Murthya, a new ostracode genus of Cytherinae, is proposed for the species previously described as Leptocythere chadopadiensis Lyubimova and Guha from the Lower Miocene beds of Kachchh District, India. The genus also occurs in the Lower Miocene beds of Saurashtra, Quilon, and Thanjavur.

This paper documents 22 species of lower Carboniferous bivalves (Visean) from the Ceshui Formation (Datang Stage) of Guangdong Province, South China. Among these, the genus Glyptoconcha and the species Glyptoconcha elegans, Palaeoneilo guangdongensis, and Neocypricardinia simplex are new. This study enriches the early Carboniferous bivalve record and provides information for biostratigraphic subdivision of the lower Carboniferous of South China.

The type species of the eurekiid trilobite Corbinia Walcott, C. horatio Walcott, 1924, possesses very short palpebral lobes located opposite 2p glabellar lobe. The palpebral lobes of species of Eurekia Walcott and of Corbinia apopsis Winston and Nicholls, 1967, are considerably longer and located opposite 1p and 2p glabellar lobes. Corbinia is here restricted to the type species, and C. apopsis is assigned to Eurekia. Corbinia horatio occurs in the Basal Silty Member of the Survey Peak Formation of southern Alberta and appears to be confined to the lower part of the Eurekia apopsis Subzone of the Saukia Zone (basal Ibexian).

An ammonite fauna from the southern coastal volcanic region of the Chinese Jurassic contains representatives of the genera Sulciferites, Coroniceras, Arnioceras, Asteroceras, Eparietites, and Juraphyllites. The ammonite-bearing strata of the Jinji Formation were deposited during the Sinemurian (Bucklandi to Obtusum zones), whereas the lower member has yielded marine Hettangian bivalves. The Jinji Formation is underlain by terrestrial Triassic rocks of the Xiaoping Formation and overlain by terrestrial Middle Jurassic rocks of the Baizushan Group.

Correlative Early Jurassic rocks are shown to occur across eastern Guangdong Province, and probably as far north as southern Hunan Province. Although this marine phase of deposition may correspond broadly to a eustatic sea level rise, the exact role of local tectonic events has still to be assessed.

Although past authors have regarded the Carydiidae as a European family, six species of Carydium are reported here from the Devonian of eastern North America. Two of these belong to a single morphocline common in the Hamilton shales; another (Carydium clarkei) is new. Due to lack of well preserved hinges most of these species were earlier placed in Nucula because serrations or striations on dental elements were mistaken for a taxodont dentition.

New data require modification of carydiid phylogenies of earlier authors. 1) Two independent pre-Devonian derivations from Lyrodesma are inferred. 2) Noradonta shergoldi, a carydiid-like lyrodesmatid from the Ordovician of Australia, is recognized as an important phyletic link between the Carydiidae and the Lyrodesmatidae. 3) The previous view of three distinct lineages within Carydium is not supported. Anamorphic data suggest as few as two main lineages and show two of the hinge types to be homeomorphic grades appearing separately or within one or the other of the main lineages.

Though too young to be directly involved in the early diversification of the Bivalvia, the actinodont, subheterodont, and pseudotaxodont hinge morphologies of Carydium supply models for the origin of heterodont and taxodont hinges. Anamorphic and other evidence suggests that both are iterative types, and fundamental differences between them may be few. Hence, their preeminence as diagnostic criteria among higher taxa is diminished.

Data from current research dealing with Jurassic ammonoids and stratigraphy of western North America are being stored in a computer file called AMMON using a data base management system. Each ammonite is described by up to 94 descriptors divided into the following six categories: taxonomy, quantitative morphology, qualitative morphology, stratigraphy, locality-catalogue information and general remarks. Data entry is facilitated by the use of a template on a video display terminal, the use of code numbers instead of full names and the bulk entry of hierarchic data. The computer can be used to speed fossil identification and retrieve geologic data by matching lists of descriptor states for a given specimen against those stored in the data bank. By interfacing with statistical analytical systems a ‘profile’ of a given taxon can be generated showing ranges of morphologic variation for any stage of ontogeny. Multivariate techniques are readily employed and subtle patterns of covariation more easily assessed. The data base may also be questioned to instantly generate taxonomic lists by zone, geographic area, lithostratigraphic unit, etc. (or any combination thereof) so that its research potential is considerable.

AMMON is a prototype meant to serve as a basis for discussion in developing a globally acceptable ammonoid data base. If code numbers for taxonomic, morphologic and stratigraphic data are standardized, information can be exchanged internationally using magnetic tapes and then decoded by the computer into any language. As data bases proliferate, they will inevitably make paleontological information more readily accessible to the specialist and non-specialist alike.

Styliolina obtusa (Hall, 1879), only known from specimens on two slabs, is placed in synonymy with S. fissurella (Hall, 1843), a ubiquitous fossil in western New York. Styliolina spica (Hall, 1888) is known only from the holotype. This individual is about three times larger than specimens of S. fissurella (Hall); it is removed from the genus. “S.” spica is based on the broken apical end of a calcareous worm tube and is similar to Coleolus. Both of these poorly known taxa were described from different intervals in the Wanakah Shale Member of the Ludlowville Formation near Buffalo, New York.

The genus Merychippus was erected by Leidy (1857), who named as the type species Merychippus insignis. The type specimen of M. insignis is an immature and incomplete maxilla containing a broken dp2 and a dp3. The type comes from the Bijou Hills of South Dakota, probably from the Barstovian (middle Miocene) Fort Randall Formation of South Bijou Hill in Charles Mix County (Skinner and Taylor, 1967), but possibly from the overlying undifferentiated Ogallala Formation, or possibly from North Bijou Hill in Brule County. Despite this enigmatic type, the species M. insignis has frequently been identified in the fossil record, and the genus Merychippus has grown to include all mesodont horses (Stirton, 1940). Conceptually, the taxon Merychippus is considered a horizontal grade rather than a vertical clade (Simpson, 1945, p. 18). As a horizontal concept, the genus Merychippus derived importance as the ancestral group for the many Mio-Pliocene lineages of hypsodont horses. Today, as horse classification is remodeled along cladistic lines, the taxon Merychippus derives importance from its early naming. Several distinctive horse clades extend upward from a middle Miocene radiation (Stirton, 1940; Quinn, 1955). If M. insignis can be placed within one of these clades, then it is likely that the clade will bear the generic nomen Merychippus because of the antiquity of the name.

Fossilized notostracan carapaces and abdominal fragments are present in the Upper Triassic (Rhaetian) Bull Run Formation in the Culpeper Basin near Manassas, Virginia. Over 250 notostracan carapaces and carapace fragments and three abdominal fragments with attached caudal rami were collected from light olive-gray, grayish-red, and brownish-gray shales in three on-strike localities. Carapace and abdomen are attached in one specimen. The Culpeper Basin notostracans have a rudimentary supra-anal plate and are identified as Triops cf. cancriformis. Their carapaces are indistinguishable from those of modern forms.

Relatively few notostracan fossils are known and none have been reported previously from the Triassic of North America. Triassic notostracans, however, have been reported from Europe and Africa. Fossil notostracans have been reported from North America only once previously, from the Permian of Oklahoma.

The notostracans are associated with conchostracans (Cyzicus sp.), ostracodes (Darwinula sp.), fish scales, insects, plant fragments, and stromatolites.

The notostracan-bearing beds are present at the top of a transgressive-regressive sequence, indicating that the notostracans inhabited shallow water near the edge of a perennial lake. Palynology indicates that these beds are most likely mid- to late-Rhaetian in age.

Patelliocrinus planus n. sp. (Patelliocrinidae), Manticrinus exaitos n. gen., n. sp. (Marsupiocrinidae), and Clematocrinus ohioensis n. sp. (Hapalocrinidae) are described from southwestern Ohio. These new Early Silurian crinoids are from the upper lower or middle Llandoverian Brassfield Formation. Patelliocrinus planus is the oldest member of this genus. It was originally designated as Platycrinid(?) by Foerste (1919) and, subsequently, Brower (1973) placed it in the Hapalocrinidae. Manticrinus is placed in the Marsupiocrinidae, previously a monogeneric family, and is the oldest member of this family. Manticrinus is judged to have evolved from Macrostylocrinus.

Species assignments are clarified between Clematocrinus and Hapalocrinus. These genera are distinguished by character of the arms, primibrachial number, and presence of cirri. Clematocrinus ohioensis is the oldest member of this genus and perhaps of the Hapalocrinidae.

A new medusoid hydrozoan, Plectodiscus malayites n. sp., belonging to the Family Velellidae is described from Carboniferous rocks of the Malay Peninsula. They are preserved as flattened internal float structures or pneumatophores and are the first examples from this part of the world. In contrast to other occurrences, the great abundance of these sailed organisms suggests that, like extant species of Velella, these organisms were an important component of the pelagic fauna and were at least locally abundant in open seas of the late Paleozoic.

Fragmentary fossils from Late Devonian rocks, previously identified as phyllocarid arthropods, are referable to “Vermes.” Specimens identified as Dithyrocaris (=Mesothyra) sp. from the Chagrin Shale in northeastern Ohio are assigned to Sphenothallus cf. S. carbonarius (M'Coy). Thus, there are no records of rhinocaridid arthropods from the Chagrin. Fossils identified as “cercopods” of the echinocaridid, Echinocaris asiaticus Reed, from the Wetwin shales in Burma, are not arthropod remains, but are tubes produced by a gregarious worm. Echinocaris asiaticus is now represented only by a single partial carapace.

Six Early Silurian Rhodocrinitacea (Crinoidea, Camerata) are recognized from the Brassfield Formation of Ohio. Previously only a single Early Silurian rhodocrinitacean was known. The new forms include Kyreocrinus constellatus n. gen., n. sp.; Rhachicrinus wrighti n. gen., n. sp.; Silfonocrinus siluricus n. gen., n. sp.; Stereoaster squamosus Foerste; Xysmacrinus greenensis n. gen., n. sp.; and Turbocrinus punctum n. gen., n. sp. Rhachicrinus and Silfonocrinus are assigned to the Opsiocrinidae, which previously included two Devonian genera; Turbocrinus is assigned to the Anthemocrinidae; and Kyreocrinus, Stereoaster and Xysmacrinus are assigned to the Rhodocrinitidae.

The Opsiocrinidae are thought to be derived from the Reteocrinidae; and a possible basis for subdividing the Rhodocrinidae is proposed, based on the arms, plating in regular interrays, presence of median ray ridges and calyx shape.

The third species belonging to Zygastrocarcinus from the Cretaceous of the Western Interior is represented by a single carapace collected from below the Groat Sandstone Bed, Gammon Ferruginous Member, Pierre Shale of Carter County, Montana. Comparison of Zygastrocarcinus cardsmithi n. sp. with the other North American congeners, Z. mendryki (Bishop, 1982) and Z. griesi Bishop, 1983, and with the Pacific Slope species Z. richardsoni (Woodward, 1896) suggests early separation of the Pacific Slope and Western Interior lineage having Z. cardsmithi as a possible ancestor to Z. mendryki and Z. griesi.

Three new species of inadunate crinoids of Early Mississippian age from the Ramp Creek Formation along Indiana Creek, southern Montgomery County, Indiana, are described. Poteriocrinites amplus n. sp. is the first correctly identified record from North America of this long-ranging Old World genus. Poteriocrinites macropleurus and P. doris from the Burlington Limestone are here reassigned to Springericrinus. Interchange of Mississippian crinoid genera between Europe and North America is rare, many genera being endemic. Springericrinus sacculus n. sp. is the youngest reported species of this North American counterpart of Poteriocrinites. This new species exhibits two advanced features: presence of only one, rather than three, anal plate, and presence of 3 or 4, rather than 1 or 2, primibrachial plates per ray. The third species, Decadocrinus stellatus n. sp., presents an interesting blend of characters usually used as generic discriminators between Decadocrinus and Histocrinus. The specimen could possibly be considered to be an intermediate between these two genera that are currently placed, incorrectly we believe, in two separate superfamilies.

This is the first report of styliolines in the Angola Shale Member of the West Falls Formation in western New York. These specimens are of late Frasnian age and are the youngest individuals known from the Appalachian Region. This upward extension of range places the extinction of styliolines in eastern North America more in accord with their time of extinction in Europe. Nowakiids have also been found in the younger Hanover Shale Member, in the upper part of the Java Formation, also of late Frasnian age. These are the youngest known nowakiids from the Appalachians. Within the limits of preservation, the external characters and wall structure of the Angola styliolines are comparable with those of older specimens. The associated rare small annulated nowakiids and homotcenids have a laminated wall structure fundamentally different from that of the styliolines.

A new trachyleberid ostracode genus, Kaesleria, is proposed for seven species from the Upper Cretaceous of Saudi Arabia: Kaesleria bilirata (Al-Furaih, 1980), K. biventrilirata n. sp., K. convexa n. sp., K. faceta n. sp., K. falcata n. sp., K. trahea (Al-Furaih, 1980), and K. undulata (Al-Furaih, 1980). Species of this genus are short ranging, relatively abundant, and very useful stratigraphically in Saudi Arabia. Kaesleria bilirata and K. trahea are particularly good markers of the top of the Maastrichtian, because their last occurrences are at the extreme top of it.

Ophiolancea swartkopensis n. gen. and sp. is the first ophiuroid to be described from the Lower Cretaceous (Valanginian) Sundays River Formation, South Africa. Ophiolancea is distinguished by lanceolate lateral arm shields which occur on the distal portions of the arms. Associated fauna and stratigraphic evidence suggest that the specimen was buried in an intertidal mud flat.