Six New Species of Fresh and Brackish Water Ostracods (Crustacea) from Yakushima, Southern Japan
Twelve species of brackish and freshwater ostracods were collected from the island of Yakushima in southern Japan. Six species, belonging to the genera Cypria, Dolerocypris, Stenocypris, Schellencandona and Paracypria, are new and are described herein. The genus Schellencandona is reported for the first time outside Europe. Although a wide range of apparently suitable habitats was sampled for ostracods across the island, all specimens were recovered from or near the coast; further inland yielded no ostracods. The freshwater habitats around the coast of the island consist of springs and rockpools at the top of the shore above most high tide levels.
Homology and functional morphology of the sexual dimorphism in the antenna of Sclerocypris Sars, 1924 (Crustacea, Ostracoda, Megalocypridinae)
The sexual dimorphism in the chaetotaxy of the antenna in various species of Sclerocypris is studied and described. Relying on larval morphology, a homology between the patterns in the two sexes is deduced and a suitable nomenclature for the apomorphic male condition is proposed. The differences observed are in all probability related to the function of the male antenna during copulation.
Palaeocarpinus (Extinct Betulaceae) from Northwestern China: New Evidence for Paleocene Floristic Continuity between Asia, North America, and Europe
Spiny-bracted fruits of Palaeocarpinus Crane, a genus of Betulaceae previously known only from Europe and North America, have been discovered in the Paleocene of Altai, northwestern China. The fruits are found in association with abundant Corylus-like foliage and staminate catkins containing Corylus-like pollen. Because of problems distinguishing leaves of Corylus from those of extinct betulaceous genera, we place these leaves in the genus Corylites Gardner ex Seward & Holttum. The fruits, staminate catkins, pollen, and leaves from Altai were probably all produced by a single species. Palaeocarpinus orientalis is nearly identical in its morphology to Palaeocarpinus joffrensis from the Paleocene of North America except in the more rounded primary bracts of the associated staminate catkins. The species is less similar to Palaeocarpinus laciniata from the Paleocene of southern England.