 Subjects -> PALEONTOLOGY (Total: 43 journals)
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- A RUPELIAN CORAL REEF FISH ASSEMBLAGE FROM THE VENETIAN SOUTHERN ALPS
(BERICI HILLS, NE ITALY)
Authors: GIUSEPPE MARRAMA', LUCA GIUSBERTI, GIORGIO CARNEVALE
Abstract: Here we describe a new bony fish assemblage collected from a fossiliferous outcrop located in Perarolo, Berici Hills, Venetian southern Alps. The fossiliferous deposits pertain to the Rupelian (lower Oligocene) Castelgomberto Calcarenite and are indicative of a tropical marine shallow water setting associated with coral reefs. The assemblage is characterized by diminutive putative cryptobenthic fishes, including a single goby (family Gobiidae) and several cardinalfishes of the subfamily Pseudmiinae (family Apogonidae. Furthermore, a new apogonine of the extinct tribe †Eoapogonini, a new butteflyfish (family Chaetodontidae), and an indeterminate viviparous brotula belonging to the ophidiiform family Dinematichthyidae, are also present, and likely represented part of the epibenthic community. Some of the taxa described herein are among the first occurrences for their respective lineages in the fossil record. The Perarolo taxa document the first Oligocene coral reef fish assemblage known to date. Four taxa are described as new: †Arconiapogon deangelii gen. et sp. n., †Chaetodon (Blumchaetodon) wattsi subgen. et sp. n., †Oligopseudamia iancurtisi gen. et sp. n., and †Oniketia akihitoi gen. et sp. n.
PubDate: 2022-04-28
DOI: 10.54103/2039-4942/16601
Issue No: Vol. 128, No. 2 (2022)
- THE TUROLIAN HIPPARIONS FROM CIOBURCIU SITE (REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA):
SYSTEMATICS AND PALEODIET
Authors: BOGDAN G. RĂŢOI, BOGDAN S. HAIDUC, GINA M. SEMPREBON, PAUL ŢIBULEAC, RAYMOND L. BERNOR
Abstract: The Cioburciu hipparions, Republic of Moldova, are included in a Turolian assemblage, approximately dated between 9 and 7 million years. We assess herein their taxonomic position, systematics, biogeography and paleodietary habits. We have undertaken standard equid measurements as well as accessing the Vera Eisenmann website for measurements and images and analysed craniodental and postcranial elements. This assemblage has been determined to be of a medium-sized hipparion with an elongated muzzle, well developed preorbital fossa that is dorsoventrally extensive and placed close to the orbit, lacking a caninus fossa and having a prominent and deep buccinator fossa. As such, this assemblage is referable to Cremohipparion moldavicum Gromova 1952 common to the Western Ukraine, Balkans, Romania, Republic of Georgia, Turkey and Iran. We have employed a combination of gross cheek tooth wear morphology utilizing the mesowear method and a microscopic analysis of occlusal enamel scars utilizing the light microscope microwear technique. These complementary paleodietary methods indicate that these hipparions engaged in a mixed feeding dietary behavior and that the Cioburciu sample of C. moldavicum likely alternated its diet between browsing and grazing seasonally and/or regionally. A hierarchical cluster analysis based on average scratch and pit numbers positions this taxon among extant mixed feeding ungulates. Large pitting and gouging assessed through the microwear technique indicates occasional consumption of relatively coarser foods than typical mixed feeders or grazers or grit-laden food just prior to death while mesowear indicates that this was not a lifetime habit.
PubDate: 2022-04-26
DOI: 10.54103/2039-4942/15810
Issue No: Vol. 128, No. 2 (2022)
- DANIAN (SBZ2) LARGER FORAMINIFERA FROM THE BECIRMAN FORMATION
(SOUTHEASTERN TURKEY) AS EVIDENCE OF ROTALIIDS DIVERSITY IN LOWER
PALEOCENE SHALLOW-WATER ENVIRONMENTS
Authors: DERYA SINANOĞLU, ANDREA BENEDETTI, NAZIRE ÖZGEN-ERDEM
Abstract: An important shallow marine deposit is described and illustrated with focus on the systematics and biostratigraphy of larger foraminifera from three stratigraphic sections of the Becirman Formation from the Batman and Siirt regions (Southeastern Turkey). A quite diverse association, mostly dominated by rotaliids (11 species belonging to 7 genera) and subordinate porcelaneous and agglutinated taxa, is documented as well. The fossil assemblage, including Elazigina dienii, Rotospirella conica, Praelockhartia cf. neoakbari, Cuvillierina cf. sireli associated with Mardinella daviesi and Idalina sinjarica, indicates the late Danian SBZ2. The abundance of rotaliids is linked, in this time frame, to the recovery of the shallow benthic communities after the K/Pg extinction including increase of surface water temperatures and oligotrophy. This was possibly due to the climatic warming recorded at the end of the Danian (Latest Danian Event), thus promoting a rapid adaptative radiation of rotaliids at genus rank.
PubDate: 2022-04-19
DOI: 10.54103/2039-4942/15227
Issue No: Vol. 128, No. 2 (2022)
- THE MIDDLE SMITHIAN (EARLY TRIASSIC) AMMONOIDS OF GORNJI BRČELI
(SOUTHERN MONTENEGRO)
Authors: MARTIN ĐAKOVIĆ , LEOPOLD KRYSTYN , MILAN SUDAR
Abstract: A rich Early Triassic (Smithian) ammonoid fauna discovered near the village of Gornji Brčeli (southern Montenegro) is unique for the Early Triassic of the western Tethys. The Smithian there is represented by a series of several tens of meters thick brown-red to grey-green marls and clays with intercalated, mica-rich, thin dark grey sandstones, and subordinate occurence of redeposited oolitic limestone. The fossils have been collected as scree material over a few square meters but are considered as contemporaneous since no unnatural association (condensation) was detected. The ammonoid assemblage is represented by 15 species, belonging to the genera Aspenites, Cordillerites, Dieneroceras, Abrekites, Owenites, Pseudaspenites, Pseudosageceras, Truempyceras, Wyomingites, Hanielites, Galfettites, Parahedenstroemia, Lingyunites and Pseudoflemingites, and can, by the presence of Owenites zitteli Smith, be correlated with the late Middle Smithian Nyamalites angustecostatus beds of the southern Tethys, the upper Owenites koeneni beds of South China or the Owenites beds of North America. Taxonomic composition of the ammonoid assemblage shows great similiarity with those of Spiti (India), NW Guangxi (China) and Nevada (USA), but also some with those of Salt Range (Pakistan) and Timor. A markedly dominance of involute, oxycone and platycone morphologies distinguishes the Gornji Brčeli fauna from other contemporaneous faunas and points to specific palaeoecological environmental conditions. Previously, three new species were described from this locality and in the present paper one more is added (Parahedenstroemia' tatjanae). Two species hitherto considered as synonyms (Abrekites arthaberi and Owenites zitteli) are revised and treated as valid based on new material from Gornji Brčeli.
PubDate: 2022-04-11
DOI: 10.54103/2039-4942/12253
Issue No: Vol. 128, No. 2 (2022)
- MARINE FISHES (CHONDRICHTHYES, HOLOCEPHALI, ACTINOPTERYGII) FROM THE UPPER
CRETACEOUS (CAMPANIAN) RYBUSHKA FORMATION NEAR BELOE OZERO, SARATOV
OBLAST, RUSSIA
Authors: JUN A. EBERSOLE, SERGEY V. SOLONIN, DAVID J. CICIMURRI, MAXIM S. ARKHANGELSKY, NIKOLAY V. MARTYNOVICH
Abstract: A diverse fish paleofauna occurs in the upper Campanian portion of the Rybushka Formation exposed near Saratov city in the Saratov Oblast, Russia. Twenty taxa have been identified, including two holocephalans (Ischyodus bifurcatus and Amylodon karamysh), twelve elasmobranchs (Synechodus sp., Cederstroemia sp., Cretalamna cf. C. borealis, C. cf. C. sarcoportheta, Archaeolamna kopingensis, Eostriatolamia segedini, E. venusta, Pseudocorax laevis, Squalicorax kaupi, Squalicorax morphotype 1, Squalidae indet., and Squatirhina sp.), and six teleosts (Pachyrhizodus sp., Saurocephalus lanciformis, Paralbula casei, Enchodus cf. E. dirus, E. cf. E. gladiolus, and E. petrosus). Many of these taxa are new to the Campanian fish record of Russia, and the assemblage demonstrates that there is significant taxonomic overlap between the Rybushka Formation paleofauna and that of North America.
PubDate: 2022-03-31
DOI: 10.54103/2039-4942/16954
Issue No: Vol. 128, No. 2 (2022)
- OSTRACODS FROM THE LATE TRIASSIC (NORIAN) OF YUKON, CANADA: NEW TAXONOMIC
AND PALAEOBIOGEOGRAPHIC INSIGHTS
Authors: MARIE-BÉATRICE FOREL, NICOLO' DEL PIERO, SYLVAIN RIGAUD, ROSSANA MARTINI
Abstract: The present work investigates the significance of Late Triassic ostracods from the Yukon Territory, Canada, and adds to the scientific knowledge of the taxonomy of these organisms during the Norian, which remain poorly documented and understood. Fifteen limestone samples representing distinct marine palaeoenvironments cropping out at Lime Peak, Stikinia terrane, provided 90 species, including 9 newly described: Alatobairdia' sohni n. sp., Bairdia aksala n. sp., B. taan n. sp., B. yukonensis n. sp., Cornutobairdia yukonella n. sp., Lobobairdia whitella n. sp., Mirabairdia canadia n. sp., Hungarella limella n. sp., Leviella riedeli n. sp. Most assemblages point to neritic conditions in the photic zone. A similarity analysis demonstrates the distinct composition of reef-related and algae-related ostracod assemblages. The ostracod-algae associations in Lime Peak reveal that the affinity of Bairdiidae for algae (Dasycladaleans in the case of Lime Peak) was already established in the Norian. A faunal link is identified during the Norian between eastern and western Panthalassa and Japan, in line with studies on other taxa. The flux of species between eastern Panthalassa and Tethyan areas appears very unbalanced in the Late Triassic with most migrations originating from the Tethys. Further data from other Middle and Upper Triassic Panthalassan localities and stages (i.e. Ladinian and Carnian) are needed to confirm whether this apparent trend is due to sampling bias or reflects real dispersal fluxes.
PubDate: 2022-03-30
DOI: 10.54103/2039-4942/15439
Issue No: Vol. 128, No. 2 (2022)
- MARINE LIFE IN THE MEDITERRANEAN DURING THE MESSINIAN SALINITY CRISIS: A
PALEOICHTHYOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE
Authors: GIORGIO CARNEVALE, WERNER SCHWARZHANS
Abstract: Almost fifty years after the first definition of the Messinian salinity crisis (MSC), the events that occurred in the Mediterranean during the terminal portion of the Miocene still attract the attention of a large and diverse scientific community. Although fossils are relatively common in the deposits that accumulated during the MSC, their significance for the interpretation of the latest Miocene paleoenvironmental evolution of the Mediterranean has been underevalued. In this paper, we summarize the marine paleoichthyological record of the three stages of the MSC based on both articulated and isolated skeletal remains and otoliths, the latter almost exclusively known from the Lago-Mare phase. We focus on the composition of the marine ichthyofauna of the Mediterranean during the three main stages of the MSC, showing the persistent continuity of marine stenohaline taxa throughout most of the interval between 5.97 and 5.33 Ma. While the record of articulated fish skeletons is unquestionably autochthonous, thereby providing unambiguous evidence of the occurrence of open marine environments in the MSC preceding the Lago-Mare phase, the autochthonous nature of the otolith record has often been questioned. For this reason, the otolith record of marine fishes has been examined in detail from a taxonomic and paleoecological point of view. Three species, Bellottia verecunda n. sp., Benthosema taurinense n. sp., and Bostrychus marsilii n. sp., are described as new and a thorough discussion about the possible origin of the otoliths is provided. Alternative explanations for the occurrence of otoliths of marine fish during the Lago-Mare phase, such as reworking, contamination from overlying Pliocene sediments or import from outside the Mediterranean through aquatic birds are considered unlikely. In our assessment, the occurrence of marine fish otoliths in the Lago-Mare phase can be explained with the presence of normal marine environments in the Mediterranean, at least temporarily. Therefore, we suggest that the paleoichthyological data provided herein should be integrated in the future evolutionary paleoenvironmental reconstructions of the MSC.
PubDate: 2022-03-28
DOI: 10.54103/2039-4942/15964
Issue No: Vol. 128, No. 2 (2022)
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