The genus Kujdanowiaspis Stensiö, 1942 has long been considered as the archetype of placoderms; hence, it has been often used as outgroup in phylogenetic analyses involving placoderms, or used as a representative of all the placoderms for all early vertebrate works. Nevertheless, there has been no real work on the taxonomy of this genus since Denison (1978). Here we propose a revision of the material of Kujdanowiaspis from the Old Red Sandstone of Podolia (including neurocrania, skull roofs and thoracic armours), together with the description of unpublished specimens of the genus Heightingtonaspis White, 1969. Among the available Podolian material, three species are considered valid: Kujdanowiaspis buczacziensis (Brotzen, 1934), K. podolica (Brotzen, 1934) and Erikaspis zychi (Stensiö, 1945) (K. podolica and K. buczacziensis only differ in size and in the density and size of the tuberculated ornamentation; the dermal plate pattern of E. zychi differs from that of the genus Kujdanowiaspis). The axillar area of the scapulocoracoid of K. podolica is compared with those of an osteostracan “agnathan” and of a non-tetrapod sarcopterygian. In the three cases, the articulation of the pectoral fin is of the monobasal type. An analogy with the embryonic development of the pectoral fin of the actinopterygian Danio rerio (Hamilton, 1822) suggests that the monobasal articulation would correspond to the plesiomorphic condition compared with the multibasal one of the adult actinopterygians and some derived brachythoracid placoderms. The suprasynarcual is a newly identified, chondrified element of the vertebral column, supposed to respond to the height of the median dorsal plate in Kujdanowiaspis podolica.

The postcranial skeleton of the amphicyonid Amphicyon major from the middle Helvetian of Sansan (Gers, France) is described and compared to extant taxa belonging to the families Ursidae (Ursus arctos), Felidae (Panthera leo), and Canidae (Canis lupus). From the perspective of the forelimb, the scapula is very similar to that of a bear, as well as the elbow joint suggesting habitually abducted postures of the arm and the ability to supinate the forefoot. The mobile shoulder joint and massive triceps are features shared by both extant ursids and felids. A powerful hand musculature, short and divergent metacarpals, and an important range of dorsiflexion of the wrist recall the forefoot of an ursid and indicate good grasping ability. On the axial skeleton, the complex atlas/axis, the shape of the lumbar vertebrae, and a long, heavy tail are more similar to the same anatomical regions in felids than to any other extant carnivore. The pelvis and femur, as well as the knee and tibio-astragalar joints, are also more similar to those of a felid than an ursid, although the ischium and femur of Amphicyon allowed more abducted and erected postures. The size and shape of the tibia, calcaneum, and metatarsals are more similar to those of a bear. The short metatarsals, with a divergent Mt I and a powerful hind foot musculature also suggest potential grasping ability. Therefore, the skeleton of Amphicyon major that displays a series of bear-like and cat-like morphological similarities would deserve the term of “bear-lion” instead of “bear-dog”.

ČČermák S. & Rekovets L. I. 2010. — Early Pliocene ochotonids (Mammalia, Lagomorpha) from Southern Ukraine. Geodiversitas 32 (1): 107-120.

The aim of this paper is to enlarge knowledge about poorly known ochotonids from the Early Pliocene (Ruscinian, MN 14) from southern Ukraine. The abundant new material of Ochotona antiqua Argyropulo & Pidoplichko, 1939 from Novopetrovka (type locality) and Frunzovka-1 is analyzed in detail and compared with the type material. The results are expressed in a redescription of the taxon and evaluation of its intraspecific variation, including the outlying and/or aberrant forms closely related to it. Pseudobellatona relicta Topachevsky, Nesin & Topachevsky, 1993 confined to the type locality Krasnopol is redescribed and considered herein as a taxon incertae sedis within the Ochotonidae clade. Specificities of the Early Pliocene taxa from the Kuchurganian sedimentary series are discussed in the context of phylogeny and systematics of Eurasian ochotonids.

Pacaud J.-M. 2010. — Description des rhyncholites des Nautiles (Mollusca, Cephalopoda) du Paléogène des bassins de Paris et d'Aquitaine et des Corbières (France). Geodiversitas 32 (1): 121-156.

Description of the rhyncholites of Nautiloid (Mollusca, Cephalopoda) from the Paleogene of the Paris and Aquitaine basins and Corbières (France). Rhyncholites are reported for the first time in the Paleogene of Paris and Aquitaine basins and Corbières (France). The study of around 30 specimens allows to identify 11 species attributed to the genus Rhyncolites Biguet, 1819: Rhyncolites guanensis n. sp. from Ypresian (Cuisian, lower Eocene), R. shinfieldensis Ward & Cooper, 1972, R. aethioparion Ward & Cooper, 1972, R. corbaricus n. sp., R. foncouvertensis n. sp. and R. martinezi n. sp. from Ypresian (Ilerdian, lower Eocene), R. vilcassinus n. sp., R. Sagittarius n. sp. and R. lhommei n. sp. from the Lutetian (middle Eocene) of the Paris basin and R. aturensis n. sp. from the Chattian (upper Oligocene). This work is also the occasion to describe a species from the Thanetian (late Paleocene) of Spain, R. erroitegiensis n. sp. The rhyncholite Rhynchoteuthis dutemplei d'Orbigny, 1847 from the Campanian (upper Cretaceous) from Chavot (Marne) had been lost by d'Orbigny before he can give a detailed description and figures. The holotype by monotypy, validated by a simple indication, was found in the d'Orbigny collection. We give a description and figures of this species which we assign to the genus Rhyncolites.

The collection of fossil fishes from Monte Bolca (Eocene of Northern Italy), deposited at the Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, Paris, was examined for the detection of parasites or traces of their activity. Of the 349 fishes studied, 62 showed a fairly well-preserved integument for the observation of skin nodules. Of these, all teleosts, six specimen exhibited skin nodules.The percentage of diseased fish is therefore 9.7%. The concerned species were Exellia (= Semiophorus) velifer (Volta, 1796), Abromasta (= Pagellus) microdon (Agassiz, 1839), Pseudosparnodus microstomus (Agassiz, 1839), Eozanclus brevirostris (Agassiz, 1833–1844) and Cyclopoma gigas Agassiz, 1833–1844. These pathologies of the integument are morphologically similar to those that can be observed in extant taxa. The causes of fish nodules are diverse (toxins, infectious agents, physical causes, imunological causes, nutritional and metabolic perturbations), but a pathogen among the group of viruses, bacteria, myxozoa, microporidia, ciliata, trematoda or turbellaria is generally involved. Their presence reflects an unbalanced palaeoenvironment in the basin where the fishes of the “Pesciara di Bolca” fossilized.