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Evidence of the Frasnian Genundewa Event at the FZ 2 – FZ 3 boundary interval has been detected in the facies of the isolated carbonate platform in Subpolar Urals. The preserved traces of the Genundewa Event represent micritic microlaminated carbonates, which manifests a short-term deepening episode in an extremely shallow water background. From the onset of this deep-water deposition there is a dominance of Polygnathus, Ancyrodella, and Mesotaxis whereas in the underlying shallow water deposits, the genus Polygnathus clearly predominated. No specific features of the Genundewa Event were observed in the C-isotope record. The mean δ13Ccarb value is approximately 2‰ in the event interval. The onset of the Genundewa Еvent corresponds to the beginning of Euro-American IIb-2 cycle and is correlated with the base of the Sargaevian regional substage of the Urals and Russian Platform, as well as the base of Poland IC cycle. This correlation confirms the global character of this event. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sclerotized jaw elements (scolecodonts) of polychaete annelids are rarely preserved as articulated jaw apparatuses. Here we describe a morphologically unusual, rather large, and symmetrical jaw apparatus, assigned to the new taxon Boreognathus pogorevichi gen. et sp. nov., from the Kungurian (lower Permian) of the Pechora Coal Basin, northern Cis‐Urals, Russia. Whereas the specimen is mainly preserved as a three‐dimensional external mould of the near‐complete dorsal maxillary apparatus, some organic matter comprising the original jaw wall is also retained. The new taxon combines edentate, pincer‐like first maxillae (MI) typical of the extant Labidognatha apparatus type with long slender carriers common in the Prionognatha type. Unlike the smooth MI, MII are consistently and prominently denticulated. The new genus represents a hitherto unknown type of polychaete jaw apparatus and is assigned to the Palaeozoic family Atraktoprionidae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe aggregative microconchid (Lophophorata) tubes from the uppermost Permian (upper Changhsingian) and Lower Triassic (Olenekian) lacustrine and fluvial strata of the Tunguska and Kuznetsk basins and the southern Cis-Urals, Russia. These attach to clam shrimp carapaces, bivalve shells, terrestrial plant fragments and a horseshoe crab head shield, and also form their own monospecific agglomerations. Planispiral tubes of a wide size range (0.1–2.5 mm) create dense settlements on these firm substrates, which likely comprise multiple generations of the same species. These finds confirm that this extinct lophophorate group was inhabiting non-marine continental basins during latest Permian and earliest Triassic time, when they were major suspension feeders in such limnic ecosystems. Microconchids dispersed extensively and rapidly in the aftermath of the Permian–Triassic mass extinction into both marine and continental basins at low and moderately high latitudes, which were notably different in salinity, temperature, depth and redox conditions. This confirms that small lightly calcified microconchids were a genuine disaster eurytopic group, whose expansion may have been promoted by low predator pressure and low competition for substrate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details of the Early-Middle Frasnian boundary interval of the Pymvashor River section (Timan-Pechora Basin, Cis-Urals, in the far north of European Russia) are revealed by biostratigraphically constrained carbonate (d13Ccarb) and organic carbon (d13Corg) stable data. The studied interval corresponds to the lower part of the Domanik Formation, which consists of interbedded limestone and shale beds. Organic-rich black shale that lacks bioturbation and benthic organisms indicates an oxygen-depleted depositional environment. Detection of isorenieratene derivatives in organic matter indicates that anoxia was present in the photic zone during deposition. The Pymvashor River section contains d13Ccarb and d13Corg isotope records related to the Early-Middle Frasnian isotope Event. The similarity between the Cis-Uralian (this study) and the Chinese d13Ccarb and d13Corg oscillations, including the twostep pattern of the recorded major positive excursions, suggests a robust correlation of the Late Devonian Early-Middle Frasnian isotope Event and minor intra-event excursions. Magnitude of variations and values of d13Corg and d13Ccarb in the punctata Zone in the Pymvashor River section are minor than those observed in the North American, Polish, and Chinese successions. Such difference may reflect specific variation of the local environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oligochaetes, despite their important role in terrestrial ecosystems and a tremendous biomass, are extremely rare fossils. The palaeontological record of these worms is restricted to some cocoons, presumable trace fossils and a few body fossils the most convincing of which are discovered in Mesozoic and Cenozoic strata. The Olenekian (Lower Triassic) siliciclastic lacustrine Petropavlovka Lagerstätte of the southern Cis-Urals yields a number of extraordinary freshwater fossils including an annelid. The segmented body with a secondary annulation of this fossil, a subtriangular prostomium, a relatively thick layered body wall and, possibly, the presence of a genital region point to its oligochaete affinities. Other fossil worms which have been ascribed to clitellates are reviewed and, with a tentative exception of two Pennsylvanian finds, affinities of any pre-Mesozoic forms to clitellate annelids are rejected. The new fossil worm allows tracing of a persuasive oligochaete record to the lowermost Mesozoic and confirms a plausibility of the origin of this annelid group in freshwater conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]