Lower Ovetian (Lower Cambrian) trilobites and biostratigraphy of the Pedroche Formation (Sierra de Córdoba, southern Spain)

The low Lower Cambrian rocks from the Sierra de Córdoba, which consist of well exposed mixed facies and abundant fossil assemblages showing long stratigraphic ranges throughout the Pedroche Formation, represent one of the best successions of this age in Europe. The fossil assemblages include diverse Ovetian archaeocyaths, trilobites, small shelly fossils, calcimicrobia, trace fossils and stromatolites. Trilobites are still poorly known, and thus they are the main objective of this work. The trilobites studied originate from three sections. At the Arroyo de Pedroche 1 section, cf. Bigotinella and Bigotinabivallata are replaced towards the top by Lemdadellalinaresae, Lemdadellaperejoni sp. nov. and, finally, by Eoredlichia cf. ovetensis. At the Arroyo de Pedroche 2 section, Lemdadellalinaresae is replaced by Lemdadellaperejoni sp. nov. and Eoredlichia cf. ovetensis, while at the Puente de Hierro section Lemdadellalinaresae, L. aff. linaresae and Serraniaverae occur together. These new biostratigraphic data confirm that the Pedroche Formation, originally defined as a repetitive sequence of four members, contains only two members. The new trilobite discoveries permit the first tentative correlation between the Ovetian of southern Spain and Lower Cambrian strata from the High Atlas (Morocco), Siberia, Antarctica and Carteret (France).     

Early Cambrian molluscs from Sierra de Córdoba (Spain)

Lower Cambrian helcionelloid molluscs are described from the Pedroche Formation in Sierra de Córdoba, southern Spain. The molluscan fauna occurs together with abundant and diverse Small Shelly Fossils (SSF) in limestone units and limestone nodules within terrigenous units. The molluscs are assigned to three new genera and six new species. Three species are previously known from North Siberia and one occurs in Australia, Altai-Sayan Fold Belt, Siberia, Central Asia, China and eastern Germany. The molluscs and other Small Shelly Fossils indicate close palaeogeographic links to Siberia and other continental blocks during the Early Cambrian.     

Lower Cretaceous (Albian) shell-armoured and associated echinoid trace fossils from the Sácaras Formation, Serra Gelada area, southeast Spain

The Sácaras Formation (Albian, Lower Cretaceous) of the Serra Gelada succession (Prebetic of Alicante), southeast Spain, comprises carbonate‐rich, upwards thickening parasequences in which many types of trace fossils have been identified. The present study focuses on two types of tubular trace fossil characterized by features of their external coating. The first type is represented by a shell‐covered, structured trace fossil, up to 4?cm in diameter and 40?cm in length, built horizontally, from rectilinear (type 1) to gently curved (type 2), which envelopes an unstructured pipe of grey silty sediment. The coating is characterized by imbricated, flat particles, mainly orbitolinid foraminifers and other planar bioclasts, forming thin concentric layers; in cross section the bioclasts produce a typical plumed structure. This trace fossil represents a new ichnogenus and ichnospecies, here named Ereipichnus geladensis. Particle arrangement of the external coating is similar to that of terebelloid tubes, but Ereipichnus is a horizontal trace fossil, whereas structured worm tubes are vertical. The second type is a grain‐coated trace fossil, tubular in shape, with a simple internal structure. The coating is often reddish with respect to the neighbouring dark grey sediment and shows a slightly coarser‐grained texture, which envelopes the internal muddy pipe. This type, which yielded echinoids, was produced by irregular or heart‐shaped sea‐urchins (spatangoids) and is attributed to Scolicia or Cardioichnus. Facies analysis of the Serra Gelada succession with Ereipichnus and Scolicia or Cardioichnus locally shows other types of branched trace fossils (primarily represented by different forms of Thalassinoides) and bioturbation is developed in tiers, increasing upwards in abundance and diversity.     

Anabarella australis (Mollusca, Helcionelloida) from the Lower Cambrian of Greenland

The Early Cambrian helcionelloid mollusc Anabarella australis is described from North-East Greenland, representing the second occurrence of the species outside of Australia. Other Australian molluscs of this age are known from many localities including North China, Siberia, Altai, Transbaikalia, southern Kazakhstan, Mongolia, eastern Germany and Spain. These records, supported now by A. australis, demonstrate the close proximity of continents in the Early Cambrian.     

Pædomorphic patterns of the Cambrian genus Alueva (Trilobita, Ellipsocephalidae) from the Iberian Chains (NE Spain)

Three hundred protaspid and meraspid specimens of the trilobite species Alueva undulata Sdzuy, 1961 from the uppermost Bilbilian limestones of the Valdemiedes Formation (Iberian Chains, NE Spain) have been released by the action of acid. A pædomorphocline is proposed embracing the different species of Alueva, based on the comparison of the ontogenic patterns of the species Alueva undulata Sdzuy, 1961, and the adult morphologies of Alueva moratrix (Sdzuy, 1958). This analysis suggests that the species Alueva? hastata (Sdzuy, 1958) is not related to the pædomorphocline, and provides an approach for evaluating the phylogenetic relationships between the species A. undulata and A. moratrix, which occur across the Lower-Middle Cambrian transition in the Iberian Chains, directly linked with the Valdemiedes event.     

Utility of Geochemical Analysis of Trace Fossils: Case Studies Using Phycosiphon incertum from the Lower Jurassic Shallow-Marine (Higashinagano Formation,Southwest Japan) and Pliocene Deep-Marine Deposits (Shiramazu Formation,Central Japan)

Elemental and mineralogical analyses of Phycosiphon incertum from the Lower Jurassic Higashinagano Formation and Pliocene Shiramazu Formation revealed that the core and mantle have significantly different compositions; the Al₂O₃/SiO₂ ratio, a general proxy for phyllosilicates to tectosilicates, showed a significantly (P < 0.01) higher value in the core than in the mantle. The obtained data strongly suggest that clay minerals are certainly concentrated in the core while coarse grains (i.e., quartz, feldspar) are enriched in the mantle. This is in agreement with the commonly believed interpretation of the Phycosiphon-producer; namely, it selectively ingested and excreted the clay-sized sediment grains and sorted out coarse grains. Difference in the degree of particle selection was also recognized; the tracemaker of the Higashinagano P. incertum showed greater degree of selectivity. This may be due to the differences in optimal foraging deposit-feeding activities affected by clay mineralogy of the host sediments, or in mechanistic consequences of particle selection induced by organic matter content, or in the number of other ichnotaxa recognized from each formation.     

An almost complete skeleton of Metailurus parvulus (Carnivora, Felidae) from the late Miocene of Kerassia (Northern Euboea, Greece)

We describe a partial skeleton of Metailurus parvulus from the Turolian site of Kerassia 1 (Northern Euboea, Greece). The material, which consists of a mandible, the anterior and posterior limb-bone elements, some sternal bones and some vertebrae, is the most complete known of this species. The dental material is compared to specimens from Pikermi and Chomateri (Greece), and China. The limb-bones available offer us the possibility to discuss the status of some previously described specimens from Pikermi. The limb proportions indicate that M. parvulus had elongated posterior limbs relative to the anterior ones, which reflects developed jumping skills. M. parvulus had moderately developed cursorial abilities, intermediate between open and closed habitat felids, and probably frequented primarily relatively open woodlands.     

A tiny lizard (Lepidosauria,Squamata) from the Lower Cretaceous of Spain

Abstract: The smallest living amniotes are all lizards, but the fossil history of this size trait in Squamata is difficult to follow because small skeletons have low preservation potential and are often hard to detect in the field. A new squamate taxon, Jucaraseps grandipes gen. et sp. nov., is here described on the basis of an articulated skeleton from the Early Cretaceous Spanish lagerstätten of Las Hoyas. It differs from other known Mesozoic lizards in combining very small body size with a short rostrum, low maxillary tooth count, a relatively slender and elongated body, and short limbs with large hind feet. Phylogenetic analysis using TNT places it on the stem of a clade encompassing scincomorphs, gekkotans, snakes, amphisbaenians and anguimorphs. Comparison with modern lizards suggests it was probably a cryptic surface or subsurface ground dweller but not a burrower.     

Aeronian (Llandovery, Lower Silurian) palynomorphs and graptolites from the Lipeón Formation, Eastern Cordillera, north-west Argentina

The lower levels of the Lipeón Formation, in the Eastern Cordillera, north-west Argentina, yield a marine-dominated palynomorph assemblage, together with graptolites of mid to late mid Llandovery age (Demirastrites convolutus and probably Stimulograptus sedgwickii zones). The palynomorph assemblage is dominated by acritarchs, but also contains algae and terrestrial cryptospores. Crassiangulina variacornuta, considered a potentially good global biostratigraphical marker for the Upper Llandovery is recovered for the first time from the Silurian of Argentina. The occurrence of this species in strata not younger than late Aeronian, and independently dated by graptolites, indicates an early first appearance for Crassiangulina variacornuta, in the Lipeón Formation, below the Aeronian/Telychian boundary. The lower part of the unit corresponds to a quiet marine environment; thus supporting that Crassiangulina variacornuta is a facies-sensitive acritarch.     

New palaeobotanical data from the Lower Devonian of Mezquita de Loscos (Teruel Province,Spain)

Recent fieldwork has uncovered three new localities from the Lower Devonian of Mezquita de Loscos (Teruel Province, Spain) with further plant mega-fossils and the first record of micro-fossils. Such plant remains have been interpreted as belonging to a basal euphyllophyte, Taeniocrada-like stems, Hostinella genus and paired sporangia. Fourteen spore taxa were recovered, including Ambitisporites, Aneurospora, Brochotriletes, Chelinospora, Emphanisporites, Gneudnaspora and Retusotriletres, among others. New evidence confirms a Lochkovian age for this outcrop and suggests that the plant diversity was more complex than originally documented.     

An analysis of the mole rats (Mammalia: Rodentia) from Langebaanweg (Mio-Pliocene, South Africa)

A study of the taphonomy and age profiles of the mole rat population from Langebaanweg ‘E’ Quarry was undertaken in order to see if these subterranean rodents had been accumulated by predation (coprocoenosis hypothesis) or as a result of drowning in their burrows during a flood event (catastrophocenosis hypothesis). Previous research has cited the bathyergids as being the most common rodent at Langebaanweg, however, a comprehensive study of new micromammal material indicates that murids, rather than mole rats, dominate most of the assemblages. The concentration of mole rat remains in many of the fossil-bearing levels at Langebaanweg is, nevertheless, still extremely high compared to other fossil sites or predation assemblages in the area. A taphonomic examination of mole rat incisor surfaces indicates that digestion occurs on between 44% and 54% of incisors in the different assemblages, and this, together with the degree of digestion suggests that category 1 and category 2 predators had been responsible for the accumulation of the fossil mole rat assemblages. The absence of rounding, polishing or weathering on the fossils indicates that there has been little or no transport by water, and that burial of the bones was rapid. Breakage and damage to the anterior portion of many of the mandibles made it impossible to accurately assess the age of the older mole rats, and the majority of mandibles could provide only a minimum age of the animal at the time of death. The age profile indicates that very young individuals are missing from the assemblages. This allows for refutation of the previously made suggestion that flooding was responsible for the death of the majority of Langebaanweg mole rats and also introduces the possibility that Bathyergus hendeyi may have been a social animal, unlike extant bathyergids which are solitary.     

Vent and mound rugose coral associations from the Middle Devonian of Hamar Laghdad (Anti-Atlas, Morocco)

Peculiar associations of small, solitary, deep-water rugose corals are described from the Middle Devonian buildups situated in the easternmost part of Hamar Laghdad area of southern Morocco. The most of them are monospecific and consist of simplified taxon “Amplexus” florescens but one is polyspecific and composed of specimens belonging to four different species representing three families. These rugosan associations form isolated nest-like aggregations where numerous densely packed specimens are arranged mostly in life position. The polyspecific and two monospecific associations are interpreted as growing in close proximity to venting fields. They reveal a unique “calice-in-calice” recolonization pattern expressed by successive settlement of juvenile specimens in the calice of dead individuals. This pattern was presumably a consequence of selective survival of coral larvae settling in extreme vent habitats. Although, the “calice-in-calice” pattern is common in both, mono- and polyspecific associations, there are differences expressed in the character of larval attachments and various types of the calice fillings. The trophic interaction between corals and ostracods is discussed. Additionally, associations of “Amplexus” florescens, not displaying “calice-in-calice” pattern of growth have been found within the mound where polyspecific association occurs. These are interpreted as growing away from venting fields. Comparisons of Amplexus-type coral faunas with the other North African and European corals allow the classification of these ampleximorph rugosan taxa as characteristic biotic components of the Middle Devonian mound environments influenced by venting activity. Two new genera and species, Weyeraia prima and Vesiculolasma erfoudi, are introduced.     

Benthic foraminiferal assemblages of the Cretaceous platform carbonate succession in the Yavca area (Bolkar Mountains, S Turkey): biostratigraphy and paleoenvironments

The microbiostratigraphic analysis of the three outcrop sections from the Cretaceous inner platform carbonate succession in the Yavca area (Bolkar Mountains) allows to recognize the four local benthic foraminiferal zones. These are: (1) Voloshinoides murgensis and Praechrysalidina infracretacea Cenozone in the Lower Aptian; (2) Pseudorhapydionina dubia and Biconcava bentori Cenozone in the Middle-Upper Cenomanian; (3) Ostracoda and Miliolidae Interval Zone in the probable Turonian, represented by dolomitized limestones without any significant markers; (4) Moncharmontia compressa and Dicyclina schlumbergeri Cenozone in the Coniacian-Santonian. The benthic foraminiferal assemblages correspond to those in other areas of the Mediterranean realm, with the exception of a lack of alveolinids and orbitolinids due to unfavorable environmental conditions (inner platform, restricted shelf). After the regionally well-known emergence during the late Aptian, Albian and early Cenomanian, very shallow subtidal to intertidal conditions were re-established during the middle-late Cenomanian time. The Coniacian-Santonian benthic foraminiferal assemblage shows an increase in diversity and abundance as a result of open marine influence, confirmed by the presence of larger foraminifera (Dicyclina), Rotaliidae and radiolitid fragments. Thaumatoporella and Aeolisaccus-bearing wackestone intercalations still indicate the existence of sporadic restricted environment conditions. The Cretaceous shallow-water platform carbonate succession of the Yavca area is conformably overlain by gray pelagic limestones with calcispheres and planktonic foraminifera. The Campanian flooding of the Bolkar Da? carbonate platform resulted in drowning of the pre-existing biota and facies.     

Stature estimation from complete long bones in the Middle Pleistocene humans from the Sima de los Huesos, Sierra de Atapuerca (Spain)

Systematic excavations at the site of the Sima de los Huesos (SH) in the Sierra de Atapuerca (Burgos, Spain) have allowed us to reconstruct 27 complete long bones of the human species Homo heidelbergensis. The SH sample is used here, together with a sample of 39 complete Homo neanderthalensis long bones and 17 complete early Homo sapiens (Skhul/Qafzeh) long bones, to compare the stature of these three different human species. Stature is estimated for each bone using race- and sex-independent regression formulae, yielding an average stature for each bone within each taxon. The mean length of each long bone from SH is significantly greater (p < 0.05) than the corresponding mean values in the Neandertal sample. The stature has been calculated for male and female specimens separately, averaging both means to calculate a general mean. This general mean stature for the entire sample of long bones is 163.6 cm for the SH hominins, 160.6 cm for Neandertals and 177.4 cm for early modern humans. Despite some overlap in the ranges of variation, all mean values in the SH sample (whether considering isolated bones, the upper or lower limb, males or females or more complete individuals) are larger than those of Neandertals. Given the strong relationship between long bone length and stature, we conclude that SH hominins represent a slightly taller population or species than the Neandertals. However, compared with living European Mediterranean populations, neither the Sima de los Huesos hominins nor the Neandertals should be considered ‘short’ people. In fact, the average stature within the genus Homo seems to have changed little over the course of the last two million years, since the appearance of Homo ergaster in East Africa. It is only with the emergence of H. sapiens, whose earliest representatives were ‘very tall’, that a significant increase in stature can be documented.     

Juvenile ornithopod (Dinosauria: Rhabdodontidae) remains from the Upper Cretaceous (Lower Campanian, Gosau Group) of Muthmannsdorf (Lower Austria)

The fragmentary remains of a juvenile rhabdodontid ornithopod from the Coal-bearing Complex of the Gosau Group (Lower Campanian, Grünbach syncline) at Muthmannsdorf near Wiener Neustadt, Lower Austria are revised. The material, probably belonging to a single individual, includes a right dentary (lectotype of Iguanodon suessi Bunzel, 1871, designated herein), teeth, a fragmentary parietal, fragments of scapula, ?radius, femur, tibia, two vertebrae (lost) and a manual ungual.The lectotype dentary does not provide clear autapomorphies or sufficient diagnostic features to determine its position within the Rhabdodontidae at generic level. By this “Iguanodon suessi” Bunzel, 1871 and the genus “Mochlodon” Seeley, 1881, to which it was latter referred as type species, cannot be characterized sufficiently by differential diagnosis and these are best considered nomina dubia. Based upon combined character comparisons (mainly postcranial features) the Muthmannsdorf ornithopod is referred herein to Zalmoxes Weishampel, Jianu, Csiki and Norman, 2003, a genus so far known from the late Maastrichtian of Romania. It probably but not evidently represents a yet unnamed species, most closely related to Zalmoxes shqiperorum Weishampel, Jianu, Csiki and Norman, 2003. At the present state of knowledge the Austrian material is not further diagnostic at the species level and kept in open nomenclature as Zalmoxes sp.     

New material of Pleistocene cats (Carnivora, Felidae) from Southern South America, with comments on biogeography and the fossil record

In this paper the systematic position and age of several Pleistocene cat remains found in southern South American are studied, in an attempt to more fully document the scarce record of the group and clear up their obscure Quaternary history. The fossils are compared with a large sample of recent specimens by means of qualitative and quantitative characters, as well as multivariate methods (discriminant analysis). The age of previous records is restricted using recent chronostratigraphic and biostratigraphic studies. Ly. colocolo is recorded in the late Ensenadan (0.78-0.5 Ma BP) and Bonaerian/Lujanian (0.5 Ma-8.5 Ka BP) ages of the Pampean Region (Argentina) and in the late Pleistocene or Holocene of Tierra del Fuego (Chile). An incomplete hemimandible found in the Bonaerian of the Pampean Region is referred to cf. Herpailurus and could be the earliest record of this lineage. Two other remains could belong to On. geoffroyi, but their incompleteness and some differences prevent their assignation to this recent species. The age of “Felis” vorohuensis is restricted to the late Ensenadan. The fossil record of the Ocelot Lineage is very fragmentary, but it is at least as old as late Ensenadan. Taphonomic biases are responsible for this poor fossil record and this fact could partially explain the hiatus with respect to the timing estimated by molecular divergence. The combination of data suggests that Ly. colocolo, On. guigna, On. geoffroyi and Oreailurus jacobita speciated in South America, supporting previous opinions. If the molecular divergence dates are right the recent diversity of this group could be explained by a minimum of five to six immigrations.