials, this sparse excitation energy procedure brings the total irradiation dose greatly below radiation damage thresholds identified in previous studies. This approach is particularly adapted to the chemical study of heterogeneous radiation-sensitive samples encountered in environmental, material, and life sciences.

A new Myrmecarchaea (Araneae: Archaeidae) species from Oise amber (earliest Eocene, France)

Extant Archaeidae, also known as pelican or assassin spiders, have an Austral distribution (South Africa, Madagascar and Australia), but were present in Eurasia during the Mesozoic and Cenozoic, as attested by fossils from Cretaceous Burmese amber (Ross A. 2019. Burmese (Myanmar) amber checklist and bibliography 2018. Palaeoentomology 2(1): 22–84) and Eocene European ambers (Wunderlich J. 2004. Fossil spiders in amber and copal: conclusions, revisions, new taxa and family diagnoses of fossil and extant taxa. Hirschberg-Leutershausen: Ed. Joerg Wunderlich, 1893 p.). They have been known to occur in Oise amber (Ypresian, early Eocene, MP7), from northern France. However, they are not abundant in Oise amber, and have been the subject of few studies until now. Here, we describe the only well-preserved, almost complete, archaeid fossil specimen. This adult male is described as Myrmecarchaea antecessor sp. nov, based on the presence of unique morphological features. The elongate petiolus and extremely long legs are characteristic of the genus Myrmecarchaea from the Middle Eocene Baltic amber. However, unique traits such as the thick, stout petiolus and the extremely elongated, posteriorly tapering cephalothorax distinguish it from the other species of Myrmecarchaea. This specimen is of high interest, as besides being a new species, it is also the first documented adult male in the genus, allowing us to observe sexual characters for the first time. Furthermore, it is the first occurrence of this genus outside Baltic amber, showing affinities between Oise and Baltic ambers, which are, otherwise, very different in their faunistic compositions, and further extends the known past range of the archaeid spiders.

Eyasi Plateau Paleontological Expedition, Laetoli, Tanzania, fossil specimen database 1998–2005

The Eyasi Plateau Paleontological Expedition (EPPE) Laetoli specimen database contains 13716 records of plant and animal fossils (ca. 28248 specimens) collected by EPPE field teams working at Laetoli, Tanzania between 1998 and 2005. This dataset is a digital version of the original hard-copy specimen catalog, and it documents the discovery, stratigraphic provenience and taxonomic diversity of Plio-Pleistocene fauna and flora in northern Tanzania between 4.4 Ma and >200 ka. Laetoli is renowned for the discovery of important hominin fossils, including the lectotype for Australopithecus afarensis, one of our early hominin ancestors, the first record of Paranthropus aethiopicus outside Kenya-Ethiopia, and an early record of our own species Homo sapiens. This database is one of the few publicly available palaeoanthropological fossil datasets and serves as an example for expanding open access to primary fossil occurrence data in palaeoanthropology. The taxonomic identifications appearing in this dataset are the original field identifications and are provisional. Any taxonomic analysis employing this dataset should refer to updated taxonomic identifications published by specialists.