Upper Sinemurian and Lower Pliensbachian ammonite faunas from Herford-Diebrock area (NW Germany)

At Herford-Diebrock a section from the Upper Sinemurian (Raricostatum to Aplanatum Subzone) to the Lower Pliensbachian (Polymorphus Subzone) is studied in respect of its ammonite faunas. Precise correlations in terms of faunal horizons are carried out between Yorkshire and SW Germany through Hessische Straße. Special emphasis is given to the taxonomical position ofEoderoceras armatum (Sowerby).Eoderoceras miles (Simpson) is now placed in synonymy withSowerby’s species. The section does not fulfill the requirements for the GSSP of the Sinemurian/Pliensbachian boundary.     

The oldest giant lacewings (Neuroptera: Kalligrammatidae) from the Lower Jurassic of Germany

We describe the oldest Kalligrammatidae, two distantly related species of different subfamilies from the Lower Jurassic (lower Toarcian) of Germany: Liassopsychops curvatus Bode, 1953, sit. nov. (Liassopsychopinae n. subfam.) and Ophtalmogramma klopschari n. gen. n. sp. (Kallihemerobiinae). They lived in warm and relatively dry conditions. Subfamily Liassopsychopinae includes the Jurassic genera Liassopsychops and Huiyingogramma, sit. nov., which bear forewings characterized by Sc and RA not fused distally; MP, CuA, CuP, and A1 dichotomously branched; and a well-developed central eye-spot. The forewing of Ophtalmogramma n. gen. is most similar to that of Apochrysogramma Yang et al., 2011. The diversity of early Toarcian kalligrammatids indicates a late Triassic–earliest Jurassic origin of the family. A modified classification of the central eye-spots is proposed based on the presence/absence of four main components, i.e., the central pigmented disc (A), swellings (B), ocules (C), and outer rings (D). The function of the swellings is unclear, but they may have served as pheromone containers.     

Ammonite eggs and ammonitellae from the Kimmeridge Clay Formation (Upper Jurassic) of Dorset, England

Eight clusters of small spherical and subspherical objects, some isolated and some associated with shells of perisphinctid ammonites, have been recovered from the Lower and Upper Kimmeridge Clay (Upper Jurassic) of the Dorset coast, England. They have been interpreted as ammonite egg sacs and represent the freshest and best-preserved examples known so far. Their structures and the ecological framework in which they occur are discussed. The parents are thought to be members of the two eudemic genera Aulacostephanus and Pectinatites that dominate the biostratigraphy of the ammonites in the range of the Kimmeridge Clay in which they occur. Isolated nuclei of ammonitellae have also been recovered.     

Armored dinosaurs(Ornithischia: Ankylosauria)) from the Middle and Upper Jurassic of England

Hitherto the earliest positive record of ankylosaurs(armored dinosaurs) has been from beds well up in the Lower Cretaceous; in fact, however, specimens referable to the ankylosaurian family Nodosauridae are present in the Middle and Upper Jurassic of England: from the Middle Callovian [partial mandible Sarcolestes leedsiLydekker]], the Upper Oxfordian [femur Cryptodraco eumerus (Seeley)), maxilla Priodontognathus phillipsii (Seeley))], and the Upper Tithonian [caudal vertebra, tooth]. The Tithonian tooth and those of Priodontognathus are large and similar to those of the nodosaurids Priconodon and Sauropelta (Lower Cretaceous, U.S.A.). The incomplete mandible of Sarcolestes is similar to that of Sauropelta with a dermal scute fused to the lateral surface, and a tooth row extending to the anterior end of the jaw; an unusual feature is the caniniform first tooth. The quadrupedal ankylosaurs and stegosaurs probably represent separate evolutionary lines that extend back at least into the Lower Jurassic, and both lines probably evolved from ornithopod dinosaurs that were bipedal. Nodosaurid ankylosaurs occur in Europe from the Middle Jurassic to Late Cretaceous and probably reached North America via a filter route in the early Cretaceous.     

Lower limits of ornithischian dinosaur body size inferred from a new Upper Jurassic heterodontosaurid from North America

The extremes of dinosaur body size have long fascinated scientists. The smallest (<1 m length) known dinosaurs are carnivorous saurischian theropods, and similarly diminutive herbivorous or omnivorous ornithischians (the other major group of dinosaurs) are unknown. We report a new ornithischian dinosaur, Fruitadens haagarorum, from the Late Jurassic of western North America that rivals the smallest theropods in size. The largest specimens of Fruitadens represent young adults in their fifth year of development and are estimated at just 65–75 cm in total body length and 0.5–0.75 kg body mass. They are thus the smallest known ornithischians. Fruitadens is a late-surviving member of the basal dinosaur clade Heterodontosauridae, and is the first member of this clade to be described from North America. The craniodental anatomy and diminutive body size of Fruitadens suggest that this taxon was an ecological generalist with an omnivorous diet, thus providing new insights into morphological and palaeoecological diversity within Dinosauria. Late-surviving (Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous) heterodontosaurids are smaller and less ecologically specialized than Early (Late Triassic and Early Jurassic) heterodontosaurids, and this ecological generalization may account in part for the remarkable 100-million-year-long longevity of the clade.     

Epidermal anatomy of Barthelopteris germarii from the Upper Carboniferous and Lower Permian of France and Germany

The epidermal anatomy of Barthelopteris germarii, a late Paleozoic seed fern, is described on the basis of material from the Upper Stephanian of Central France. A number of features are described for the first time for this species. Some have never been reported for late Paleozoic pteridosperms. Although our material is in most respects very similar to previously described material of B. germarii from Germany, there are also some striking differences, especially the peltate glandular trichomes that are very common in the French but completely absent in the German material. Their presence is most probably an ecological adaptation as in many modern plants. This and other epidermal and gross-morphological features (e.g., the presence of papillae on subsidiary cells of the stomata, anastomosing venation) indicate that B. germarii was well adapted to stressed conditions. Of more general interest is the preservation of the material. There appears to exist a clear relationship between the preservation of anticlinal walls and the thickness of the parenchymatic mesophyll; anticlinal walls are very well preserved where parenchyma was thin. Therefore, the absence of anticlinal walls in fossil cuticles, which has often been used as a taxonomic character, is not necessarily a primary feature.     

Facies and palaeoecology of Upper Jurassic (Middle Oxfordian) coral reefs in England

Summary This study documents the facies and fauna of Late Jurassic (Middle Oxfordian) coral reefs in England. Sedimentological and palaeoecological analysis of these reefs distinguishes three generic reef types: (1) small reef patches and thickets associated with siliciclastic deposits; (2) small reef patches and thickets associated with siliciclastic-free bioclastic grainstones and packstones; and (3) biostromal units associated with deep water facies. The depositional environments of these reef types are discussed. Two coral assemblages are identified: (1) the microsolenid assemblage; and (2) theThamnasteria, Isastraea, Fungiastraea andThecosmilia assemblage (Thamnasteria assemblage). TheThamnasteria assemblage developed in all shallow water environments in the study area, regardless of local environmental conditions. The fauna is very eurytopic,r-selected and can tolerate significant environmental fluctuations on short temporal scales (sub-seasonal). The main control on the development of the microsolenid assemblage was low light intensity, low background sedimentation rates and low hydrodynamic energy levels.     

Lower and middle Jurassic woods of the Cleveland Basin (North Yorkshire), England

Allochthonous Lower and Middle Jurassic (Pliensbachian–Bathonian) permineralized and charcoalified woods from the Cleveland Basin (North Yorkshire, England) are assigned to five genera of gymnospermous wood ( Cupressinoxylon spp., Taxodioxylon spp., Cedroxylon spp., Xenoxylon Araucarioxylon ) and two species ( Xenoxylon phyllocladoides Araucarioxylon lindlei ). Cell structure is commonly well preserved, particularly in calcified and charcoalified samples, and several features of the growth rings have palaeoclimatological significance. These include distinct growth rings, commonly narrow latewood, low to moderate annual sensitivity and mean sensitivity values, and presence of false rings. Overall, these characteristics reflect fairly consistent growth, both during the growing season and from year to year. Temporally, there is a transition towards narrower rings of more variable width, proportionally wider latewood, and more abundant false rings in Bathonian woods. Water supply is interpreted as the primary limiting control on growth and was probably more restricted in the Bathonian. This is suggested to be a consequence of relatively low sea-level and, more importantly, a genuinely drier climate at this time, manifested as an accentuated annual dry season. In all, the increase in seasonality during the Early and Mid Jurassic in North Yorkshire is compatible with the effects of a developing Mediterranean-type climate.     

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.     

A new genus of pliosaur (Reptilia: Sauropterygia) from the Lower Jurassic of Holzmaden,Germany

Abstract: The exquisitely preserved holotype of the pliosaur ‘Rhomaleosaurus’victor (SMNS 12478) is described from the Toarcian Posidonien‐Schiefer (Upper Lias, Lower Jurassic) of Holzmaden (Baden‐Württemberg), Germany. The specimen presents a novel combination of synapomorphies and unique morphometric proportions separating it from Rhomaleosaurus sensu stricto and warranting the erection of a new genus, Meyerasaurus gen. nov. Historically, the name ‘Thaumatosaurus’ has been interchangeable with Rhomaleosaurus and is frequently associated with SMNS 12478 in the literature. However, this is an invalid taxon and cannot be reinstated. The anatomy of Meyerasaurus victor is compared in detail with other pliosaurs, and its taxonomic affinity is reviewed. M. victor belongs to the family Rhomaleosauridae and shares several anatomical characters with Rhomaleosaurus including a short and robust premaxillary rostrum (length‐to‐width ratio c. 1.0), parallel premaxilla–maxilla sutures anterior to the nares, vomers contacting the maxillae posterior to the internal nares, and c. 28 cervical vertebrae minus the atlas–axis. The known geographical distribution of Rhomaleosaurus, which previously extended across the German and English palaeobiogeographical zones, is reduced to the English zone as a consequence of the referral of SMNS 12478 to a new genus. This is significant because it contributes to an ongoing trend of increasing generic separation between the German and English zones, while increasing the generic diversity within the German zone itself.     

Salinity-controlled benthic associations from the Upper Jurassic of Portugal

The Upper Kimmeridgian—basal Tithonian clastic sequence at Santa Cruz, Estremadura, represents environments ranging from river channels and flood plains to lagoons and protected bays showing a deltaic influence. Within the marginal marine environments, five benthic macroinvertebrate associations are recognized and analysed in terms of diversity and species composition. All five are thought to be controlled largely by salinity and to represent lowered and/or fluctuating salinity regimes. They can be grouped along a salinity gradient in which the Mesosaccella dammariensis—Corbulomima suprajurensis association, occurring in prodelta silts and marls, represents the closest approach to fully marine conditions and in which the Eomiodon securiformis association, typical of delta front sands, extends into the oligohaline regime. Banks of the Isognomon lusitanicum association and patch reefs of the Praeexogyra pustulosa—Nanogyra nana association are thought to be typical of brachy-to mesohaline conditions occurring in brackish bays and lagoons. Characteristic of the latter salinity regimes is also the Jurassicorbula edwardi association. The integrated approach, using benthic faunas, trace fossils and sedimentological data, leads to a detailed interpretation of the sedimentary sequences and the construction of a biofacies model which can also be used for other parts of the Lusitanian Basin.     

Lower Jurassic Foraminifera and Calcified Microflora from Gibraltar, Western Mediterranean

Benthic foraminifera are described for the first time from the Gibraltar Limestone Formation of the Rock of Gibraltar. The new species Siphovalvulina colomiS. gibraltarensisRiyadhella praeregularis occur with Duotaxis metula Kristan, Everticyclammina praevirguliana Fugagnoli, Siphovalvulina sp.,an atypically early example of Textulariopsis sp., and Nodosaria sp. Microflora are present as the probable cyanobacterium Cayeuxia ?piae Frollo, the alga Palaeodasycladus ?mediterraneus (Pia), and the disputed alga Thaumatoporella ?parvovesiculifera (Raineri). The foraminifera compare most closely with poorly‐known taxa from Italy, Spain and Morocco, and are consistent with an Early Jurassic (Sinemurian) age for the upper part of the &62;460‐m‐thick Gibraltar Limestone. Most are textulariids and more primitive than species well known from the later Early Jurassic (Pliensbachian) of the Mediterranean region, especially Morocco and Italy. The biota as a whole is characteristic of inner carbonate platform environments widespread along the rifted western margins of the Early Jurassic Tethys, notably those recorded from Morocco, Italy and Greece as well as southern Spain.     

A new aspidorhynchid fish (Teleostei: Aspidorhynchiformes) from the Upper Jurassic of Ettling,Solnhofen, Bavaria,Germany

A new species of Aspidorhynchidae is described for the first time from the Late Jurassic of Ettling, some 50 km E-SE of Solnhofen, Bavaria, Germany. This new material is attributed to a new species, Aspidorhynchus sanzenbacheri, and is diagnosed by the abbreviated premaxillae, the form and disposition of teeth in the predentary, and the number of principal rays in the caudal fin.     

A new non-pterodactyloid pterosaur from the Late Jurassic of southern Germany

Background

The ‘Solnhofen Limestone’ beds of the Southern Franconian Alb, Bavaria, southern Germany, have for centuries yielded important pterosaur specimens, most notably of the genera Pterodactylus and Rhamphorhynchus. Here we describe a new genus of non-pterodactyloid pterosaur based on an extremely well preserved fossil of a young juvenile: Bellubrunnus rothgaengeri (gen. et sp. nov.).

Methodology/Principal Findings

The specimen was examined firsthand by all authors. Additional investigation and photography under UV light to reveal details of the bones not easily seen under normal lighting regimes was completed.

Conclusions/Significance

This taxon heralds from a newly explored locality that is older than the classic Solnhofen beds. While similar to Rhamphorhynchus, the new taxon differs in the number of teeth, shape of the humerus and femur, and limb proportions. Unlike other derived non-pterodacytyloids, Bellubrunnus lacks elongate chevrons and zygapophyses in the tail, and unlike all other known pterosaurs, the wingtips are curved anteriorly, potentially giving it a unique flight profile.     

Cyrtocrinids (Crinoidea) and associated stalked crinoids from the Lower/Middle Oxfordian (Upper Jurassic) shelfal deposits of southern Poland

Five cyrtocrinid crinoid taxa previously unknown from the epicratonic deposits of Poland, as well as associated millericrinids and isocrinids, are described. The studied materials were derived mainly from the Lower and Middle Oxfordian, but crinoids are also from uppermost Callovian and/or lowermost Oxfordian sediments of the Polish Jura Chain (southern Poland). The crinoids, preserved as more or less complete (e.g., basal circlets) cups, include Lonchocrinus dumortieri, Phyllocrinus belbekensis, Remisovicrinus polonicus, Remisovicrinus aff. polonicus, Tetracrinus moniliformis and Sclerocrinus sp. The occurrence of Remisovicrinus polonicus in the late Middle Oxfordian of the southern Poland is confirmed. Moreover, the present study extends the geographic range of all cyrtocrinid species studied and discusses their unusual environmental adaptations.