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The early evolution of the major groups of derived non-avialan theropods is still not well understood, mainly because of their poor fossil record in the Jurassic. A well-known result of this problem is the ‘temporal paradox’ argument that is sometimes made against the theropod hypothesis of avian origins. Here we report on an exceptionally well-preserved small theropod specimen collected from the earliest Late Jurassic Tiaojishan Formation of western Liaoning, China. The specimen is referable to the Troodontidae, which are among the theropods most closely related to birds. This new find refutes the ‘temporal paradox’ and provides significant information on the temporal framework of theropod divergence. Furthermore, the extensive feathering of this specimen, particularly the attachment of long pennaceous feathers to the pes, sheds new light on the early evolution of feathers and demonstrates the complex distribution of skeletal and integumentary features close to the dinosaur–bird transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crowns of four crinoid species, Talarocrinus planus Weller, 1920, Phacelocrinus longidactylus (McChesney, 1860), Ampelocrinus mundus? Kirk, 1942, and Phanocrinus maniformis (Yandell and Shumard, 1847) are reported from the limestones of the Wymps Gap Member of the Greenbrier Formation in northern West Virginia. Collectively these species indicate an early Chesterian age for the Wymps Gap Member, with the occurrence of T. planus indicating correlation with the Ridenhower (Paint Creek) Formation of the Illinois Basin. A review of the 17 species currently placed in Talarocrinus suggests that the Talarocrinus zone ranges no higher than the Ridenhower Formation in the Upper Gnathodus bilineatus conodont zone of the late Visean. The new occurrence of A. mundus extends its range upwards from the Genevievian substage of the Chesterian. Previous studies have used sequence stratigraphy to correlate the Wymps Gap Member with the lower part of the Union Limestone Formation of the Greenbrier Group in southern West Virginia, which in turn has been correlated with the Ridenhower Formation. The occurrence of T. planus in the Wymps Gap Member provides independent confirmation of the correlations based on sequence stratigraphy between the Appalachian and Illinois basins. Correlation of the overlying Reynolds Member of the Mauch Chunk Formation with the Glen Dean Formation of the Illinois Basin suggests a significant unconformity between the Greenbrier Formation and Mauch Chunk Formation in northern West Virginia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proteaceae are restricted to the Southern Hemisphere, and of the seven tribes of the subfamily Grevilleoideae, only three (Macadamieae, Oriteae, and Embothrieae) have living members in Argentina. Megafossil genera of Proteaceae recorded from Patagonia include Lomatia, Embothrium, Orites, and Roupala. In this report, we evaluate and revise fossil Argentine Proteaceae on the basis of type material and new specimens. The new collections come from the Tufolitas Laguna del Hunco (early Eocene, Chubut Province), the Ventana (middle Eocene, Río Negro Province), and the Río Ñirihuau (late Oligocene-early Miocene, Río Negro Province) formations, Patagonia, Argentina. We confirm the presence of Lomatia preferruginea Berry, L. occidentalis (Berry) Frenguelli, L. paragonica Frenguelli, Roupala patagonica Durango de Cabrera et Romero, and Orites bivascularis Romero, Dibbern et Gandolfo. Fossils assigned to Embothrium precoccineum Berry and E. pregrandiflorum Berry are doubtful, and new material is necessary to confirm the presence of this genus in the fossil record of Patagonia. A putative new fossil species of Proteaceae is presented as Proteaceae gen. et sp. indet. Fossil Proteaceae are compared with modern genera, and an identification key for the fossil leaf species is presented. Doubtful historical records of Proteaceae fossils for the Antarctic Peninsula region and Patagonia are also discussed. Based on this revision, the three tribes of Proteaceae found today in Argentina were already present in Patagonia by the early Eocene, where they probably arrived via the Australia-Antarctica-South America connection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Features the virtual museum created by the Museum of Paleontology at the University of California at Berkeley. Accessing of the Hall of Dinosaurs through Internet; Citing of the Virtual Museum as `Best of the Net' by the Global Network Navigator; Reasons behind the success of the museum.

Reports on the donation of the large fossil collections of BP Amoco plc to several universities in North America. Taxon and locality paper records; Conodonts; Paleozoic foraminifera; Pollen; Megafossils; California-Oregon-Washington foraminifera.

The article focuses on the history of a collection of Carboniferous Period fish and amphibian fossils which were discovered in 1864 in Jarrow, Kilkenny, Ireland. The authors analyze correspondence between English biologist Thomas Henry Huxley and Irish zoologist at Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland Edward Perceval Wright on the discovery of the fossils. They discuss the relationship between British Darwinians and Irish academic and field naturalists in relation to the discovery, explore why the fossils are not included in 19th century Irish cultural history, and explain why English palaeontologist William Hellier Baily claimed credit for the discovery.