Anisian (middle triassic) buildups of the Northern Dolomites (Italy): The recovery of reef communities after the permian/triassic crisis

Summary After the end-Permian crisis and a global ‘reef gap’ in the early Triassic, reefs appeared again during the early Middle Triassic. Records of Anisian reefs are rare in the Tethys as well as in non-Tethyan regions. Most Anisian reefs are known from the western part of the Tethys but there are only very few studies focused on biota, facies types and the paleogeographical situation of these reefs. From the eastern part of the Tethys, Anisian reefs, reefal buildups or potential reef-building organisms have been reported from different regions of southern China. Most of the Anisian reefs known from western and central Europe as well as from southern China seem to be of middle and late Pelsonian age. The study area is situated in the northern Dolomites (South Tyrol, Italy) southeast of Bruneck (Brunico). It comprises the area between Olang (Valdaora) and Prags (Braies). The study is based on detailed investigations of the regional geology, stratigraphy and lithofacies (R. Zühlke, T. Bechst?dt) as well as on a comprehensive inventory of Anisian reef organisms (B. Senowbari-Daryan, E. Flügel). These data are used in the discussion of the controls on the recovery of reefs during the early Middle Triassic. Most late Anisian reef carbonates studied are represented by allochthonous talus reef blocks of cubicmeter size. Small biostromal autochthonous mounds are extremely rare (Piz da Peres). The reef mounds as well as most of the reef blocks occur within the middle to late Pelsonian Recoaro Formation. They were formed on the middle reaches of carbonate ramps in subtidal depths, slightly above the storm wave base with only moderate water energy. Most lithotypes observed in the reef blocks correspond to sponge and/or algal bafflestones. Low-growing sessile organisms (Olangocoelia (sponge, alga?), sphinctozoan sponges, bryozoans, soleno-poracean algae, corals) and encrusting epibionts (sponges, porostromate algae, cyanophycean crusts, foraminifera, worms, microproblematica) created low cm-sized biogenic structures (bioconstructions) which baffled and bound sediment. Organic framework was only of minor importance; it is restricted to theOlangocoelia lithotype. Framework porosity was small in these reef mounds. Submarine carbonate cements, therefore, are only of minor importance s compared with Permian or Ladinian reefs. The relatively high number of lithotypes encountered in the reef blocks indicates a high biofacies diversity. Regarding the relative frequency, the diverse biota consist in descending order ofOlangocoelia, sponges (sphinctozoans, inozoans, siliceous sponges), bryozoans, porostromate algae and worm tubes. The sphinctozoans are characterized by small, mostly incrusting forms. The numerical diversity (species richness) is low compared with late Permian or Ladinian and late Triassic sphinctozoan faunas occurring within reefs. Following the sponges, monospecific bryozoans (Reptonoditrypa cautica Sch?fer & Fois) are the most common organisms in the reef limestones. Porostromate algae were restricted to areas within the bioconstructions not inhabited by sponges. The low-diverse corals had no importance in the construction of an organic framework. Surprisingly, microbial crusts are rare or even lacking in the investigated Anisian bioconstructions. This is in contrast to late Permian and Ladinian as well as Carnian reefs which are characterized by the abundance of specific organic crusts. The same comes true for‘Tubiphytes’ which is a common constituent in Permian, Ladinian and Carnian reef carbonates but is very rare in the Anisian of the Olang Dolomites. Instead of‘Tubiphytes’ different kinds of worm tubes (spirorbid tubes, Mg-calcitic tubes and agglutinated tubes) were of importance as epifaunal elements. Macrobial encrustations consisting of characteristic successions of sponges, bryozoans, algae, worm tubes and microproblematica seem to be of greater quantitative importance than in Ladinian reefs. Destruction of organic skeletons (predominantly of bryozoans) by macroborers (cirripedia?) is a common feature. The Anisian reef organisms are distinctly different from late Permian and from most Ladinian reef-builders. No Permian Lazarus taxa have been found. New taxa: Sphinctozoan sponges—Celyphia? minima n.sp.,Thaumastocoelia dolomitica n. sp.,Deningeria tenuireticulata n. sp.,Deningeria crassireticulata n. sp.,Anisothalamia minima n.g. n.sp., Inozoan sponges-Meandrostia triassica n.sp. Microproblematica-Anisocellula fecunda n.g. n.sp., Porostromate alga-Brandneria dolomitica n.g. n.sp. Most of our data are in agreement with the model described byFois & Gaetani (1984) for the recovery of reef-building communities during the Ansian but the biotic diversity seems to be considerably higher than previously assumed. Anisian deposition and the formation of the reef mounds within the Pelsonian Recoaro Formation of the Dolomites were controlled by the combined effects of synsedimentary tectonics and eustatic changes in sea-level. During several time intervals, especially the early Anisian (northern and western Dolomites: tectonic uplift), the early Pelsonian (eastern Dolomites: drowning) and the late Illyrian (wide parts of the Dolomites: uplift and drowning), the sedimentation was predominantly controlled by regionally different tectonic subsidence rates. The amount of terrigenous clastic input associated with synsedimentary tectonics (tectonic uplift of hinterlands) had a major influence on carbonate deposition and reef development. The re-appearance of reef environments in the Olang Dolomites was controlled by a combination of regional and global factors (paleogeographic situation: development of carbonate ramps; decreasing subsidence of horst blocks; reduced terrigenous input; moderate rise in sea-level).     

Facies and biota of Anisian to Carnian carbonate platforms in the Northern Calcareous Alps (Tyrol and Bavaria)

Summary During the Middle and early Late Triassic carbonate ramps and rimmed platforms developed at the northwestern margin of the Tethys ocean. In the Northern Calcareous Alps, Anisian stacked homoclinal ramps evolved through a transitional stage with distally steepened ramps to huge rimmed platforms of Late Ladinian to Early Carnian age. Middle Triassic to early Late Triassic facies and biota of basin, slope and platform depositional systems are described. Special emphasis is given to foraminifers, sponges, microproblematic organisms and algae. The Ladinian to early Carnian reef associations are characterized by the abundance of segmented sponges, microproblematica, biogenic crusts and synsedimentary cements. Among the foraminifers, recifal forms likeHydrania dulloi andCucurbita infundibuliformis (Carnian in age) are reported from the Northern Calcareous Alps for the first time. Some sphinctozoid sponges likeParavesicocaulis concentricus were known until now only from the Hungarian and Russian Triassic.     

Upper Triassic reefs of the Oman Mountains: Data from the South Tethyan margin

Summary The Upper Triassic reefal limestones of the Oman Mountains were investigated with respect to their microfacies, palaeontology and community structure. The reef fauna described and figured for the first time occurs in parautochthonous slope deposits of the Arabian platform (Sumeini Group) and in allochthonous reefal blocks (‘Oman Exotics’, Hawasina Complex). The ‘Oman Exotics’ are tectonically dislocated blocks, derived from isolated carbonate platforms on seamounts in the Hawasina basin or in the South Tethys Sea. The lithofacies and fauna of these blocks comprise a cyclic platform facies with megalodonts, reef and reef debris facies. The reefal limestones are dated as Norian/Rhaetian by benthic foraminiferal associations (Costifera, Siculocosta, Galeanella) and typical encrusting organisms (Alpinophragmium, Microtubus). Some small ‘Oman Exotics’ are of Carnian age. The shallow-marine organisms include scleractinian corals of different growth forms, ‘sphinctozoans’, ‘inozoans’ chaetetids, spongiomorphids, disjectoporids and solenoporacean algae as the main reef builders, various encrusters like microbes, foraminifers, sponges and many different problematical organisms for the stabilisation of the reef framework and a group of dwellers including benthic foraminifers, gastropods, bivalves and a few dasycladacean algae. The reef communities are characterized by the coverage of organisms and distributional pattern. Analogies with the coeval reef deposits from the European part of the Tethys have been recognized. Some species, now collected in Oman, were also reported from American and Asian localities.     

New latest Permian foraminifers from Laren (Guangxi Province, South China): Palaeobiogeographic implications

Microfacies analyses performed on the latest Permian Wujiaping Formation at Laren (Guangxi Province, South China) show that the bioclastic-rich limestones of Late Permian age contain a rich and well-diversified foraminiferal fauna. This fauna is here revised in order to be compared with time-equivalent levels of southern Iran and southern Turkey. Some new and unexpected phylogenetic trends are highlighted among the biseriamminoids. The new or poorly known genera Retroseptellina, Septoglobivalvulina, Paraglobivalvulinoides, Dagmarita?, Bidagmarita nov. gen., Louisettita, Paradagmaritopsis nov. gen. and Paradagmarita? are concerned. Nevertheless, these newly appeared biseriamminoids are subordinate to abundant Tetrataxis and Climacammina, ultimate survivors of the families Palaeotextulariidae and Tetrataxidae, appeared as old as the Early Carboniferous (“Mississippian”). Algae, miliolids, and nodosarioids are poorly represented. Two genera and four species are here newly described: Globivalvulina curiosa nov. sp., Louisettita ultima nov. sp., Bidagmarita nov. gen., Bidagmarita sinica nov. gen. nov. sp., Paradagmaritopsis nov. gen., Paradagmaritopsis kobayashii nov. gen. nov. sp. The palaeogeographic distribution of these foraminifers is interpreted to be typically of Neo-Tethyan regions, ranging from southern Turkey (Hazro) to South China (Laren) and up to Japan for some species (i.e., Paradagmaritopsis). At Laren, Late Permian strata are generally characterized by Reichelina ex gr. simplex Sheng. Isolated samples of packstones, collected in Tsoteng region (Guangxi Province, South China), contain Sphaerulina sp. together with various smaller foraminifers and numerous representatives of the new species G. curiosa nov. sp. In this study we demonstrate that the regions of Zagros (Iran), Taurus (Turkey), South China and even Japan shared similar foraminiferal assemblages and represented intermittently connected palaeobiogeographic provinces during Late Permian times.     

A Basal Sauropodomorph (Dinosauria: Saurischia) from the Ischigualasto Formation (Triassic,Carnian) and the Early Evolution of Sauropodomorpha

Background

The earliest dinosaurs are from the early Late Triassic (Carnian) of South America. By the Carnian the main clades Saurischia and Ornithischia were already established, and the presence of the most primitive known sauropodomorph Saturnalia suggests also that Saurischia had already diverged into Theropoda and Sauropodomorpha. Knowledge of Carnian sauropodomorphs has been restricted to this single species.

Methodology/Principal Findings

We describe a new small sauropodomorph dinosaur from the Ischigualsto Formation (Carnian) in northwest Argentina, Panphagia protos gen. et sp. nov., on the basis of a partial skeleton. The genus and species are characterized by an anteroposteriorly elongated fossa on the base of the anteroventral process of the nasal; wide lateral flange on the quadrate with a large foramen; deep groove on the lateral surface of the lower jaw surrounded by prominent dorsal and ventral ridges; bifurcated posteroventral process of the dentary; long retroarticular process transversally wider than the articular area for the quadrate; oval scars on the lateral surface of the posterior border of the centra of cervical vertebrae; distinct prominences on the neural arc of the anterior cervical vertebra; distal end of the scapular blade nearly three times wider than the neck; scapular blade with an expanded posterodistal corner; and medial lamina of brevis fossa twice as wide as the iliac spine.

Conclusions/Significance

We regard Panphagia as the most basal sauropodomorph, which shares the following apomorphies with Saturnalia and more derived sauropodomorphs: basally constricted crowns; lanceolate crowns; teeth of the anterior quarter of the dentary higher than the others; and short posterolateral flange of distal tibia. The presence of Panphagia at the base of the early Carnian Ischigualasto Formation suggests an earlier origin of Sauropodomorpha during the Middle Triassic.     

New Middle Permian foraminifers (Chitralinidae) from the Karakaya Complex,in northwestern Turkey

One new foraminiferal genus, Rectoformata gen. nov., with two new species, has been described from a Permian limestone block in the Karakaya Complex in the South of the Balya district (Balikesir, northwestern Turkey). The type species of Rectoformata, Rectoformata tekini sp. nov., is characterized by a quadrangular transverse section having a calcareous microgranular wall with fine alveolar structures, whereas Rectoformata acari sp. nov. is recognized by a pentagonal transverse section having a calcareous microgranular wall with fine alveolar structures. The age of the described taxa is assigned as Midian ( = Capitanian) based on the association with small foraminifers and fusulinids. These new taxa are included in the family Chitralinidae, which is emended herein.     

Colospongia ramosa n. sp. (»Sphinctozoa«, porifera) aus karnischen riffkalken der westkarpaten (ungarn) und den pantokratorkalken der insel hydra (griechenland)

The new segmented spongeColospongia ramosa n. sp. is described from Carnian shallow-water limestones of the Western Carpathians (Aggtelekt Karst, Silica Nappe) of North Hungary. This new species occurs also in the Carnian part of the Pantokrator Limestones of Hydra island (Greece).Colospongia ramosa n. sp. differs from other species ofColospongia by the crescent-like chambers and by its branching growth.     

The first discovery of apartidae (ammonoidea) in the Carnian of northeastern Asia

A new genus Siberioklipsteinia (with the type species S. dagysi sp. nov.) and a new species Arctoarpadites nelgesensis are described from the Carnian of the Kharaulakh Range and Yana Upland (eastern Yakutia). The new data allow refinement of the taxonomy of Carnian ammonoids of northeastern Asia and emendation of some details of their geographical differentiation. The new ammonoid taxa belong to the family Arpaditidae, which was not previously recorded from the eastern Boreal Realm.     

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.     

New species of Lenticulina (Foraminifera) from the Upper Triassic of Kotelnyi Island,New Siberian Islands,Russia

Late Triassic foraminifers of Kotelnyi Island (New Siberian Islands) are studied. Four new lenticuline species (Lenticulina kotelnensis sp. nov., L. triassica sp. nov., L. septentrionalis sp. nov., and L. sakhaensis sp. nov.) are described. Their distribution in the Upper Triassic deposits of Kotelnyi Island is discussed.     

黔西水城晚二叠世长兴期钙藻和有孔虫及其古环境意义

在黔西水城地区的K576井长兴组共鉴定钙藻3属3种,包括Gymnocodium bellerophontis、Permocalculus sp.和Tauridiumkurdistanensis;有孔虫8属10种,其中(虫筳)类2属2种,有孔虫动物群主要由Reichelinasp.indet.、Nankinella sp.、Pachyphloia schwageri、Pachyphloia sp.、Geinitzina sp.、Nestellorella sp. indet.、Howchinella sp.、Hemigordius aff. saranensis、Hemigordius sp.和Midiella sp. indet.组成。将本井按照生物特征分为有孔虫-钙藻-介形虫组合、有孔虫-腕足类-介形虫组合、介形虫-双壳类-腹足类组合、有孔虫-钙藻-双壳类组合、有孔虫-腕足类-介形虫组合、有孔虫-钙藻-双壳类组合和介形虫组合等7个组合。按照层序地层划分、垂向沉积序列特征和测井资料的分析,有孔虫-钙藻-介形虫组合(SQ3-3)和有孔虫-腕足类-介形虫组合(SQ3-4)时期地层为三角洲前...     

Refinements in the Upper Permian to Lower Jurassic stratigraphy of Karakorum, Pakistan

New sampling on critical intervals of the uppermost Permian and Triassic successions of the Northern Karakorum Terrain in the Karakorum Range (Pakistan) has refined the stratigraphy. Two types of successions may be distinguished in the Karakorum Range: a carbonate platform succession, spanning the whole interval from Upper Permian to Upper Triassic, possibly with several gaps; and a basinal succession, deposited from the Middle Permian to Early Carnian (Late Triassic), when the carbonate platform prograded into the basin. With the approaching and later docking of the Karakorum Block against the Asian margin closing the Paleo-Tethys, a portion of Karakorum emerged while another part subsided as a fore-deep, receiving clastics from the emerging Cimmerian Range. Molassic sediments filled the basin, whilst shallow-water carbonates transgressed over the emerged carbonate platform sometime between the latest Triassic and the Pliensbachian (Early Jurassic), with Cimmerian deformation occurring to the north. The age control is provided by conodonts, with assemblages of late Wuchiapingian, Changhsingian, Induan (Griesbachian and Dienerian), late Olenekian, early Anisian, late Ladinian, and early Carnian ages, respectively. Some information on the section around the P/T boundary is provided by palynology and isotopic C¹³ values. The dating of the Norian/Rhaetian platform is provided by foraminifers.     

The oldest Ordovician foraminifers (Oepikodus evae conodont Zone, Floian) from South America

The oldest occurrences of the monothalamous foraminifer species Amphitremoida longa Nestell and Tolmacheva and A. laevis Nestell and Tolmacheva are found in the San Juan Formation together with conodonts of the Oepikodus evae Zone of the Floian (Lower Ordovician), in the Salagasta 2 section, southern Precordillera, Argentina. These discoveries represent the oldest record for foraminifers in South America. The foraminifers, species of which were originally described from the Lower Ordovician of northwestern Russia, are found in shallow high energy carbonate platform deposits in the Precordillera, together with a North Atlantic province conodont fauna. The carbonate sequence of the San Juan Formation in the Salagasta region is interpreted as a succession ranging from shallower tidal deposits to carbonate crinoidal shoaling bar deposits.     

Middle Cambrian lingulate brachiopods from the Murrawong Creek Formation,northeastern New South Wales

Fourteen species of lingulate brachiopods are documented from allochthonous limestone blocks of the Murrawong Creek Formation in the southern New England Fold Belt, northeastern New South Wales, Australia. The fauna includes Treptotreta jucunda Henderson and MacKinnon 1981, Treptotreta sp. cf. T. sp. nov. Henderson 1992, Amictocracens teres Henderson and MacKinnon 1981, Stilpnotreta magna Henderson and MacKinnon 1981, Anabolotreta tegula Rowell and Henderson 1978, Neotreta orbiculata Koneva 1990, Linnarssonia sp., Linnarssonia sp. cf. L. ophirensis (Walcott 1912), Pegmatreta clavigera sp. nov., Acrothele subsidua (White 1874), Micromitra sp. cf. M. modesta (Lochman 1940), Micromitra sp. Henderson 1992, Lingulella sp. A Henderson 1992, and Kyrshabaktella certa Koneva 1986.

The associated trilobite assemblages indicate a medial Middle Cambrian age for the blocks, and the stratigraphic ranges of several of the lingulate species have been extended. The fauna displays biogeographic links at the specific level with northeastern and southeastern Australia, New Zealand, Antarctica, North America, Kazakhstan, Siberia, and Britain; the strongest links (four species in common) are with the Georgina Basin in northeastern Australia and the Tasman Formation in New Zealand.     

Marine paleoclimatology and paleoecology of a Pleistocene invertebrate fauna from Amchitka Island,Aleutian Islands,Alaska

Sea cliff exposures at the head of South Bight on Amchitka Island contain an invertebrate fauna consisting of 24 bivale, 14 gastropod, 4 barnacle, 2 brachiopod, 1 amphineuran, 1 echinoid, 1 annelid and 2 planktonic foraminifer species and various unstudied bryozoans, benthonic foraminifers and ostracodes, as well as bone fragments of marine mammals. With the exception of 4 species of Chlamys, all taxa appear to be living along the Alaskan coastline today.Paleotemperature analyses based on the average size of adult Hiatella arctica, the median of midpoints technique, the extralimital species technique, a biogeographic method, species distribution and coiling ratios of planktonic foraminifers, and oxygen stable isotope ratios give varied values. The extralimital species, biogeographic and oxygen isotope techniques are judged to give the most reliable evidence of paleotemperature at South Bight. These data suggest that mean February sea surface temperature was about 3.9° C and that mean August temperatures were somewhere between 10.0° C and 11.7° C. Present-day mean February temperature at South Bight is 3.9° C and mean August temperature is 10.0° C.The fauna lived in shallow (0–23 m?) water in a sublittoral environment on the open coast. Remains of a few rocky-shore littoral organisms were displaced downslope a short distance where they accumulated with remains of epifaunal, infaunal and neritopelagic elements of the inner sublittoral zone and open ocean planktonic foraminifers. The fauna is most closely comparable to that of the present-day Aleutian Province, and to a lesser degree comparable to that of the Arctic.Astarte bennettii, A. borealis, Diplodonta aleutica, and Liomesus nux are unreported in North Pacific strata older than those of the Einahnuhtan transgression, and Chlamys hanaishiensis amchitkana, C. islandica powersi and C. coatsi middletonensis are unknown from strata younger than those of the Einahnuhtan. However, the almost entirely modern aspect of the fauna, coupled with the absence of Astarte mortonensis-like variants of the Astarte borealis lineage, and radiometric dates on bone and shell material of $\text{130,000 ± 15,000}$ years, appear to indicate a Kotzebuan age.     

Diversity and paleoenvironmental significance of Middle Triassic ostracods (Crustacea) from northern Thailand: Pha Kan Formation (Anisian,Lampang Group)

The Pha Kan Formation that crops out at the Phra That Muang Kham section, south of Lampang city, was measured and sampled for ostracod analysis. We here report the occurrence of 29 species distributed among 14 genera. Four new species are described: Triassocypris phakanella Forel nov. sp., Leviella lampangensis Forel nov. sp., Bektasia yawella Forel nov. sp. and Hungarella poli Chitnarin nov. sp. The present data represent the first detailed report of Middle Triassic (Anisian) ostracods from the Sukhothai terrane and the first insight into diversity dynamics following the end-Permian extinction in this area. The ostracod assemblages of the Phra That Muang Kham section are discussed and document an important shift from siliciclastic to carbonate conditions, from a protected to an open marine environment, followed by a slight regressive trend up-section associated with repeated salinity fluctuations. This fauna illustrates the post-crisis recovery during the Middle Triassic and some hypothesis are issued on the distribution pathways of several taxa.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Orientosirenites</Emphasis>, a New Ammonoid Genus (Sirenitidae; Ammonoidea) from the Upper Carnian of the Boreal Realm

The ammonoid family Sirenitidae from the Upper Carnian yakutensis Zone of northern Middle Siberia and Northeastern Asia is revised. A new genus Orientosirenites gen. nov. with the type species O. bytschkovi sp. nov. is established based on the study of the main morphological characters of the shell. The new genus and the species O. bytschkovi are described and the species O. yakutensis (Kiparisova) is redescribed. The new data allow the taxonomic composition and the distribution of the Carnian ammonoids of the Boreal Realm to be updated.     

Intraspecific variation in Triassic Ophthalmidiid Foraminifera from Timor

Four ophthalmidiid species are described as free specimens extracted from mudstones and wackestones of Triassic age: Atsabella bandeiraensis nov. gen. nov. sp., Karaburunia atsabensis nov. sp., Ophthalmidium sp. cf. O. primitivum Ho and Spirophthalmidium grunaui nov. sp. Analysis of morphological variation found in large suites of specimens suggests that, as in modern miliolids, apertural characteristics, chamber shape and adult test size are features that vary within narrow limits and may be used to define species. In genera with milioline coiling in the post-embryonic stage, chamber arrangement may be highly variable. Post-embryonic coiling in K. atsabensis varies from quinqueloculine to almost spiroloculine and encompasses morphotypes that, in thin-section studies, have been attributed to a number of other genera. In Timor Leste, A. bandeiraensis, K. atsabensis and S. grunaui have been found with conodonts indicative of the Carnian, but the full local stratigraphic range of these species is uncertain. K. atsabensis occurs at another locality with conodonts suggestive of the Middle Triassic or less likely Carnian. Ophthalmidium sp. cf. O. primitivum has been found at one locality associated with A. bandeiraensis and K. atsabensis in a stratigraphic succession that suggests a correlation to the Carnian or Norian. The ophthalmidiids are found commonly associated with organic-cemented agglutinated and hyaline foraminifera and at some localities common to abundant ostracods and mollusc debris. They were most common in organic-rich carbonate mud of shallow-marine environments.     

New fossil insects from the Anisian (Lower to Middle Muschelkalk) from the Central European Basin (Germany and The Netherlands)

The Palaeozoic–Mesozoic transition is characterized not only by the most massive Phanerozoic mass extinction at the end of the Permian period, but also its extensive aftermath and a prolonged period of major biotal recovery during the succeeding Middle to Late Triassic. Particularly, Anisian insect species from units of the Lower to Middle Muschelkalk from the Central European Basin are rare. The specimens described here originated from the Anisian Wellenkalk facies (Lower Muschelkalk), Vossenveld Formation of the Winterswijk quarry, The Netherlands, and from the orbicularis Member (lowermost Middle Muschelkalk, Anisian) of Esperstedt near Querfurt (Saxony-Anhalt). Thus, the described insect remains from Winterwijk and Esperstedt expand our knowledge about Middle Triassic terrestrial arthropod communities and their palaeodiversity. A new species of Chauliodites (C. esperstedti sp. nov) is introduced.