Variability changes in the ammonite family Dactylioceratidae during the Lower Toarcian

• Autorzy: Morard A. , Guex J.
• Konferencja: International Congress on the Jurassic System (7 ; 06-18.09.2006 ; Kraków, Poland)
• Języki publikacji: EN

Abstrakty

EN

The comparison of successive dactylioceratid samples collected in the Moroccan Middle-Atlas, the Spanish Betic Cordillera, the Lusitanian Basin and the Causses Basin, allowed us to better characterize the range of variability of these forms from the very base of the Toarcian to the Lower-Middle Toarcian transition. From a biostratigraphic point of view, the Tethyan subgenus Eodactylites (Schmidt-Effing 1972) clearly precedes the NW European subgenus Orthodactylites – as recorded in the Lusitanian Basin succession for example, the latter then giving rise to the Dactylioceras s.s. Both early subgenera can be distinguished morphologically, and separated in a number of “species”, although isolated specimens may be difficult to identify. The main point is that Eodactylites, as well as early Orthodactylites form complete series of continuous covariation, the latter progressively branching into two main lineages in the Semicelatum Subzone. Following the occurence of some rare forerunners, known from the Middle-Upper Domerian, the evolution of the macroconch representatives of this ammonite family can be summarised in three main steps: 1. A sudden “mass apparition” of Eodactylites defines the base of the Toarcian. Their variability spectrum is immediately quite large, with a covariation series between a densely ornamented, somewhat involute and compressed pole (E. mirabile) and a more robust very evolute form with distant primary ribs and possible tuberculation (E. pseudocommune). 2. Ornamental variability tends to disappear in the outer whorls of Orthodactylites, whereas their inner whorls still display a wide covariation series (from slightly compressed forms with dense simple ribs to stout pantuberculate ones), as already noted by Howarth (1962). Intermediate forms seem to disappear in the Semicelatum Subzone. 3. Two lineages are then clearly distinct, one leading from isocostate to variocostate non tuberculate serpenticones (Dactylioceras s.s.), the second developing depressed whorls prone to tuberculation, particularly in inner whorls (Nodicoeloceras). A further diversification occurs at the Lower-Middle Toarcian transition (Guex 1971). In this new evolutionary frame, divergent views on the taxonomy of the Toarcian Dactylioceratidae can eventually be reconciled, as different authors in the past based their classification schemes only on a limited portion of the succession presented here.

Słowa kluczowe

EN

W Tethys; Lower Toarcian; ammonites; covariation; variability changes; evolution

• Wydawca: Państwowy Instytut Geologiczny - Państwowy Instytut Badawczy
• Czasopismo: Volumina Jurassica
• Rocznik: 2006
• Tom: Vol. 4, no. 1
• Strony: 194--195
• Opis fizyczny: Bibliogr. 2 poz.

Twórcy

autor

Morard A.

autor

Guex J.

• Institut de Geologie et Paleontologie, Humense, UNIL-Dorigny, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland,

Bibliografia

• Guex J. 1971. Sur la classification des Dactylioceratidae (Ammonoidea) du Toarcien. Eclogae Geologicae Helvetiae, 64, 2: 225-243.
• Howarth M. K. 1962. The Jet Rock Series and the Alum Shale Series of the Yorkshire coast. Proceedings of the Yorkshire Geological Society, 33, 18: 381-422. 1972. Die Dactylioceratidae, eine Ammoniten-Familie des unteren Jura. Münsterschen Forschungen zur Geologie und Paläontologie, 25-26: 255.