Paratethyan Ostracod immigrants in Italy during the Late Miocene

In this paper the ostracod assemblages recovered from several brackish Late Miocene Italian deposits have been analysed from a palaeobiogeographical perspective. During late Tortonian-early Messinian it is possible to recognize in Italy rich ostracod assemblages characterized by a wide contingent of taxa with central European or Mediterranean affinity, while only few brackish and freshwater ostracods show Paratethyan affinity. The recognized composition of the ostracod assemblages matches the palaeogeographic setting of the palaeo-Mediterranean/Paratethys at that moment. In fact during late Tortonian-early Messinian the palaeo-Mediterranean and Paratethysian domains were divided and, even if the connection via the present Marmara Sea-Strimon Basin was still open, the different salinity between them represented an ecological barrier, preventing faunal exchanges. Since normal aquatic migration was impossible, it must be assumed that the Paratethyan-like taxa entered the palaeo-Mediterranean area via passive dispersal by aquatic birds. On the contrary, the ostracod assemblages from the Italian Lago-Mare deposits show the absolute predominance of Paratethyan taxa, which, according to the known palaeogeographic setting during the late Messinian Lago-Mare event, could actively migrate from the Paratethys domain, colonizing the palaeo-Mediterranean, whose endemic fauna was severely impoverished by the Messinian salinity crisis and the following water dilution.     

Miocene ostracods from the Tremiti Islands and Hyblean Plateau: biostratigraphy and description of new and poorly known species

The main taxonomic and stratigraphical results of a study of ostracods from the middle-late Miocene of the Tremiti Islands and the Hyblean Plateau are presented. The faunas are mostly typical of deep thermospheric or psychrospheric bathyal environments. Excluding a few, mostly juvenile shallow water contaminants, a total of 127 species were recorded. Twenty-four taxa are discussed herein; of these, 13 species (Cytherella dissimilis nov. sp., Cytherella parvula nov. sp., Cytherella subtilis nov. sp., Argilloecia triangularis nov. sp., Retibythere (Retibythere)? claudii nov. sp., Retibythere (Retibythere)? gibba nov. sp., Cytheropteron (Cytheropteron) joachinoi nov. sp., Cytheropteron (Aversovalva) consuetum nov. sp., Cytheropteron (Aversovalva) trimerumense nov. sp., Cytheropteron (Aversovalva) turgidum nov. sp., Loxoconcha julianii nov. sp., Buntonia whatleyi nov. sp., Pterygocythere nuda nov. sp.) and a subspecies (Costa tricostata dorsoarcuata nov. subsp.) are described as new, while six are left in open nomenclature. The stratigraphical distribution of ostracods is expressed in terms of planktonic foraminiferal zones. Information obtained from this study enriches biostratigraphical data on Mediterranean Miocene deep-sea ostracods, especially with respect to the Langhian.     

Latest Messinian “Lago-Mare” Lymnocardiinae from Italy: Close relations with the Pontian fauna from the Dacic Basin

Rich hypo- to mesohaline molluscan assemblages characterising the latest Messinian “Lago-Mare” biofacies, composed of prosobranch gastropods (Neritidae, Thiaridae, Melanopsidae, Hydrobiidae) and bivalves of the families Cardiidae (subfamily Lymnocardiinae) and Dreissenidae, are widespread in shallow water basins characterized by low salinities within the Mediterranean realm, during the post-evaporitic phase in the time-span 5.5-5.3 Ma. Several genera and species are recorded in the Italian uppermost Messinian sediments. While the gastropods show endemic character being linked to continental water-systems, Lymnocardiinae and Dreissenidae have strong Paratethyan affinity. New records of significant species of Lymnocardiinae from the uppermost Messinian sediments of Tuscany, Marches and Sicily and the systematic review of the old literature data point out close relations of the Italian fauna with that from the Pontian sediments of the Dacic Basin. The palaeobiogeographical data referred to Messinian and Pontian Lymnocardiinae suggest that the Aegean Basin could be an intermediate basin from whence the Pontian Paratethyan-type fauna migrated into the Mediterranean area during the latest Messinian. Since the ecology of Lymnocardiinae is mainly tied to oligo- and mesohaline water, spreading of suitable habitats in depositional systems of marginal settings characterized by increasing freshwater influx after the “salinity crisis” favoured their dispersal into the Mediterranean area from the Paratethys realm.     

Upper miocene carbonate ramp deposits from the southernmost part of Maiella Nountain (Abruzzo, Central Italy)

Summary The development of carbonate ramp depositional systems in the Neogene of the Mediterranean Region represents a widespread feature so far analysed in several papers. It is striking to note that the evolution of upper Miocene carbonate ramps, characterized by the presence of coralgal bioherms, highlights the events leading to the Messinian salinity crisis. The coralgal bioherms of preevaporite Messinian age exhibit fossil assemblages indicating marine waters with normal salinity, whereas stromatolitic and microbial encrustations underline the deterioration of the environment during the Messinian salinity crisis. Maiella Mountain is a broad carbonate massif located in Abruzzo (Central Italy). The late lower Oligocene-Messinian part of its stratigraphic succession consists of stacked non-tropical carbonate ramp deposits related to third and higher order sequences. The investigations performed in the southernmost portion of the massif allowed to recognize a complete fourth order carbonate depositional sequence on a homoclinal ramp of pre-evaporite Messinian age. The presence of small coralgal patch reefs and overlaying microbial encrustations is significant. A transect exhibits the stratigraphic framework of the area. The data show how local parameters play a notable role in the development of these deposits.     

Late miocene ostracodes (Ostracoda,Crustacea) from the Enikal Strait (Eastern Paratethys) as indicators of salinity changes

The species composition of ostracodes from the upper Maeotian and lower Pontian deposits of the Kerch-Taman Depression (Enikal Strait, Eastern Paratethys) is reported. The sedimentological and paleoenvironmental study shows that mass ostracode occurrences were controlled by hydrological changes in the Late Miocene brackish-water basins under consideration.     

The Messinian reef complex of the Salento Peninsula (southern Italy): Stratigraphy, facies and paleoenvironmental interpretation

Summary An integrated study of the early Messinian reef complex cropping out along the eastern coast of the Salento Peninsula (southern Italy), including stratigraphy, facies analysis and paleoecological aspects, is here presented. Fourteen facies types belonging to three main facies associations (back reef and shelf, shelf-edge, slope) have been recognized. They document a wide spectrum of depositional environments, reef building organisms and growth fabrics, in response to depth and other environmental factors in different parts of the reef complex. The biotic structure of the reef is also described and discussed in detail. It consists of different types of reef building organisms and of their bioconstructions (mainlyPorites coral reefs,Halimeda bioherms and vermetidmicrobial “trottoirs”), that differ in composition and structure according to their position on the shelf edge-toslope profile. Results indicate that the reef complex of the Salento Peninsula has strong similarities with the typical early Messinian reefs of the Mediterranean region. However, the recognition of some peculiar features, i.e. the remarkable occurrence ofHalimeda bioherms and of vermetid-microbial “trottoirs”, gives new insights for better understanding reef patterns and development of the reef belt during the Late Miocene in the Mediterranean.     

On the miocene centracanthidae (Teleostei, Perciformes) from the eastern Paratethys

A new genus, Naslavcea, is erected for the Middle Miocene species Spicara fundata Bannikov, 1990 (Centracanthidae) from the Lower Sarmatian of northern Moldova. This genus is characterized by the relatively small number of rays in the dorsal and anal fins. At the same time, Pelates islamdagicus Prokofiev, 2001 from the Lower Miocene of the Apsheron Peninsula (Azerbaijan) is transferred from the family Terapontidae to Centracanthidae and referred to the genus Spicara.     

Early Miocene (Ottnangian) Mollusca of the Western Paratethys—ontogenetic strategies and palaeo-environments

Early ontogenetic shells of 25 species of brackish water and freshwater molluscs from the Ottnangian (Lower Miocene) Oncophora Beds (Lower Bavaria, South Germany) and Kirchberg Formation (Upper Bavaria, South Germany) are described for the first time. Taxonomic implications are discussed. The investigated bivalves (Cardiidae and Dreissenidae) were characterised by an indirect development with inclusion of a planktonic veliger stage. Among the gastropods only three species of the genus CtyrokiaSchlickum, 1965 were characterised by veliger larvae, all the other gastropod species were direct developers, which hatched as crawling young. The species Agapilia schlickumi nov. sp. (Neritidae), Nematurella pseudozilchi nov. sp. and Nematurella strauchi nov. sp. (Hydrobiidae) are introduced. Our study revealed the co-occurrence of 10 molluscan species in the Oncophora Basin of Lower Bavaria and the Kirchberg Basin of Upper Bavaria and thus indicates similar oligohaline to mesohaline coastal swamp milieus for both depositional environments. The presence of planktonic larval development in gastropods indicates a connection to the open sea.     

云南禄丰晚中新世鸟类

云南禄丰晚中新世古猿产地的鸟类化石,共计3目、3科、6属、6种,包括2新属4新种。另外尚有科、目未定之一特殊鸟类标本。     

Serpulid-bryozoan-foraminiferal biostromes controlled by temperate climate and reduced salinity: Middle miocene of the Styrian Basin,Austria

Summary Reduced salintiy and a temperate climate prevailed during the Sarmatian in the Styrian Basin, the westernmost embayment of the Central Paratethys. At its northern margin (in the study area) tectonic processes initiated a transgression causing the incision of a cliff into the metamorphic basement and the formation of a carbonate buildup in the latest Sarmatian. The buildup consists of two serpulid-bryozoan-foraminiferal biostromes separated by a microbialite. Serpulids, bryozoa and the encrusting foraminifer Sinzowella caespitosa (Steinmann) as well as microbial mats formed a rigid framework, in which biogenic debris and siliciclastics were baffled. The different biota show complex growth relationships. Stromatolitic crusts and laminated micritic microbial crusts with birdseyes grew in a small sheltered lagoon. The upper biostrome is truncated by a ravinement surface of eustatic orgin and is overlain by ooid grainstone. The buildup drowned during maximum sea-level rise.     

Morphogenesis of rissoidae in the inland basins of the Eastern Paratethys

Miocene rissoids from the heterochronous low-salinity seas of the Eastern Paratethys (Early Chokrakian, Karaganian, Late Konkian, Early Sarmatian, and Early Maeotian) were revised. The polyphyletic genus Mohrensternia is subdivided into several generic and subgeneric taxa. The new genus Zhgentia and the new subgenera Rissoa (Turboellina), R. (Pseudoturboellina), and R. (Maeotia) are established.     

Permian bryozoans of the NW-tethys

Summary Permian bryozoan faunas from the Lower Permian sequences of the Carnic Alps (UpperPseudoschwagerina Formation and Trogkofel Formation) and from some other Permian units of the NW-Tethys (Sicily, Tunisia) include cystoporid, trepostomid, fenestellid, rhabdomesid, and timanodictyid taxa. Fenestellids and cystoporids species dominate. The Lower Permian bryozoan fauna of the Carnic Alps displays close relations to faunas of Sakmarian-Artinskian age of the Russian Platform and Pamir as well as of the Lower Permian of Australia. Bryozoans from Permian sequences of Sicily and Tunisia display relations to the Permian faunas of Indonesia and Australia.     

Coral microbialite environment in a Middle Miocene reef of Hungary

The presence of microbial crusts (microbialites) is reported here for the first time from a Middle Miocene (Badenian) coral reef in Hungary. The succession of initiation and development of the microbial crusts is described in relation to the reef architecture. The main features of the palaeoenvironment are discussed, with focus on the associated invertebrate faunas, mostly corals, molluscs, bryozoans, and crabs. We conclude that the microbial crusts developed under normal marine conditions and were a significant contributor to reef framework development, including its strengthening through calcification of the microbial organisms. Microbialites are anticipated in other Early and Middle Miocene coral reef occurrences of the Mediterranean–Paratethys realm, and to date may have simply escaped positive recognition.     

The Lower-Middle Pleistocene succession of the Coastal Tuscany (Central Italy): new stratigraphic and palaeoecological data based on the ostracod fauna

The Lower-early Middle Pleistocene succession of the Coastal Tuscany is known to comprise three marine cycles: (I) a Santernian-Emilian cycle; (II) a Sicilian (“small Gephyrocapsa” Zone) cycle; (III) a third cycle, referred through stratigraphic and palaeoethnological arguments to the late Sicilian-early Middle Pleistocene, including the fluvial-transitional San Marco fm and the shoreface to backshore sandy-arenitic deposits of the correlatable Bibbona and Casa Saracino formations, outcropping in the Bibbona (Lower Cecina Valley) and Rosignano areas respectively. Conversely to the older cycles the third one has been poorly studied and its chronology and depositional history have remained somewhat uncertain. With the aim to fill this gap of knowledge the sedimentary record exposed in the Rosignano and Bibbona areas was the object of new on field investigations and microfaunal content (chiefly ostracods) analyses. Furthermore, this has represented a good opportunity to enhance our knowledge of the Pleistocene Mediterranean ostracods. The main results achieved are in synthesis the followings. (1) Stratigraphic and palaeoenvironmental significance of ostracods from the first cycle is consistent with literature data. Unexpectedly the recovered assemblages comprise both warm-temperate species (e.g. Cytherelloidea beckmanni Barbeito-Gonzales, Propontocypris solida Ruggieri, Verrucocythereis bulbuspinata (Uliczny), which suggest a relatively warm climate phase, and an yet undescribed species of Ruggieria, a genus previously thought to be represented in the Italian Lower Pleistocene only by Ruggieria nuda Moyes. (2) In agreement with previous studies, sediments of the San Marco fm in the Rosignano area are referable to a floodplain-coastal lagoonal setting. Divergently from literature data, in the Bibbona area the unit exhibits vuggy carbonate glaebules and rizhoconcrections and yields very rare fresh-brackish water ostracods and marine microfaunas regarded as reworked. Despite interpretation of these sediments still poses many problems, we speculate that they represent marine deposits reworked in a poorly drained continental-transitional environment, which experienced pedogenic alteration. Furthermore, the common occurrence of the ostracode Aurila puncticruciata Ruggieri seems to support the supposition that reworked deposits included marine Sicilian sediments completely eroded and presumably correlatable to the Fabbriche fm. (3) Lithological-sedimentological features and absence of autochthonous macro-microfossils indicate that the Casa Saracino fm and most of the Bibbona unit accumulated in a backshore environment dominated by aeolian deposition. Only locally the latter unit includes shallow marine deposits with fairly rich ostracod faunas, which confidently indicate an age not younger than the Sicilian sensu Ruggieri and Sprovieri [Riv. Mineraria Siciliana 151/153 (1975) 1]. Thus, it seems possible that the Coastal Tuscany succession includes two marine cycles, which developed within the Sicilian.     

云南禄丰古猿地点Ursinae indet.化石性质的再讨论

1984年和1985年本文后一作者曾将禄丰古猿化石地点的一种小型而冠面无强烈褶皱的熊类化石归人Ursinae indet.现经重新研究,认为它应属Ursavus。鉴于它和Utsavus已知其他种的区别,订一新种U.sylvestris。它与欧洲的U.ehrenbetgi大体处在同一进化水平上。在原认为是Ursinae indet.的材料中,有两枚M_1,其特点与U.sylvestris者不同,暂以Ursavus sp.记之。     

云南禄丰晚中新世的大熊猫祖先化石

本文对1981年以前和1983年在云南禄丰古猿产地发现的,为本文后一作者于1984年和1985年订为Ursavus depereti的化石材料进行了再研究。通过对标本的仔细观察及与有关属种的对比,作者将上述化石材料订为一新属新种Ailurarctos lufengensis gen.et sp.nov.。此种动物在形态特征和系统关系上介于Ursavus和Ailuropoda之间,它很可能代表了目前已知大熊猫类最早的祖先类型。