Palaeoworld最新文献

{"title":"New records of barklice (Psocodea, Empheriidae) from the Bqaatouta and Baskinta amber (early Barremian, Early Cretaceous) in Lebanon","authors":"Marina Hakim ,&nbsp;Mounir Maalouf ,&nbsp;Dany Azar","doi":"10.1016/j.palwor.2025.200986","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.palwor.2025.200986","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Early Cretaceous Bqaatouta and Baskinta (central Lebanon) amber yield new insect inclusions belonging to the order Psocodea. We describe one new genus and species, <em>Archaeatropoglaris libanensis</em> n. gen. n. sp., and attribute it tentatively to the extinct family Empheriidae (Trogiomorpha, Atropetae), sensu its latest composition which includes the ‘Archaeatropidae’. The new individuals have similar setae distribution on the forewing veins compared with the previously described material assigned to ‘Archaeatropidae’ from Lebanon. We also document a second occurrence of <em>Archaeatropos randatae</em> and potentially of <em>Setoglaris reemae</em>, both initially reported from other outcrops in south and central Lebanon respectively. Empheriidae remains to date the most diverse psocodean family in the number of genera and species in Lebanese amber. We also describe one psocodean nymph, although its taxonomic placement could not be determined.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48708,"journal":{"name":"Palaeoworld","volume":"34 6","pages":"Article 200986"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145418041","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Teredolites clavatus borings in fossil resins and their significance — new data from Cretaceous Lebanese amber","authors":"Błażej Bojarski ,&nbsp;Karolina Cierocka ,&nbsp;Sahar Azar ,&nbsp;Jacek Szwedo","doi":"10.1016/j.palwor.2025.200997","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.palwor.2025.200997","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study reports the <em>Teredolites clavatus</em> borings within the Early Cretaceous Lebanese amber from the Hammana-Mdeirij outcrop, offering new insights into the taphonomy of a fossil resin. These findings represent one of the oldest known examples of this ichnospecies in fossil resins and are similar in age to borings known from the Jordanian amber. The club-shaped borings produced by marine wood-boring bivalves (most probably piddocks) are interpreted as domichnia belonging to the Teredolites ichnofacies. Four amber pebbles containing well-preserved borings were examined, one of which retains a distinct bioglyph on its interior surface. The impact of interpretation fossil resins as a xylic or lithic substrate is presented, in ichnotaxonomical and paleoenvironmental contexts. The studied specimens support a taphonomic model in which bored amber fragments were reworked and deposited, together with xylite material, during a regressive phase along the Tethyan shoreline. The absence of <em>Apectoichnus</em> and other woodground borings corroborates this interpretation. This study demonstrates the feasibility of using trace fossils in amber for reconstructing depositional environments and enhances the ichnological and paleoecological framework of Lebanese amber-bearing sequences with new data.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48708,"journal":{"name":"Palaeoworld","volume":"34 6","pages":"Article 200997"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145418044","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Clonal budding and a sessile stalk in conulariids suggested by a new genus from China","authors":"Hui Min ,&nbsp;Rui-Wen Zong ,&nbsp;Xun-Lian Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.palwor.2025.200982","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.palwor.2025.200982","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The new genus <em>Sericonularia</em> n. gen. is established based on material from the lower Silurian Fentou Formation in Wuhan, China. This genus differs from other conulariids in having extremely thin transverse ribs, thick septa along the corners of the periderm, and flat interspaces. The reproductive mode and the sessile stalk of conulariids have long been controversial. In this study, the holotype of the type species <em>Sericonularia gemmata</em> n. gen. n. sp. provides additional information about possible asexual budding in conulariids; moreover, this specimen offers additional evidence on the structure and morphology of the sessile stalk. We hypothesize that once the buds could live independently, they detached from their parent and then found a suitable substrate; notably, some conulariids used sessile stalks, rather than attachment discs, during their sessile life phase. These stalks appear to have the same structure as the upper periderm. Overall, our observations provide new insights into conulariid affinities and lifestyle.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48708,"journal":{"name":"Palaeoworld","volume":"34 6","pages":"Article 200982"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145418150","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Lebanese amber: A time capsule from the dawn of modern ecosystems","authors":"Sibelle Maksoud ,&nbsp;Haig Tabakian","doi":"10.1016/j.palwor.2025.201015","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.palwor.2025.201015","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Lebanon has played a pivotal role in the advancement of palaeoentomology and the broader understanding of insect evolution and palaeobiodiversity. This contribution is evidenced by its 39 Cretaceous fossiliferous outcrops, encompassing 32 Early Cretaceous amber localities and several lithological sites (including marl, limestone, and dysodile) bearing fossil insects, in addition to a Jurassic amber occurrence. Despite its relatively small geographic extent, Lebanon constitutes a major palaeohotspot for Mesozoic entomofauna. Its distinctive geological evolution and palaeogeographic setting during the Mesozoic Era have rendered it a region of exceptional continental palaeontological significance. In this study, we provide a revised simplified geological section of the Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous amber-bearing deposits containing biological inclusions, along with a comprehensive catalogue of all fossil insects and associated biological inclusions described to date from Lebanese amber.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48708,"journal":{"name":"Palaeoworld","volume":"34 6","pages":"Article 201015"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145418057","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A basal member of Capitosauria from the Lower Triassic Heshanggou Formation, China","authors":"Jian-Ye Chen ,&nbsp;Jun Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.palwor.2025.200988","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.palwor.2025.200988","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In the Triassic of North China and Xinjiang, fossils of temnospondyls are common but fragmentary; no specimens have been confidently assigned to the genus level. Recently, a well-preserved temnospondyl skull with mandible was collected from the Heshanggou Formation of Jungar Banner, Nei Mongol, and a new taxon, <em>Huangfuchuansuchus haojiamaoensis</em> n. gen. n. sp. is established based on this specimen. The new taxon is diagnosed by bilobed anterior palatal vacuity with smoothly convex posterior margin, V-shaped transvomerine tooth rows, a shallow notch on the lateral margin of the subtemporal window, cultriform process extension approaching only anterior margin of interpterygoid vacuities, crista muscularis of the parasphenoid confluent in mid-line and anteromedial-posterolaterally positioned. It shows some features of Benthosuchidae but is placed as a basal member of Capitosauria based on phylogenetic analysis and character comparisons.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48708,"journal":{"name":"Palaeoworld","volume":"34 6","pages":"Article 200988"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145418146","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The earliest sponge spicule tufts from the Cambrian Lower Yanjiahe Formation, Three Gorges area, South China","authors":"Lei Zhang ,&nbsp;Ying Wu ,&nbsp;Fan Zhai ,&nbsp;Chen-Zhang Duan ,&nbsp;Shan-Shan Fu ,&nbsp;Shan Chang ,&nbsp;Yan Ye ,&nbsp;Can Chen ,&nbsp;Xia Wang ,&nbsp;Xian-Guo Lang ,&nbsp;Qing-Lai Feng ,&nbsp;Marie-Béatrice Forel","doi":"10.1016/j.palwor.2025.200995","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.palwor.2025.200995","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>As phylogenetically basal metazoans, sponges (phylum Porifera) provide crucial insights into the origins of animal biomineralization and early body plan innovation. However, articulated sponge fossils remain exceptionally rare in Ediacaran–Cambrian transition strata, with most records limited to isolated spicules or ambiguous biomineralized structures. This study reports siliceous and phosphatically preserved sponge spicule tufts from the lower Yanjiahe Formation (∼535 Ma, Fortunian Stage) at the Muyangxi section (eastern Three Gorges area, South China). Dominated by monaxons, with co-occurring pentactine spicules, two morphotypes are distinguished: Type 1 tufts comprise slender, hollow monaxons (mean value of the maximum width: ∼15.9 µm, n = 37) with uniform near-parallel alignment, while Type 2 tufts consist of sturdier phosphatized monaxons (mean value of the maximum width: ∼91.1 µm, n = 135) arranged as subparallel bundles, slightly radially oriented arrangements, and sometimes semi-randomly in single layers, occasionally with perpendicular alignments to the adjacent layers. Small curved oxeas in the Type 2 tufts suggest incipient hierarchical organization. Although fragmentary preservation limits taxonomic resolution, these tufts likely represent the earliest unequivocal biomineralized sponges, potentially corresponding to stem-group Demospongiae and/or Hexactinellida (Silicea). In combination with the previous evidences found from the Ediacaran–Cambrian transition, we hypothesize that early sponge biomineralization was likely monaxon-dominated, with hexactines arising via axial fusion or increased axis number, culminating in hexactinellid diversification by Terreneuvian Stage 2. Integrated with Small Shelly Fossil Zone 1 biochronology, our findings indicate rapid pre-Fortunian to Fortunian-stage spicule enlargement (≤ 200 μm to ≥ 500 μm) and architectural complexification, aligning with early Cambrian ecological escalation. Alternatively, it is possible that the divergence between Hexactinellida and Demospongiae may predate biomineralization, as their last common ancestor may have lacked siliceous spicules. The Yanjiahe spicules illuminate a critical prelude to the Cambrian sponge explosion, bridging Ediacaran soft-bodied ancestors and later diverse, mineralized clades.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48708,"journal":{"name":"Palaeoworld","volume":"34 6","pages":"Article 200995"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145418050","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Xenophlebotomites eliei, a new genus and species of phlebotomine sandflies from Lower Cretaceous Lebanese amber (Diptera: Psychodidae: Phlebotominae)","authors":"Dany Azar ,&nbsp;Sibelle Maksoud","doi":"10.1016/j.palwor.2025.201004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.palwor.2025.201004","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Xenophlebotomites eliei</em> n. gen. n. sp. is characterized after a male and female individuals, illustrated, and described from the lower Barremian amber of Hammana/Mdeyrij, central Lebanon. It represents the first phlebotomine fly from Lebanese amber with an incomplete r1-r2+3 cross-vein without reaching R1, wing wide with round tip, and legs relatively short, slightly longer than body length. This phlebotomine has very developed piercing mouthparts and palps bearing Newstead’s sensilla assembled on the fourth palpomere suggesting haematophagous life-mode. The discovery of this Cretaceous psychodid fly constitutes the seventh phlebotomine discovered from the Lebanese amber and improves our knowledge of the palaeobiodiversity of sandflies during the Lower Cretaceous.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48708,"journal":{"name":"Palaeoworld","volume":"34 6","pages":"Article 201004"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145418052","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Psychodid flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) from the Lower Cretaceous Lebanese amber","authors":"Haig Tabakian","doi":"10.1016/j.palwor.2025.201014","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.palwor.2025.201014","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Psychodid flies had a great diversity in Early Cretaceous and were remarkably preserved in the lower Barremian amber of Lebanon. The first two species from Lebanese amber were described by Hennig in 1972, and 20 more species have been added later to the family during the past two decades. In this paper, a review of all the described Psychodidae from the Lebanese amber and an identification key for determination are proposed.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48708,"journal":{"name":"Palaeoworld","volume":"34 6","pages":"Article 201014"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145418056","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"First psocodean from the Esh-Sheaybeh amber (Barremian, Early Cretaceous) of Lebanon","authors":"Marina Hakim ,&nbsp;Sahar Azar","doi":"10.1016/j.palwor.2025.200985","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.palwor.2025.200985","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A new pachytroctid genus and species, <em>Libanopachytrocta planaspinosa</em> n. gen. n. sp., is systematically described and illustrated from an Early Cretaceous (Barremian) amber outcrop in the easternmost region of Lebanon. This new taxon displays two interesting morphological features, one in the forewings (forked anal vein), which has never been reported previously in the family, and another in the maxillary palpomeres (apical palpomere with sigmoidal outer margin and two flattened spines). The Pachytroctidae are the most species-diverse troctomorphan family represented in Lebanese amber. This new discovery showcases the first fossil record of the subfamily Pachytroctinae to date.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48708,"journal":{"name":"Palaeoworld","volume":"34 6","pages":"Article 200985"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145418154","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A new family of proctotrupomorphan wasps in Lower Cretaceous amber of Lebanon (Hymenoptera)","authors":"Michael S. Engel","doi":"10.1016/j.palwor.2025.201003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.palwor.2025.201003","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>An enigmatic new family of minute (less than 1 mm in length) proctotrupomorphan wasps is described and figured from Lower Cretaceous Lebanese amber. Uroprionulidae n. fam. is established for the new genus and species, <em>Uroprionulus zenobia</em> n. gen. n. sp. from the Bcharreh District of Lebanon. The fossil is a female with an elongate ovipositor and sheaths and with wings superficially resembling those of several extinct families of minute Proctotrupomorpha, such as Alavarommatidae, Archaeoserphitidae, and Spathiopterygidae. The characters of the family are considered in the context of those for other lineages of Proctotrupomorpha and a tentative revised classification is outlined.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48708,"journal":{"name":"Palaeoworld","volume":"34 6","pages":"Article 201003"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145418043","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}