A new early Silurian prioniodontid conodont with three P elements from Iran and associated species

Copyright © 2015 P. Männik et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. The attached file is the published version of the article

Norian ammonoids from the nayband formation (Iran) and their bearing on late triassic sedimentary and geodynamic history of the Iran plate

A Middle Norian (Alaunian 2) ammonoid assemblage from north of Esfahan (Central Iran) is described and chronostratigraphically evaluated. Formerly known as Distichites fauna, it represents a geographically widely distributed and stratigraphically important fossil level in the lower part of the Upper Triassic Nayband Formation. The new distichitid ammonoid genus Mesodistichites with the new species M. evolutus are introduced; additional faunal members are Noridiscites nodosus n. sp. and the leiostracean Stenarcestes diogenis and Pinacoceras cf. imperator. The Nayband Formation of the Esfahan region, belonging to the Zefreh-Soh Facies, is lithostratigraphically emended to contain three formally introduced members (Parsefid, Venher and Niazmargh members), which are all of Norian age, whereas Rhaetian sediments are missing. These members are correlated with Norian lithostratigraphic units of the type sequence of the formation in Nayband, eastern Iran. Integration of all Iranian Nayband data allows the recognition of three 3rd order sequences within this formation and the proof of a major pre- or syn-Jurassic unconformity across Central Iran and the Central-East Iranian Microcontinent (CEIM) related to the Main-Cimmerian event. Because of the latter and of major lithostratigraphic and facial differences, we propose to exclude the Nayband Formation from the Shemshak Group. A careful review of the available biostratigraphic data from northern and southern Iran let us further assume that the collision of the Iran Plate with Eurasia occurred in the later Early Carnian and was concurrent to the onset of the Carnian Humid Episode

Ordovician of North Iran: New lithostratigraphy, palaeogeography and biogeographical links with South China and the Mediterranean peri-Gondwana margin

The Ordovician litho- and biostratigraphic framework of Alborz, Kopet-Dagh and the East-Central Iranian blocks is outlined and significantly updated, and a broad summary of the current state of knowledge of the Ordovician deposits and faunas across Iran is documented. Four tectono-stratigraphical units (including the Alestan, Damghan, Saluk and Talesh domains) are distinguished in northern Iran. They differ considerably from one another in their lithology, facies, fossil record and completeness of their sedimentary record. A comprehensive revision of the Ordovician stratigraphy in the eastern Alborz and the Kopet-Dagh regions leads to the definition of the (i) Simeh-Kuh Formation (new), (ii) the Qumes Formation (new) and its subdivision into the Gerd-Kuh (new) and Raziabad (new) members, (iii) the Lashkarak Formation and its subdivision into the Cheshmeh-Ali (new) and Hajiabad (new) members, (iv) the Abarsaj Formation (formalised) in the Alestan Domain, (v) the Qyzlar (new) and Pelmis formations in the Saluk Domain, and (vi) the Tatavrud Formation (new) in the Talesh Domain. The Ordovician strata of the eastern Alborz and Kopet-Dagh Mountains comprise a rifting volcanism emplaced within an active horst-and-graben palaeotopography. Despite the strong Ordovician biogeographical affinities with South China and, to a lesser extent, with Mediterranean peri- Gondwana, zircon populations analysed from Cambro-Ordovician sandstones in the area point to the Arabian-Nubian Shield of the western Arabian Peninsula and northeastern Africa as the principal continental sources. Consequently, an open oceanic communication between the Mediterranean and the northern (Alborz) margins of Gondwana and the southern margin of South China favoured the establishment of strong biogeographical affinities between these mid-latitude basins

Measurement of the Cross Section Asymmetry of the Reaction gp-->pi0p in the Resonance Energy Region Eg = 0.5 - 1.1 GeV

The cross section asymmetry Sigma has been measured for the photoproduction of pi0-mesons off protons, using polarized photons in the energy range Eg = 0.5 - 1.1 GeV. The CM angular coverage is Theta = 85 - 125 deg with energy and angle steps of 25 MeV and 5 deg, respectively. The obtained Sigma data, which cover the second and third resonance regions, are compared with existing experimental data and recent phenomenological analyses. The influence of these measurements on such analyses is also considered

RECONSTRUCTING NORTH GONDWANAN VEGETATION FROM THE MIDDLE DEVONIAN DEPOSITS OF ARMENIA

peer reviewe

Observation of Plasma Focusing of a 28.5 GeV Positron Beam

The observation of plasma focusing of a 28.5 GeV positron beam is reported. The plasma was formed by ionizing a nitrogen jet only 3 mm thick. Simultaneous focusing in both transverse dimensions was observed with effective focusing strengths of order Tesla per micron. The minimum area of the beam spot was reduced by a factor of 2.0 +/- 0.3 by the plasma. The longitudinal beam envelope was measured and compared with numerical calculations

Baghuk Mountain (Central Iran): high-resolution stratigraphy of a continuous Central Tethyan Permian–Triassic boundary section

Permian–Triassic boundary sections at Baghuk Mountain (Central Iran) are investigated with respect to their lithological succession, biostratigraphy (particularly conodonts, nautiloids and ammonoids) as well as chemostratigraphy (carbon isotopes). The rock successions consist of the Late Permian Hambast Formation, the youngest Permian Baghuk Member (new name for the “Boundary Clay”) and the Early Triassic Claraia beds. Correlation of the data allows the establishment of a high-resolution stratigraphy based on conodonts with seven Changhsingian zones. Abundant ammonoids enable the separation of ammonoid assemblages with the successive Wuchiapingian genera Prototoceras, Pseudotoceras and Vedioceras, as well as the Changhsingian genera Shevyrevites, Paratirolites, Alibashites, Abichites and Arasella. Griesbachian and Dienerian ammonoids are usually poorly preserved. Nautiloids occur predominantly in the Wuchiapingian part of the section with two successive assemblages dominated by the Liroceratidae and Tainoceratidae, respectively. Numerous Early Triassic strata contain microbialites of various outer morphology and microstructure. The carbon isotope curve (δ13Ccarb) shows a continuous late Changhsingian negative excursion continuing across the Baghuk Member with the lightest values at the base of the Triassic.</p

First shark from the late Devonian (Frasnian) gogo formation, Western Australia sheds new light on the development of tessellated calcified cartilage

Background: Living gnathostomes (jawed vertebrates) comprise two divisions, Chondrichthyes (cartilaginous fishes, including euchondrichthyans with prismatic calcified cartilage, and extinct stem chondrichthyans) and Osteichthyes (bony fishes including tetrapods). Most of the early chondrichthyan (‘shark’) record is based upon isolated teeth, spines, and scales, with the oldest articulated sharks that exhibit major diagnostic characters of the group—prismatic calcified cartilage and pelvic claspers in males—being from the latest Devonian, c. 360 Mya. This paucity of information about early chondrichthyan anatomy is mainly due to their lack of endoskeletal bone and consequent low preservation potential. Methodology/Principal Findings: Here we present new data from the first well-preserved chondrichthyan fossil from the early Late Devonian (ca. 380–384 Mya) Gogo Formation Lägerstatte of Western Australia. The specimen is the first Devonian shark body fossil to be acid-prepared, revealing the endoskeletal elements as three-dimensional undistorted units: Meckel’s cartilages, nasal, ceratohyal, basibranchial and possible epibranchial cartilages, plus left and right scapulocoracoids, as well as teeth and scales. This unique specimen is assigned to Gogoselachus lynnbeazleyae n. gen. n. sp.Conclusions/Significance: The Meckel’s cartilages show a jaw articulation surface dominated by an expansive cotylus, and a small mandibular knob, an unusual condition for chondrichthyans. The scapulocoracoid of the new specimen shows evidence of two pectoral fin basal articulation facets, differing from the standard condition for early gnathostomes which have either one or three articulations. The tooth structure is intermediate between the ‘primitive’ ctenacanthiform and symmoriiform condition, and more derived forms with a euselachian-type base. Of special interest is the highly distinctive type of calcified cartilage forming the endoskeleton, comprising multiple layers of nonprismatic subpolygonal tesserae separated by a cellular matrix, interpreted as a transitional step toward the tessellated prismatic calcified cartilage that is recognized as the main diagnostic character of the chondrichthyans

A critical appraisal of appendage disparity and homology in fishes

Fishes are both extremely diverse and morphologically disparate. Part of this disparity can be observed in the numerous possible fin configurations that may differ in terms of the number of fins as well as fin shapes, sizes and relative positions on the body. Here, we thoroughly review the major patterns of disparity in fin configurations for each major group of fishes and discuss how median and paired fin homologies have been interpreted over time. When taking into account the entire span of fish diversity, including both extant and fossil taxa, the disparity in fin morphologies greatly complicates inferring homologies for individual fins. Given the phylogenetic scope of this review, structural and topological criteria appear to be the most useful indicators of fin identity. We further suggest that it may be advantageous to consider some of these fin homologies as nested within the larger framework of homologous fin‐forming morphogenetic fields. We also discuss scenarios of appendage evolution and suggest that modularity may have played a key role in appendage disparification. Fin modules re‐expressed within the boundaries of fin‐forming fields could explain how some fins may have evolved numerous times independently in separate lineages (e.g., adipose fin), or how new fins may have evolved over time (e.g., anterior and posterior dorsal fins, pectoral and pelvic fins). We favour an evolutionary scenario whereby median appendages appeared from a unique field of competence first positioned throughout the dorsal and ventral midlines, which was then redeployed laterally leading to paired appendages.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/151971/1/faf12402_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/151971/2/faf12402.pd