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Summary of a decade of research at the Owadów–Brzezinki Lagerstätte (Tithonian, central Poland): A review and perspectives for the future

Błażejowski Błażej, Weryński Łukasz, Wierzbowski Andrzej, Michalska Monika, Hryniewicz Krzysztof, Uchman Alfred, Kugler Stanisław, Bącal Paweł, Hołda-Michalska Aleksandra

Volumina Jurassica

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2023

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Vol. 21

83--98

EN

For over ten years, the Lower to Upper Tithonian boundary beds cropping out in the Owadów–Brzezinki quarry have yielded numerous fossils of ammonites, bivalves, brachiopods, xiphosurans, decapods, insects, and vertebrates – including actinopterygian fishes and various reptiles and others, all of which exhibit fine preservation of their anatomical details due to special environmental conditions during their fossilization. The Owadów–Brzezinki section is also important for stratigraphical correlations because it contains ammonite faunas indicative of the NE European and NW European Subboreal zonal schemes, as well as Tethyan calpionellids. The whole faunal as- semblage, which represents taxa of many iconic groups of Mesozoic animals, has created the opportunity to establish the ‘Owadów– Brzezinki geopark’, a geoeducation area where the public, and especially the young, can learn about the beauty of the natural history of the region.

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Palaeobiogeography of Late Bajocian–Tithonian ammonites of northeastern Iran

Majidifard Mahmoud Reza

Geotourism / Geoturystyka

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2023

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nr 1-2 (72-73)

46--46

EN

Jurassic rocks are widely distributed and superbly exposed in the Alborz Mts. (northern Iran) and Koppeh Dagh (northeastern Iran). The Lower Jurassic and large parts of the Middle Jurassicare characterized by a thick siliciclastic succession, whereas the Upper Bajocian to Tithonian rocks are predominantly carbonates, which represent a platform, slope and basin system. The Upper Bajocian-Tithonian ammonite faunas the NNE Iran are mostly of Submediterranean affinity, but elements of Subboreal, Mediterranean, and Ethiopian provinces are occasionally intermingled. Palaeobiogeographically the Late Bajocian to Bathonian ammonites belong to Submediterranean Province, as elsewhere in north and central Iran. This is supported by the occurrence of ammonites such as Garantiana and Morphoceras and some cosmopolitan taxa such as Cadomites and Oxycerites. In order to unravel the origin of the faunal elements and their migration routes, the relationship of the ammonite fauna of Iran to that of other regions was evaluated. On the whole, at the species level, the Toarcian to Early Bajocian ammonite faunas of northern and central Iran show a close relationship to that of northwestern Europe. A characteristic feature of this fauna is the scarcity of Phylloceratidae (accounting for less than 1% up to 3%) and the absence of Lytoceratidae. Remarkably, from Late Bathonian onward to Kimmeridgian, Phylloceratidae account for more than 50% of the ammonites fauna. Palaeogeographic reconstructions show the position of the Iranian plate (North and Central Iran) during the Middle Jurassic time at the southern margin of Eurasia at a palaeo-latitude of around 30° N which rather corresponds to European regions (Enay & Cariou, 1997). The open migration routes across pericontinental shelf seas along the northern Tethyan margin that were approximately parallel to palaeo-latitudes may explain the strong affinities of the Late Bajocian–Bathonian ammonites of northern and Central Iran to those of the Submediterranean Province. The Callovian ammonite fauna has a typical northwest Tethyan character, and belong to the Submediterranean faunal province (Seyed-Emami et al., 2013), and are largely dominated by Phylloceratidae ammonites. These pelagic taxa that preferred open oceanic conditions are accompanied consistently by Perisphinctidae, Reineckeiidae, Oppeliidae (Hecticoceratinae), Macrocephalitidae , Tulitidae, Aspidoceratidae (Parawedekindia, Peltoceras). On the other hand, this is supported by the occurrence of Submediterranean ammonites such as Macrocephalites, Pachyceras, and some cosmopolitan taxa such as Hecticoceras and Reineckeia. Some taxa from the Oxfordian- Kimmeridgian belong to the Western Tethys Province (Sequeirosia and Passendorferia) or Subboreal Province (Cardioceras). It is remarkable that, besides some cosmopolitan ammonites, there is no direct connection with faunas from southwestern Iran, western India and the southern Tethys. Finally, the Tithonian ammonite faunas of northeastern Iran are mostly of Submediterranean affinity (Seyed-Emami et al., 2013). However elements of the Mediterranean faunal provinces occasionally occur. In order to unravel the origin of the faunal elements and their migration routes, the relationship of the ammonite fauna of Iran to that of other regions need to be analysed in the future. Especially the appearance of several allegedly regionally restricted Ataxioceratidae such as Phanerostephanus, Nannostephanus, Nothostephans and the Oppeliidae as Oxylenticeras, which occur in Ethiopian Province (Page, 2008) is of great palaeobiogeographical interest.

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Middle Devonian Foraminifera from the Holy Cross Mountains

Gajewska Maria

Annales Societatis Geologorum Poloniae

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2022

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Vol. 92, No. 4

411--424

EN

The Middle Devonian was an exceptional time for foraminiferal evolution because of the emergence of the first true calcareous multilocular taxa. Despite being key forms for an understanding of the origin of foraminiferal multilocularity, which is one of the most intriguing events in the evolutionary history of the group, they are largely unstudied. These unique foraminifera, including representatives of the genera Cremsia, Moravammina, Pseudopalmula, Semitextularia, and Vasicekia, are presented herein as well as foraminifer-like microfossils of uncertain biological position. The studied material comes from the Middle Givetian strata of the Miłoszów section and the Eifelian part of the Grzegorzowice-Skały section (Holy Cross Mountains, Poland). Described isolated specimens are in an exceptionally good state of preservation on a worldwide scale, which enabled the detailed analysis of test morphologies, complementing previous papers based on less well-preserved material. The suggested systematics of the foraminifera collected attempts to revise scarce taxonomic data that is still under debate, especially the classification of Moravammina, Cremsia, and Vasicekia. The Devonian foraminifers presented were prominent endobenthic and epibenthic inhabitants of common organic coral-stromatoporoid buildups. Palaeobiogeographical records show that during the Middle Devonian, the studied forms extended their exclusive European distribution into further Laurussian shelves and shallow seas, located in the northern and southeastern parts of the Rheic basin. This assumes that such assemblages may be used as palaeoenvironmental indicators. However, at present, their correlative potential is unknown.

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New records of Tmaegoceras lacordarii (Michelin, 1835) from the Lower Jurassic Arietenkalk Formation of SW Germany and its systematic relationships

Schweigert Günter, Scherzinger Armin, Gräbenstein Stefan

Volumina Jurassica

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2021

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Vol. 19, no. 1

95--108

EN

New material of the enigmatic cosmopolitan ammonite genus Tmaegoceras Hyatt, 1889 is reported from the upper Lower Sinemurian (Bucklandi Zone, ‛cf. pinguisʼ Biohorizon) of SW Germany. It is better preserved than previously described material. All specimens are assigned to Tmaegoceras lacordarii (Michelin, 1835), an almost forgotten subjective senior synonym of Tmaegoceras crassiceps Pompeckj, 1901. The presence of an extreme rursiradiate ribbing style in some specimens allows a better understanding of this genus and provides a hint for its systematic affiliation. This diagnostic ribbing style is shared with some extremely rare Alpine taxa such as Ammonites salinarius Hauer, 1846 and “Arietites” subsalinarius Wähner, 1891. Tmaegoceras is included here in Pseudotropitinae Donovan, 1973. Pseudotropitinae are possibly an early offshoot of Arietitidae indigenous of the Panthalassa Realm that occasionally spread into the Tethys and its adjacent shelves. A phyletic relationship with Late Triassic Tropitidae Mojsisovics, 1875, however, cannot be excluded either.

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In defence of invertebrate fossil taxonomy

Fedorowski Jerzy

Acta Geologica Polonica

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2021

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Vol. 71, no. 3

249--258

EN

Starting from a subjective viewpoint on the decreasing interest in invertebrate fossil taxonomy, this essay discusses its importance in palaeobiological studies exemplified with cases from the palaeobiogeography and palaeoecology of rugose corals, and aims at provoking a discussion on the topic. The possible causes of this negative declining trend include inherent problems of palaeontological taxonomy, and changing systems in science and higher education.

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The Bajocian to Kimmeridgian (Middle to Upper Jurassic) ammonite succession at Sentralbanken High (core 7533/3-U-1), Barents Sea, and its stratigraphical and palaeobiogeographical significance

Andrzej Wierzbowski, Morten Smelror

Volumina Jurassica

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2020

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Vol. 18, no. 1

1--22

EN

Ammonites recovered from Upper Bajocian to Upper Kimmeridgian strata in a core drilled at Sentralbanken High in the northern Barents Sea are described and chronostratigraphically interpreted. The lower part of the core comprises Upper Bajocian to Upper Callovian deposits of the Fuglen Formation with ammonites of the genus Cranocephalites near the base, and Longaeviceras in the upper part. The overlying Oxfordian to Kimmeridgian deposits of the Hekkingen Formation are thin and condensed. The Hekkingen Formation is dominated by Boreal cardioceratid ammonites (Cardioceras, Amoebites, Euprionoceras, Hoplocardioceras), with numerous Subboreal aulacostephanid ammonites (Rasenia, Zenostephanus) at two levels. The occurrences of Boreal and Subboreal ammonites are discussed in relation to the palaeogeography and fluctuations of ammonite faunas within the Boreal Realm during the Kimmeridgian with special attention to levels rich in Subboreal ammonites whose appearance has been controlled by tectonic and climatic factors. The uppermost part of the succession deposited during a time of maximum flooding in the Late Kimmeridgian is dominated by Boreal ammonites.

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A microconchiate Hypowaagenia Schweigert and Schlampp, 2020 (Aspidoceratidae, Hybonoticeratinae) from the Upper Jurassic of Southern Germany

Schweigert Günter, Schlampp Victor

Volumina Jurassica

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2020

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Vol. 18, no. 2

115--120

EN

The previously unknown microconch which corresponds to the recently introduced Late Jurassic aspidoceratoid ammonite genus Hypowaagenia Schweigert and Schlampp, 2020, is reported from beds of the topmost Platynota Zone or basal Hypselocyclum Zone of Franconia. This record indicates that these exotic ammonite findings are not of long-drifting necroplanktonic shells, but stem from animals that have spread over this area after immigration from the Tethys

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Detailed biostratigraphy of the Middle Callovian – lowest Oxfordian in the Mikhaylov reference section (Ryazan region, European part of Russia) by ammonites

Kiselev D. N., Rogov M. A.

Volumina Jurassica

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2018

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Vol. 16, no 1

73--186

EN

Study of the sections near the Mikhaylov (Ryazan region) has made it possible to improve the infrazonal subdivision of the Middle Callovian – Lower Oxfordian of the European Russia by ammonites. The Athleta Zone is the most complete in the studied sections. A sequence of kosmoceratid biohorizons (phaeinum, proniae, rowlstonense and kuklikum) is established here, as well as infrazonal units based on a phylogenetic sequence of species of the genus Funiferites. A study of the paleobiodiversity and frequency of occurrence of ammonites at different intervals of the section showed that the ammonite assemblages of the Athleta Zone are Sub-Boreal or Sub-Tethyan, while in the Lamberti Zone they are Boreal, and in the Lower Oxfordian they are Arctic. It is also shown that the change in ammonite composition in the sections coincides with the cycles of transgressions and regressions of Boreal basins. New species and subspecies of the ammonites Funiferites allae compressum, Cadoceras (Eichwaldiceras) intermedium, Brightia (B.) lominadzei, B. (B.) progzhellensis, B. (B.) eccentrtica, B. (Glyptia) canaliculata stankevitchae, Zieteniceras rarecostatum are described.

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Stem chondrichthyan microfossils from the Lower Old Red Sandstone of the Welsh Borderland

Burrow C. J., Turner S.

Acta Geologica Polonica

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2018

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Vol. 68, no. 3

321--334

EN

Placoid and polyodontode scales of stem chondrichthyans have been found in the early Lochkovian “Ditton Group” of the Brown Clee Hill district, Shropshire, England and at Talgarth, south Wales. One of the forms is assigned to a new species of Altholepis Karatajūtė-Talimaa, 1997, a genus already recognised from Lochkovian shallow marine deposits in Celtiberia, Spain and the Northwest Territories, Canada as well as the type locality in Podolia, Ukraine. Altholepis salopensis sp. nov. is based on small polyodontode scales with typically three to eight high odontodes; the scale form was previously considered to belong to acanthodian “Nostolepis” robusta (Brotzen, 1934). The structure of other scales formerly assigned to “Nostolepis” robusta has led us to erect a new genus Jolepis for this scale form, which differs from Altholepis in lacking an ordered layout of odontodes. Jolepis robusta (Brotzen, 1934), originally (and possibly still) considered to be an acanthodian, is also known from the Baltic countries, Russia, and northern Germany (ex erratic limestones). Scales of acanthodian Parexus recurvus Agassiz, 1845, and/or possibly from the stem chondrichthyan Seretolepis elegans Karatajūtė-Talimaa, 1968 (scales of these two taxa are barely distinguishable), and of stem chondrichthyan Polymerolepis whitei Karatajūtė-Talimaa, 1968 are also present. Altholepis, Jolepis gen. nov., Seretolepis Karatajūtė-Talimaa, 1968 and Polymerolepis KaratajūtėTalimaa, 1968 are found in marine deposits elsewhere; the British occurrence of these taxa adds to the debate on the sedimentological origins of the Lower Old Red Sandstone deposits in the Welsh Borderland. The geographic range of several early sharks is now known to extend around the Old Red Sandstone continent and beyond.

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From museum drawers to ocean drilling: Fenneria gen. nov. (Bacillariophyta) offers new insights into Eocene marine diatom biostratigraphy and palaeobiogeography

Witkowski J.

Acta Geologica Polonica

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2018

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Vol. 68, no. 1

53--88

EN

Triceratium barbadense Greville, 1861a, T. brachiatum Brightwell, 1856, T. inconspicuum Greville, 1861b and T. kanayae Fenner, 1984a, are among the most common diatoms reported worldwide from lower to middle Eocene biosiliceous sediments. Due to complicated nomenclatural histories, however, they are often confused. A morphometric analysis performed herein indicates that T. brachiatum is conspecific with T. inconspicuum, and that both were previously often misidentified as T. barbadense. Triceratium barbadense sensu stricto is a distinct species similar to Triceratium castellatum West, 1860. Triceratium brachiatum and T. kanayae are transferred herein to a new genus, Fenneria, for which a close phylogenetic relationship with Medlinia Sims, 1998 is proposed. A review of the geographic and stratigraphic distribution of Fenneria shows that the best constrained records of its occurrences are found at DSDP Site 338, and ODP Sites 1051 and 1260. The ages of the base (B) and top (T) of each species’ stratigraphic range are calibrated here to the Geomagnetic Polarity Timescale either directly or inferred via correlation with dinocyst biostratigraphy. Latitudinal diachroneity of ~7 million years is documented for F. brachiata, which disappears earlier in tropical and mid-latitude sites than in the northern high latitudes. These observations, coupled with a preliminary compilation of the Chron C20n taxonomic composition of pelagic diatom assemblages for Sites 338, 1051 and 1260, indicate that diatoms diversified palaeobiogeographically considerably earlier than the Eocene-Oligocene Transition, as commonly believed. This study also emphasizes the importance of the detailed examination of specimens from both museum collections and deep-sea cores as a step toward enhancing the utility of Palaeogene diatoms in palaeoceanographic and palaeoenvironmental reconstructions.

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New finds of well-preserved Tithonian (Late Jurassic) fossils from Owadów–Brzezinki Quarry, Central Poland: a review and perspectives

Błażejowski B., Gieszcz P., Tyborowski D.

Volumina Jurassica

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2016

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Vol. 14, no. 1

123--132

EN

Here we briefly report the discovery of new, exceptionally well-preserved Late Jurassic (Tithonian) fossils from Owadow- Brzezinki quarry - one of the most important palaeontological sites in Poland. These finds which comprise organisms living originally in different environments indicate that the Owadow-Brzezinki site represents a link - most probably in a form of open marine passages - betweeen distinct palaeobiogeographical provinces. This creates an unprecedented opportunity for better recognition of the regional palaeobiogeography of adjacent European areas during the Late Jurassic.

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A Bajocian (Middle Jurassic) marine gastropod assemblage from the Badamu Formation, Central Iran

Ferraris M., Binazadeh T., Kaim A.

Annales Societatis Geologorum Poloniae

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2016

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Vol. 86, No. 3

329--340

EN

Nine species of gastropods are reported from the Bajocian (Middle Jurassic) part of the Badamu Formation of Central Iran. This is the first report of a gastropod assemblage of this age from the shelves of the Kimmerian Continent. Seven species belong to the Vetigastropoda and two to the Caenogastropoda. Two new species, the pleurotomariid Bathrotomaria iranica sp. nov. and the eucyclid Eucycloidea badamuensis sp. nov., are described. The remaining species are left in open nomenclature owing to poor preservation. The composition of the gastropod association is strongly reminiscent of other Tethyan gastropod faunas, in particular those from the southern shores of the Tethys (India and Arabia) and from southern Europe. This indicates a relatively uniform distribution of gastropod faunas along the Middle Jurassic shores of the western Tethys.

13

The earliest ostracods from the Ordovician of the Prague Basin, Czech Republic

Lajblová K., Kraft P.

Acta Geologica Polonica

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2014

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Vol. 64, no. 4

367--392

EN

The earliest ostracods from the Bohemian Massif (Central European Variscides) have been recorded from the Middle Ordovician of the Prague Basin (Barrandian area), in the upper Klabava Formation, and became an abundant component of fossil assemblages in the overlying Šárka Formation. Both early ostracod associations consist of eight species in total, representing mainly eridostracans, palaeocopids, and binodicopids. The revision, description, or redescription of all species and their distribution in the basin is provided. Their diversification patterns and palaeogeographical relationships to ostracod assemblages from other regions are discussed.

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A new species of Lambdarina (Rhynchonellida, Brachiopoda) from the Viséan of central Sudetes (Poland) and its phylogenetic position

Muszer J.

Acta Geologica Polonica

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2014

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Vol. 64, no. 1

1--12

EN

A new species of micromorphic articulate brachiopod (Rhynchonellida) Lambdarina jugowiensis sp. nov., from the upper Viséan (Sokolec Beds) of central Sudetes, SW Poland, is described. The studied specimens are calcified, what makes them unique in respect of their state of preservation. The material is represented by a full range of growth stages; from brephic to gerontic. Based on its morphological features and the palaeogeographical distribution of all its known species, two main evolutionary lines are proposed for the genus; the Australian and the European ones. Lambdarina was widely distributed in the equatorial-tropical waters of marginal seas of the Palaeotethys Ocean, mostly during Mississippian time.

15

Middle Devonian brachiopods from the southern Maїder (eastern Anti-Atlas, Morocco)

Halamski A. T., Baliński A.

Annales Societatis Geologorum Poloniae

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2013

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Vol. 83, No. 4

243--307

EN

Sixty-two Middle Devonian brachiopod species are described on the basis of >1300 specimens from the Taboumakhlof Formation (and subordinately probably also from the top of the El Otfal Formation) at Madne el Mrakib (middle to late Eifelian or early Givetian?), Aferdou el Mrakib (late Eifelian to middle Givetian), and Guelb el Maharch (early Givetian) on the southern edge of the MaÎder Syncline (eastern Anti-Atlas, Mo- rocco). Representatives of Craniida (2 taxa), Strophomenida (5), Productida (2), Orthotetida (2), Orthida (5), Pentamerida (5), Rhynchonellida (9), Atrypida (14), Athyridida (7), Spiriferida (9), and Spiriferinida (2) are present. The fauna is dominated quantitatively by the Atrypida (24% of taxa, about the half of specimens, and the commonest species Atryparia dispersa making up about 13% of the material); the Rhynchonellida (16% of taxa, about one-sixth of specimens) are the second largest order. A new genus of the family Pugnacidae (order Rhynchonellida), Paulinaerhynchia, is proposed with the type species P. paulinae gen. et sp. nov. from Maharch; it is closest to Pugnax, from which it differs in distinct costation, lack of a dorsal septum and septalium, and rudimentary dental plates. Desquamatia (D.) deserti sp. nov., a large and finely costate representative of the genus, is described also from Maharch. Antirhynchonella and Glosshypothyridina are reported for the first time or con- firmed to be present in the Givetian. Forty (possibly up to 46) species (71 or possibly up to 82% of the taxa identified at the species level) are present also in either Eifel (Germany) or the Holy Cross Mountains (Poland). Such a high ratio of species in common attests to unconstrained faunal exchanges among benthic faunas between the northern and southern shores of the Variscan Sea during the Middle Devonian. This favours the palaeogeo- graphic hypothesis of a narrow Variscan Sea.

16

Oyster-bioimmured ammonites from the Upper Albian of Annopol, Poland: stratigraphic and palaeobiogeographic implications

Machalski M., Kennedy W. J.

Acta Geologica Polonica

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2013

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Vol. 63, no. 4

545--554

EN

Ammonites Mortoniceras (Subschloenbachia) sp. are preserved as attachment scars on the oyster shells from the topmost portion of the Albian succession at Annopol, Poland. These oyster-bioimmured ammonites show a closest affinity to the representatives of Mortoniceras (Subschloenbachia) characteristic of the upper Upper Albian Mortoniceras perinflatum Zone. No ammonites indicative of the uppermost Albian–lowermost Cenomanian Praeschloenbachia briacensis Zone are recorded. Thus, the hiatus at the Albian–Cenomanian boundary at Annopol embraces the latter zone. The presence (and dominance) of Mortoniceras in the upper Upper Albian ammonite assemblage of Annopol suggests that the representatives of this Tethyan genus could migrate into the epicratonic areas of Poland directly from the Tethyan Realm, via the Lwów (Lviv) region.

17

First record of the bivalve species Parvamussium fenestratum (Forbes, 1844) from the Middle Miocene of the Paratethys

Studencka B., Prysyazhnyuk V. A., Ljul’eva S. A.

Geological Quarterly

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2012

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Vol. 56, No 3

513--528

EN

This is the first Paratethyan record of a minute scallop species Parvamussium fenestratum (Forbes, 1844). The species was found in Middle Miocene (Upper Badenian) clayey deposits in the Surzha borehole, the Ukrainian Carpathian Foredeep Basin. Examination of other Parvamussium specimens stored in the Museum of the Earth in Warsaw and in the Hungarian Natural History Museum in Budapest revealed further Paratethyan records of Parvamussium fenestratum. These specimens, previously referred to Parvamussium felsineum (Foresti, 1893), were identified in the Middle Miocene faunas of Poland (Monastyrz and Długi Goraj, Roztocze Hills) and Hungary (Makkoshotyka, Tokaj Mts.). In the Mediterranean Neogene this extremely rare species has been reported from the Lower Miocene (uppermost Burdigalian) of Italy and from the Lower Pliocene (Zanclean) of Spain. Research on the Oligocene-Miocene succession in the Paratethys has shown representatives of Parvamussium Sacco, 1897 to be moderately abundant in clayey facies in different basins and the genus is regarded as biostratigraphically important. Data on the distribution of other Paratethyan and Neogene Mediterranean Parvamussium species viz., Parvamussium bronni (Mayer, 1861), P. duodecimlamellatum (Bronn, 1831), P. felsineum (Foresti, 1893) and P. miopliocenicum (Ruggieri, 1949) are reported. Finally, palaeobiological and palaeobiogeographical characteristics on the genus Parvamussium Sacco, 1897 the Early Cretaceous to Recent time span are described.

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Late Cenomanian.Turonian (Cretaceous) ammonites from Wadi Qena, central Eastern Desert, Egypt : taxonomy, biostratigraphy and palaeobiogeographic implications

Nagm E., Wilmsen M.

Acta Geologica Polonica

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2012

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Vol. 62, no. 1

63-89

EN

In Egypt, marine Upper Cenomanian.Turonian strata are well exposed in the Eastern Desert. The southernmost outcrops are located in the central part of Wadi Qena, where the lower Upper Cretaceous is represented by the fossiliferous Galala and Umm Omeiyid formations. From these strata, numerous ammonites have been collected bed-by-bed and 13 taxa have been identified, which are systematically described herein. Four of them (Euomphaloceras costatum, Vascoceras globosum globosum, Thomasites gongilensis and Pseudotissotia nigeriensis) are recorded from Egypt for the first time. The ammonite ranges are used for a biostratigraphic zonation of the lower Upper Cretaceous succession in the northern and central part of Wadi Qena: the Upper Cenomanian.Lower Turonian has been subdivided into five biozones (including a new upper Lower Turonian biozone based on the occurrence of Pseudotissotia nigeriensis), and one biozone has been recognized in the Upper Turonian. Palaeobiogeographically, the ammonite assemblage has a Tethyan character. During the Early Turonian, influences of the Vascoceratid Province were predominant with strong affinities to typical Nigerian faunas. This shows the significance of faunal exchange between Egypt and Central and West Africa via the Trans-Saharan Seaway. Compared to contemporaneous ammonoid faunas from the northern part of the Eastern Desert, Boreal influences are much less obvious in Wadi Qena. Thus, the present study greatly enhances the knowledge of the Late Cretaceous palaeobiogeography and biostratigraphy of Egypt and adjacent areas.

19

Uppermost Devonian ammonoids from Oklahoma and their palaeobiogeographic significance

Becker R., Mapes R.

Acta Geologica Polonica

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2010

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Vol. 60, no. 2

139-163

EN

The upper part of the Woodward Shale of southern Oklahoma has yielded the first moderately diverse North American ammonoid fauna from the uppermost Famennian (Upper Devonian VI). It includes six species from three clymeniid and one goniatite family: Kielcensia vagabunda sp. nov., Riphaeoclymenia polygona sp. nov., R. pontotocensis sp. nov., Cyrtoclymenia cf. procera Czarnocki, 1989, Spirosporadoceras overi gen. nov. sp. nov., and a poorly preserved different juvenile sporadoceratid that may represent a second new genus. For comparison, the related Spirosporadoceras delicatum sp. nov. from Germany is described. Kielcensia specimens from Oklahoma represent the first uncontested record of triangularly coiled wocklumeriids from North America. Together with Riphaeoclymenia, the Oklahoma fauna has similarities and strong biogeographical ties with the far distant Holy Cross Mountains of Poland. Kielcensia and Riphaeoclymenia are missing from the diverse contemporaneous ammonoid faunas of Middle and Southern Europe, which were located between the Oklahoma and the Polish occurrences. Geographically intermediate contemporaneous Moroccan faunas also show a fundamentally different composition but the Afro-Appalachian migration route must have been viable in the uppermost Famennian. Migrations through regions without leaving a trace in available very rich fossil records ("ghost distributions") create a bias for the palaeobiogeographical analysis of nektonic organisms. The faunal composition of the Woodford Shale suggests a control of ammonoid distribution patterns by palaeoecological factors that are not recognizable in the lithofacies.

20

Early Jurassic sauropod footprints of the Southern Carpathians, Romania: palaeobiological and palaeogeographical significance

Pieńkowski G., Popa M. E., Kedzior A.

Geological Quarterly

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2009

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Vol. 53, No 4

461-470

EN

The dinosaur footprints cf. Parabrontopodus isp. Lockley, Farlow et Meyer, 1994, attributed to sauropods, have been found in Hettangian (earliest Jurassic) alluvial deposits in Anina (Colonia Ceha Quarry, Resita Basin), belonging to the Getic Nappe in the Southern Carpathians, Western Romania. Heteropodous pes-manus sets and one short, narrow-gauge trackway have been recognized on a large sandstone surface trampled by sauropods. Agreater load was carried by the inner digits of the pes, particularly digit I, and the heel pad is deeply imprinted, which points to a sub-plantigrade pes and gravipodal posture, typical for Eusaropoda. A pentadactyl manus imprint suggestetthat manus digits of early sauropods might have been separate and perhaps more functional when supporting walking on unstable, sticky ground. These tracks, the first find of Jurassic dinosaur footprints in Romania, add an important site to the relatively rare record of earliest Jurassic sauropod footprints. These tracks also confirm that Pangaean islands and peninsulas around the Western Tethys were inhabited by early sauropods. These peninsulas or islands, including a hypothetical "Moesian Island", must have been at least temporarily connected with the mainland. The sizes of the Romanian footprints are similar to the Hettangian Parabrontopodus isp. tracks described from Poland (mainland Pangaea — Eurasian area) and Italy (Tethyan domain) and do not indicate insular dwarfism.