Taphonomy and palaeoecology of Late Triassic (Carnian) ammonoid concentrations from the Taurus Mountains,Turkey

The deposits of the Carnian Kas?mlar Formation within the Taurus Platform Units of south‐western Turkey represent an important archive of a Late Triassic ecosystem. New palaeontological information was obtained by analysing the Kasimlarceltites mass occurrence, located within the Kas?mlar Formation and named after the Lower Carnian (Julian) ammonoid genus Kasimlarceltites. This is the dominant taxon (> 94%) within the mass occurrence: nearly 775 million ammonoids and 50 million gastropods were extrapolated for the whole extension (at least 5 km²) of the Kasimlarceltites beds. This calculation is one of the main findings within this study, as it is the first time that such a fossil mass occurrence was quantified. Additionally, orientation measurements of the planispiral ammonoids and the helical gastropods enabled reconstructing the history of the mass occurrence and interpreting the underlying transport mechanisms. Further taphonomic aspects (e.g. biofabric, preservation, bioerosion or genetic classification) as well as comparisons with samples of the same acme zone from different localities near A?a?iyaylabel (AS IV, KA I‐II) point to a two‐phased genetic history. Accordingly, local mass mortality within the Kasimlarceltites fauna due to oxygen fluctuations or methane degassing may have initially led to a primary accumulation. These deposits were then reworked and redeposited basinward by gravity flows to create the present‐day secondary allochthonous concentrations.     

Ancylotherium pentelicum (Perissodactyla, Mammalia) from the Upper Miocene of central and western Turkey

We report here new fossils of A. pentelicum from two Turolian localities of central and western Turkey, Pinaryaka and Salihpasalar (Kemikalan). The material, which consists of well preserved distal limb-bones, is compared with the few previously described specimens, mainly from Samos and Pikermi, but the observed differences should probably be attributed to individual variation. There is no evidence of evolution of the species during the Middle Turolian of the eastern Mediterranean, where it filled a narrow ecological niche, before its extinction.     

First record of the family Hygrobiidae (Coleoptera: Adephaga) from Turkey

With the discovery of Hygrobia hermanni, the family Hygrobiidae is reported for the first time from Turkey. An illustration of the habitus and line drawings of diagnostic characters are provided.     

Osteology of Rauisuchus tiradentes from the Late Triassic (Carnian) Santa Maria Formation of Brazil,and its implications for rauisuchid anatomy and phylogeny

As the eponymous type species for rauisuchians, Rauisuchus tiradentes von Huene, 1938 represents an important but inadequately known specimen. The revision of the type material from the Upper Triassic (Carnian) Santa Maria Formation of Brazil reveals new anatomical data and previously unrecognised characters, including three new possible autapomorphies: a knob‐like thickening on the base of the posterior process of the premaxilla; short and ventrally keeled cervicals lacking postzygodiapophyseal laminae; and mid‐caudal vertebrae with an accessory neural spine and a postspinal lamina. Several elements are re‐identified, including a postorbital (originally identified as postfrontal) and a pterygoid (originally identified as a prefrontal), and additional material from a secondary fossil site, originally assigned to R. tiradentes, including a left ilium, is excluded. Based on the recovered information and new morphological data, the systematic position of R. tiradentes is tested in a comparison of two phylogenetic reanalyses. Both analyses differ in respect to the phylogenetic position of R. tiradentes, and recover ‘rauisuchians’ as a paraphyletic assemblage of non‐crocodylomoprh archosaurs. © 2014 The Linnean Society of London     

Provenance analysis of Cenozoic conglomerates: Insights from Lower Cretaceous radiolarians in chert clasts from the Xigaze area,southern Tibet

Conglomerates, exposed on either side of the Yarlung Tsangpo suture zone (YTSZ) in southern Tibet, have attracted wide attention in elucidating uplift and erosion histories of the Himalayan-Tibetan orogen. However, the provenance of these conglomerates remains controversial. Although radiolarian-bearing chert clasts within these conglomerates have received little focus, identification of the radiolarian assemblages they contain could shed light on the provenance of these sedimentary units. We present the first report of Upper Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous (upper Kimmeridgian–lower Barremian) radiolarian assemblages recovered from chert clasts within the Liuqu and Gangrinboche conglomerates in the Xigaze area. To extract radiolarian fossils from independent clasts in the conglomerates, a detailed and efficient experimental process is illustrated. The assemblages are well correlated to those in the YTSZ and Tethyan Himalaya, showing typical Tethyan characteristics. The lithology of chert clasts and ages of constituent radiolarian faunas suggest that the chert clasts in Liuqu and Gangrinboche conglomerates were derived from the Bainang terrane. This interpretation implies that Early Cretaceous accretionary complexes in the YTSZ had been exposed and eroded before deposited as clasts in the Cenozoic Liuqu and Gangrinboche conglomerates.     

New radiolarians from the Devonian of the southern Ural Mountains: 1. Early-Middle Devonian (Late Emsian-Early Eifelian)

Late Emsian-Early Eifelian radiolarians from the southern Ural Mountains are recorded and described for the first time. They come from the Kamennaya Gora section on the Tanalyk River near the town of Buribay, Bashkiria. The new Late Emsian-Early Eifelian radiolarian assemblage consists of 20 species of 11 genera of spherical, discoidal, spindle-shaped, pylomate, and spiny radiolarians. Four new species, i.e., Entactinia rostriformis sp. nov., Palaeodiscaleksus tumefactus sp. nov., Primaritripus buribayensis sp. nov., and P. chuvashovi sp. nov., are described. The diagnosis of the genus Primaritripus Afanasieva, 2000 is amended. The fact that the oryctocenosis is dominated by discoidal radiolarians suggests that, in the Late Emsian-Early Eifelian, the area under study was occupied by a relatively shallow marine basin. Based on radiolarians, a new Upper Emsian-Lower Eifelian biostraton, beds with Primaritripus buribayensis-Entactinia rostriformis, is established. The history of the study of Early Devonian radiolarians is considered.     

A Late Miocene Paratethyan mollusc fauna from the Denizli Basin (southwestern Anatolia, Turkey) and its regional palaeobiogeographic implications

We report on a Late Miocene mollusc fauna from a single locality in the Denizli Basin in southwestern Turkey that is composed of ten presumably euryhaline species and three freshwater species. The fauna is remarkably distinct from faunas of the adjacent Late Miocene Aegean and Euxinian Basins, and has elements in common with the modern Caspian Sea fauna in the form of Didacna species. The suggested age of the fauna (Late Miocene) would extend the stratigraphic range of the lymnocardiid genus Didacna (hitherto Calabrian-Extant) considerably. The palaeobiogeographic significance of the Denizli fauna is discussed.     

A new early Frasnian (Late Devonian) foraminifer from eastern Taurides (Turkey): Evolutionary and paleobiogeographic implications

A complete Devonian sequence is well exposed in the eastern Taurides, forming more than 1000 m-thick succession of carbonate and siliciclastic sediments. The carbonate succession, stratigraphically ranging from Middle Devonian to early Late Devonian and mostly comprising limestones, dolomitic limestones and reefal limestones, contains abundant and diverse assemblages of foraminifers, corals, stromatoporoids, calcareous algae, bivalves, brachiopods, ostracods, and conodonts. The limestone samples collected from a more closely sampled stratigraphic section have been investigated for their foraminiferal content. The micropalaeontological analyses carried out on these samples have revealed the presence of an early Frasnian foraminiferal assemblage including predominantly unilocular parathuramminid species and multilocular forms of the genera Nanicella, Paratikhinella and Semitextularia? and further indicated the presence of a new genus and a new species Halevikia deveciae n. gen. n. sp. which appears as an important phylogenetic and stratigraphic transitional taxon between the families Baituganellidae n. fam. and Tournayellinidae, the phylogenetic potentiality of which during the Late Devonian is currently probably underestimated.     

Late Carnian (Tuvalian,Tropites dilleri zone) ostracods (Crustacea) from the Mufara Formation (Monte Scalpello,Central-Eastern Sicily,Italy)

Ostracod association from the Upper Triassic (Tropites dilleri zone of the Carnian stage) of the sedimentary succession (Mufara Formation) exposed along the east side of Monte Scalpello (Catenanuova, central eastern Sicily) has been studied for the first time. The specimens, silicified, are rare but well preserved and often consist of complete carapaces. They belong to eight families: Healdiidae, Cavellinidae, Bairdiidae, Acratiidae, Bythocyprididae, Pontocyprididae, Judahellidae, Glorianellidae. Twenty-three taxa have been listed; the family Bairdiidae is the most represented among all the others with fifteen species. Four species are new: Bairdia scaliae n. sp., Acratia maugerii n. sp., “Anchistrocheles” gemmellaroi n. sp. and Judahella? montanarii n. sp. Other species are left in open nomenclature because of the lack of specimens.     

Revision of the late Visean-Serpukhovian (Mississippian) calcareous algae, foraminifers and microproblematica from Balia-Maden (NW Turkey)

The taxonomic revision of the carbonate microbiota of the limestone lenses intercalated into the Carboniferous siliciclastic series of Balia-Maden (Turkey) shows that most lenses are early or middle Brigantian in age (latest Visean), only a single lens being of younger age (late Serpukhovian). Calcareous microbiota are abundant in the Balia-Maden lenses carbonates. Microfacies analysis shows the dominance of shallow water environments. The Brigantian assemblage is accurately illustrated. The new foraminiferal taxon Cribrospira baliamadeni nov. sp. is morphologically similar to type-material of Cribrospira panderi von Möller, but has a porous wall with wider pores, almost keriothecal. C. baliamadeni nov. sp. corresponds to the misinterpreted Bradyina and Janischewskina of the previous literature on Balia-Maden lenses. These limestones show a great diversity of algosponges (carbonate microproblematica). Among them, (1) small, atypical Fasciella previously confused with Eosigmoilina; (2) an abundant form described for the first time, Frustulata reticulata nov. sp.; and (3) typical Falsocalcifolium punctatum (Maslov), important for the biostratigraphic implications, are also mentioned. The single Serpukhovian lens consists of a grainstone and contains the age-sensitive alga Archaeolithophyllum johnsoni Racz, and the foraminifers Monotaxinoides gracilis and Janischewskina sp.     

New evidence of Ceratosaurus (Dinosauria: Theropoda) from the Late Jurassic of the Lusitanian Basin,Portugal

A theropod assigned to Ceratosaurus was previously reported from the Portuguese Lusitanian Basin based on a limited number of elements of a single individual. Here, we describe newly discovered elements that likely pertain to same, earlier described, specimen. The new elements provide additional evidence that the range of Ceratosaurus spanned from what is now North America into Europe. Previously, some differences were noted between the Portuguese specimens and the North American Ceratosaurus. We consider these differences to be trivial and attribute them to individual variation and/or ontogeny. The following set of features (lesser trochanter positioned low on the femur; crista tibiofibularis obliquely oriented with respect to the axis of the femoral shaft; infrapopliteal ridge present posteriorly on the femur; large cnemial crest; and medial condyle of the tibia continuous with proximal end) indicate that the Portuguese specimen is assignable to Ceratosaurus. This record constitutes one of the scarce evidence of basal ceratosaurian theropods in the Late Jurassic of Europe. Despite the abundance, diversity and wide geographical distribution of ceratosaurs during the Late Cretaceous, its early evolutionary history remains poorly understood. The Portuguese specimens constitute an important evidence for the knowledge of the paleobiogeographic evolution of the clade during the Late Jurassic.     

Systematics of the Dactylorhiza euxina/incarnata/maculata polyploid complex (Orchidaceae) in Turkey: evidence from allozyme data

 Material of Dactylorhiza were sampled from 49 localities in Turkey and investigated for allozyme variation at ten loci (nine enzyme systems). Among diploids, the Anatolian D. osmanica and D. umbrosa were allozymically variable, but not distinct from each other or from D. incarnata. Dactylorhiza saccifera contained the same alleles as the European D. fuchsii. Dactylorhiza iberica and D. euxina were distinct from each other and the other diploids. On basis of allozyme patterns three distinct allotetraploid genotypes were distinguished, and each of them could be treated as a separate species. Dactylorhiza nieschalkiorum is similar to European allotetraploids, and may have arisen from hybridization between D. incarnata s.l. and D. saccifera. Dactylorhiza urvilleana may have arisen from parents related to present-day D. saccifera and D. euxina, but it also contains additional alleles that have not been found in any of the diploids investigated. A third allotetraploid known from four populations in the Ardahan and Kars provinces of north-eastern Turkey combines the allozyme patterns found in material of D. incarnata s.l. from the same area with those from D. euxina. It is here described for the first time as D. armeniaca. Received November 14, 2000 Accepted June 20, 2001     

Paleobiota from the Deccan volcano-sedimentary sequences of India: paleoenvironments,age and paleobiogeographic implications

Paleobiotic assemblages from the Deccan infra- and intertrappean beds are reviewed in great detail. Three distinct paleoenvironments (fluvio-lacustrine/terrestrial, brackish water and marine) have been identified within the infra- and intertrappean biotic assemblages of peninsular India. Recently, marine incursions have been recorded in a few of the Deccan intertrappean beds exposed in central and south-eastern India. The intertrappean beds have yielded marine planktic foraminiferans and freshwater/brackish water ostracods. The affinities of the paleobiotas are commonly considered to show a mixed pattern resulting from the addition of Gondwanan and Laurasian elements to endemic Indian taxa. During the last four decades, various biogeographic models (southern and northern connections) have been proposed to explain the presence of anomalous biogeographic biota in the Late Cretaceous of India. Based on the recovered fauna and flora assemblages, the Cretaceous–Paleogene boundary has been marked and a Late Cretaceous to Early Paleocene age has been assigned to these Deccan volcano-sedimentary sequences.     

The role of ontogeny on character polarization in early dinosaurs: a new specimen from the Late Triassic of southern Brazil and its implications

Only recently, new ontogenetic series of early dinosaurs and related groups have been described. Here, we present an isolated immature dinosauriform femur from the Late Triassic of southern Brazil and investigate its influence on character polarization. Because the specimen shares a number of synapomorphies with Pampadromaeus barberenai, herein we postulate that it corresponds to a juvenile individual of that taxon. Accordingly, we investigate the morphological variation between juvenile and mature individuals of P. barberenai. Scoring these character states into a published phylogenetic data-set of Dinosauromorpha reveals that morphological variation is higher than that observed among closely-related taxa. Ontogenetic variation thus exerts influence on character polarization. In addition, modification of the scores affected by ontogeny produces different topologies, as noted by the reduction in both the number of most parsimonious trees and number of steps, and increased inclusivity of some clades and reduction of polytomies as well. Our study, together with other recent contributions, sheds light on the morphologic pathways seen during dinosauromorph ontogenetic development, which is crucial to more reliably assess phylogenetic reconstructions and macroevolutionary patterns of this widespread and successful group.     

Late Pennsylvanian to Middle Permian revised algal and foraminiferan biostratigraphy and palaeobiogeography of the Lycian Nappes (SW Turkey): Palaeogeographic implications

Shallow-marine limestones associated to a Palaeotethyan seamount in the Teke Dere unit of the Tavas Nappe (Lycian Nappes, SW Turkey) are essentially latest Moscovian-Kasimovian in age. The wide range of microfauna and -flora of the series show biogeographic affinities comparable to those from the northern Palaeotethyan borders (especially to assemblages from the Carnic Alps, Urals, Donbass and Darvaz). These biogeographic affinities seem to persist until the end of the Early Permian (Artinskian). The Middle Permian fauna is represented by the typical warm, tropical assemblages known at the same time in the Palaeotethys (NW Caucasus, Darvaz, south China, Primorie and Japan), and in the Neotethys (Transcaucasia, central Iran, southern Afghanistan and Sibumasu). The new Kasimovian algae and incertae sedis Novantiellopsis elliottii n. gen. n. sp., Uvanellopsis fluegelii n. gen. n. sp., Tubiphytes rauzerae n. sp. and Asselodiscus davydovi n. sp. are described.     

Biostratigraphy and biochronology of the Late Miocene of central Argentina: Evidence from rodents and taphonomy

Biostratigraphy and biochronology of the Late Miocene of central Argentina is analyzed through evolutionary patterns of octodontoid rodents. The studied faunas were found in continental sediments assigned to the Cerro Azul and Saldungaray formations (La Pampa and Buenos Aires provinces, respectively). Taphonomic attributes of recovered mammals, linked mostly to the development of paleosols or to predators’ activities, constraint the deposition lapse to short intervals. A biostratigraphic scheme based mainly on the anagenetic pattern of change in the octodontoid rodent lineage Chasichimys-Xenodontomys is proposed. Since there is no stratigraphic superposition among the studied levels, relationships among deposits are established through the polarity evidenced by the stage of evolution of chronomorphs of this lineage. Five new biozones for the Late Miocene of central Argentina are recognized. Evidence of other anagenetic sequences, and general trends of increasing hypsodonty in octodontoids, support this proposal. The results enhance the value of the “stage of evolution” concept as a correlation tool in biostratigraphic and biochronologic studies, mainly when applied through phyletic sequences.     

First evidence for the early Aptian Oceanic Anoxic Event (OAE1a) from the Western margin of the Pindos Ocean (NW Greece)

In this paper, new biostratigraphic, stable isotope (C, O) and organic geochemical data are presented for the Pindos Zone in NW Greece (SE Epirus region) in order to investigate whether the organic carbon rich strata of the Kalarrytes sections A and B correspond to a local expression of the early Aptian Oceanic Anoxic Event (OAE 1a or Selli Event) or not. The Pindos Zone Mesozoic to Tertiary sedimentary sequence constitutes the deep-sea sedimentary cover of the Pindos Ocean, which was separated from its oceanic basement as an accretionary prism during the complete closure of this ocean, and was emplaced westwards onto the adjacent Gavrovo-Tripolis carbonate platform. Stable carbon and oxygen isotope data from the Kalarrytes sections reveal an isotopic composition compatible with the characteristic features of the OAE 1a. Calcareous nannofossil and radiolarian biostratigraphy indicates an early Aptian age for both sequences. Biomarker analysis on the organic-rich intervals reveals the primary marine origin of the organic matter, with substantial contribution from bacteria, cyanobacteria and dinoflagellates, as well as a significant terrigenous input. Findings of authigenic framboidal pyrite provide evidence for the prevalence of sulphidic conditions during deposition. Furthermore, similarities between the biomarker signatures of the Pindos organic-rich strata and coeval strata of early Aptian age where the impact of OAE 1a has previously been recorded, are identified. The presented data show that the organic-rich intervals of both Kalarrytes sections constitute the first records of the OAE 1a in oceanic deposits of Greece.     

Cincinnetina,a new Late Ordovician dalmanellid brachiopod from the Cincinnati type area,USA: implications for the evolution and palaeogeography of the epicontinental fauna of Laurentia

Abstract: The most common forms of Late Ordovician dalmanellid brachiopods from the Cincinnatian type area, previously treated as either Dalmanella or Onniella, are assigned to Cincinnetina gen. nov. The new genus differs from Dalmanella and Onniella in having a consistently developed primary medial costa in the dorsal valve, a larger cardinal process that tends to develop a trilobed myophore, strongly differentiated fine and coarse punctae, and sparse aditicules. Cincinnetina can be distinguished from the closely related Paucicrura and Diceromyonia in its smaller trilobed cardinal process (when developed) that does not have a dominant medial lobe and does not extend into the delthyrial cavity of the ventral valve. Globally, Dalmanella and Onniella occur most commonly in deposits of relatively deep‐ or cool‐water palaeoecological settings, whereas in North America, Cincinnetina, Paucicrura and Diceromyonia are found mainly in carbonate‐rich deposits in warm‐water depositional environments, with Cincinnetina and Paucicrura most common in pericratonic settings and Diceromyonia in palaeoequatorial inland seas.     

A new abelisaurid dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous of southern France: Palaeobiogeographical implications

The Abelisauridae are a family of mainly Cretaceous theropod dinosaurs with a wide distribution across the Gondwanan land masses. Although their presence in Europe was reported twenty-five years ago, it has often been considered as controversial largely because of the incompleteness of the available specimens. We report here the discovery of well-preserved abelisaurid material, including a highly diagnostic braincase, at a Late Cretaceous (late Campanian) locality in the Aix-en-Provence Basin, near the eponym city in south-eastern France. A new abelisaurid taxon is erected, Arcovenator escotae gen. nov., sp. nov., on the basis of cranial and postcranial material. A phylogenetic analysis reveals that the new Abelisauridae from Provence is more closely related to taxa from India and Madagascar than to South American forms. Moreover, Genusaurus, Tarascosaurus and the previous Late Cretaceous discoveries are identified as basal abelisaurids. Contrary to previously proposed palaeobiogeographical models of abelisaurid evolution, the presence of the new taxon in Europe suggests that Europe and Africa may have played a major role in abelisaurid dispersal, which apparently involved crossing marine barriers.     

Bioerosion in Late Permian Rugosa from reefal blocks (Hawasina Complex,Oman Mountains): implications for reef degradation

Summary Rugose corals are known from allochthonous Late Permian reefal blocks of the A1 Jil and Ba’id Formation (Hawasina Complex), Oman Mountains. In contrast to many Late Permian Rugosa found elsewhere in the Tethys, they occurred in sponge reefs and contributed to reef construction. The waagenophyllid warm water coral fauna is moderately diverse comprising cerioid, thamnasterioid, and fasciculate taxa. In contrast to sponges, chaetetids, and low-growing reefbuilders, the corals secreted diagenetically stable, most probably Mg-calcitic skeletons. Borings in coral skeletons are consequently well preserved providing important data for the interpretation of reef destructive processes. Thin-section analysis revealed three taxa of infaunal borers includingEntobia Bronn 1837, uncertain thallophyte borings, and borings of unknown bioeroders. Macroborers were more important than microborers, because of the dominance of clionid sponges. Good evidence exists also for the occurrence of two types of undetermined grazers which destroyed the coral surfaces. The amount and distribution of bioerosions is variable among different coral taxa. The fasciculate coralPraewentzelella regulare Flügel 1995 was the favorate substrate. Up to 33% of the calices were bored. Dendroid and compound corals were bored subordinately. Bioerosion of these colonies does not exceed 2%. There is good evidence for substrate preference amongst the borers. Major controlling factors affecting borer distribution are believed to be variations of skeletal density and gross morphology. The borer assemblage could not limit reef accretion significantly. Factors controlling boring activity might have been quality of substrate, sedimentation rate, rapid incrustation of substrates, and competition for food with reef constructors including sponges, chaetetids, and rugose corals.