The Alveolinoidea (‘alveolinoids’ herein) is a superfamily of larger benthic foraminifera (LBF) of the order Miliolida (= with porcelaneous test wall) that are common in the mid-Cretaceous shallow-water carbonate successions of Neotethys. They are encountered in suitable rocks in a broad belt centred around the Mediterranean region and the Arabian Plate but some taxa are found in the central American region. To improve their stratigraphic utility, the identities and distribution of 32 species are critically reviewed based on published records, these taxa having at least possible occurrences in Cenomanian strata. It is shown that misidentifications have overextended the ranges of some taxa, although there are indeed species that have long ranges. Nonetheless, some taxa have short ranges within the Cenomanian that mark them out as potential species to be used, alongside species from other LBF groups, in the development of a biozonation/bioevent scheme for Cenomanian LBF. Alveolinoids are amongst the most morphologically complex mid-Cretaceous LBF, and, as with modern members of the group, mostly lived in the shallow waters of inner carbonate platforms developed in tropical belts. This paleoenvironmental restriction means that their local stratigraphic ranges could often be incomplete compared to the total composite range. Speciations and extinctions within the group seem closely linked to paleoceanographic events including sea-level change, hypertermals and anoxia. As with almost all mid-Cretaceous LBF, work on the taxonomy/identity of alveolinoids is an ongoing task requiring access to pristine material, including types
Calcareous red algae are organisms of great relevance in paleontological studies as they were important producers of calcium carbonate throughout geological time. This is also true for the Albian – Cenomanian time-interval, when shallow-water carbonate factories experienced a general decline in the northern Neo-Tethyan areas. In this paper, red algae taxa belonging to the uppermost Albian - lower Cenomanian carbonate succession of the Enisala Member (Iancila Formation, Babadag Basin) were documented and described, along with their associated microfacies. Based on the identified fossil taxa and the microfacies analyses, interpretations of the depositional environments have been made, suggesting an open-marine platform interior environment with normal salinity levels and reduced luminosity. The age of the carbonate succession is considered to be within the latest Albian - early Cenomanian interval, based on fossil evidence from the studied samples and research done by previous authors.
Two new species of the genus Horiopleura (Family Polyconitidae) are described from the Lower Cretaceous deposits of the Mediterranean Tethys margins. Horiopleura arabica comes from the lower Aptian Qishn Formation of southern Oman and Horiopleura helviorum, which occurs in the upper Barremian, Urgonian, Rustrel fauna but was primarily recorded in the lower Aptian deposits of Ardèche (SE France). In Horiopleura arabica the left valve projects dorsally off the commissural plane and the anterior myophore is a small crest, the right valve posterior myophore is a ledge; radial bands are weak but present. Horiopleura helviorum, the smallest species of the genus is characterized by a parietal lamellar anterior myophore on right valve. The two new species, are small and possess a domal left valve. They have a significant biostratigraphic and palaeobiogeographic potential. The new species illustrate a particular mode of arrangement of the anterior myophore on the right valve of Horiopleura, leading to a distinctive species grouping during the late Barremian-early Aptian. Our discoveries document a remarkable contemporaneous radiation of the Polyconitidae.
Persiconus sarvaki Yazdi-Moghadam & Schlagintweit represents one of the latest (perhaps the latest) orbitolinids that became extinct before the Cenomanian-Turonian boundary faunal turnover. P. sarvaki has an apparently endemic distribution with a restriction to middle-late Cenomanian carbonate platforms of the former Arabian Plate margin. It is herein described from a section of the Sarvak Formation located in the Izeh Zone of SW Iran where it occurs in inner platform foraminiferal wackestones assigned to the early late Cenomanian. Details on the microfacies and the biostratigraphy of the section that includes the Cenomanian-Turonian boundary are provided. The new observations on P. sarvaki highlight the presence of two different types of embryos (thick-walled, simple and thin epidermis with partitions, complex). The same phenomenon is already known from the Eocene Cushmania americana (Cushman). This aspect is discussed in more detail in view of the current classification of the Orbitolinidae; respectively its subfamilies. In addition, the previously unknown microspheric form of P. sarvaki is recorded, as well as occasional test infestation by the foraminifer Tauchella endolithica Cherchi & Schroeder.
The Loftusiida (“loftusiids” herein) is an order of “larger” benthic foraminifera (LBF) that are common in the Cretaceous neritic carbonate successions of Neotethys. They are encountered in suitable rocks in a broad belt centred around the Mediterranean region and the Arabian Plate but some taxa are found in Central America and the Himalayas. To improve their stratigraphic utility, the identities and distribution of 25 species (excluding those from the Suborder Orbitolinina) are critically reviewed based on published records, these taxa having at least possible occurrences in Cenomanian strata. It is shown that misidentifications have mistakenly overextended the ranges of some taxa, although there are indeed species that have long ranges. This suggests that some loftusiids formed part of a group of environmentally tolerant LBF that were able to recover from palaeoceanographic events such as widespread anoxia or eustatic sea-level change. Some other taxa have short ranges within the Cenomanian that mark them out as potential species to be used, alongside species from other LBF groups, in the development of a biozonation/bioevent scheme for Cenomanian LBF. As with almost all mid-Cretaceous LBF, work on taxonomy/identity of loftusiids is an ongoing task requiring access to pristine material, including topotypes.
Iraqia simplex Henson, the type-species of this orbitolinid genus, is classified among the Dictyoconinae Schubert that is principally defined by a simple megalospheric embryo. However, neither the original nor any later description of the taxon contained any specifications (or illustration) of this taxonomically important feature except that it should be situated eccentrically at the beginning of an early spiral stage. Abundant material from the early Aptian Taft Formation of Central Iran, that is in perfect conformity with Henson’s Iraqi type-material, shows the presence of a simple embryo positioned centrically at the apex of the generally high-conical tests. Apart from other differences in the internal test structure, this feature therefore appears to represent a further distinguishing criterion to the allied genus Orbitolinopsis Henson. The available material also provides a relatively good overview of the so far unknown embryo’s biometric variability. Among the Dictyoconinae, a centric embryo can be considered as the exception rather than the rule.
This study analyzes petrified wood samples collected from the Bulgarian Black Sea shore near the Byala locality. These specimens originate from the Galata Formation and date to the Chokrakian age (mid-Miocene). The three well-preserved specimens were identified as Cupressinoxylon sp. (cf. Thujoxylon sp.). In contrast, one poorly preserved specimen suggested a dicot structure and was recognized as Populoxylon sp. (cf. Populus tremula L.). The geological characteristics of the Galata Formation in this region are also discussed.
Pseudolituonella mariae Gendrot from the Santonian of southern France represents the only post-Cenomanian Upper Cretaceous species of the genus. The test morphology, inner and wall structure however are not in conformity with the characteristic features of Pseudolituonella Marie. P. mariae is taxonomically revised and transferred to the genus Gerochella Neagu thereby becoming the second species of the genus besides the lowermost Cretaceous Romanian type-species G. cylindrica. Other specimens of Gerochella described in open nomenclature from the late Maastrichtian of SW Iran show that the genus was widely distributed in Cretaceous shallow-water carbonates.
Moncharmontia De Castro (type-species M. apenninica) and Fleuryana De Castro et al. (type-species F. adriatica) represent two exclusively Upper Cretaceous genera of relatively small-sized benthic foraminifera with similar morphology and wall structure but distinguished primarily by the type of the aperture/foramina (multiple cribrate versus a single, central, arched slit piercing the septum). Solakiana gen. nov. (type-species Fleuryana gediki Solak et al.) differs from both taxa by its type of aperture, represented by a basal slit bordered at the base by the external wall of the previous whorl. Apertural/foraminal lips or septal plates are present in all three genera. The canaliculate wall-structure, well preserved in Moncharmontia and Fleuryana but poorly preserved in Solakiana, refer them tentatively to the family Charentiidae Loeblich & Tappan. The three genera are widely reported from neritic carbonates spanning the Cenomanian-Maastrichtian interval, each with different stratigraphic ranges. The group became extinct at the K-Pg boundary
The genera Scythiolina and Histerolina described from the lowermost Cretaceous of Dobrogea (Romania) have very similar morphological and structural characteristics. The extremely rich population from which the species of the two genera were described presents a morphological continuum of conical, ellipto-conical, to slightly flabelliform forms. The other structural characteristics (e.g., presence of beams and sporadic rafters in the late ontogenetic stage) are practically identical. This leads me to infer that we are dealing with a single genus, Scythiolina having priority. In addition, detailed observations in thin sections of the original material have shown that the test wall has a microgranular structure and not finely canaliculate (‚pseudokeriothecal’) as specified in the original description. As such, an emended diagnosis for the genus Scythiolina is presented, and for the type species, Scythiolina flabelii.
The larger benthic foraminifera Novalesia producta (Magniez) is a common constituent in the faunal assemblages of inner platform wackestone-packstone microfacies of the Aptian Taft Formation, Central Iran. The abundant specimens observed in thin-sections allow a detailed morphological and biometrical analysis of the taxon that extends the known data.
The new anomuran microcoprolite Favreina babai isp. nov. is described from the Late Cretaceous La Cañadilla Formation of the Southern Iberian range. Within the ichnogenus Favreina, the new ichnospecies is characterized as rod-shaped bodies with numerous (> 100) laterally grouped longitudinal canals of rounded transverse sections within the symmetry plane. The high number of these canals represents an unique feature within the (Late) Cretaceous record. The new microcoprolite occurs in wackestones with miliolids (among Vidalina hispanica Schlumberger) and ostracods of shallow-water carbonates ascribed to a near-coastal facies.
This article presents a description of the shell injuries in the Early Devonian brachiopods Lanceomyonia borealiformis (Siemiradzki, 1906) from western Ukraine. Approximately eight percent of the shells (8 out of 101 specimens) exhibit shell injuries, which are classified into three morphological types: (a) rounded and ellipsoidal pits, measuring approximately 2–5 mm in diameter, located on the anterior margin and lateral slopes of the valves; (b) longitudinal, sublongitudinal, and transversal thin straight or sinuous furrows, measuring approximately 5–6 mm long and 0.5–1.5 mm wide; (c) irregularly shaped concave zones on the lateral area of the valve. The majority of the shell injuries can likely be attributed to evidence of unsuccessful predator attacks and traces of an attachment point of an epizoan organism. The potential agents responsible for the predatory injuries include cephalopods, arthropods and fishes. The frequency of injured shells among the studied brachiopods is within the range observed in other Palaeozoic-aged brachiopod assemblages.
Following a literature review of the species of Orbitolina and its allies, the identity criteria and stratigraphic ranges of the six potential constituent species of the commonly encountered mid-Cretaceous foraminiferal genus Orbitolina d’Orbigny, 1850 (sensu stricto) are reviewed based on published material. It is noted that correct taxonomic assignment of Orbitolina species requires observation and measurement of both the embryonic apparatus in centred axial thin-sections and of the chamber passage shape in tangential sections. As a consequence, many illustrations purportedly of Orbitolina sensu stricto in the published literature cannot confidently be identified to species level, and such specimens (including new material) should be described or re-described as Orbitolina spp. The genus Orbitolina has a range of late Albian – middle Cenomanian. Species of Orbitolina, when identifiable, have shorter ranges. Orbitolina concava (Lamarck 1816) is restricted to the early – middle Cenomanian, and its inception thus forms a potential proxy for the base of the Cenomanian in carbonate platform settings, but care needs to be taken in its identification and separation from other species of Orbitolina that have at least partial late Albian ranges.
Ocna Dej is an iconic locality for salt mining in Transylvania, being located in the north - north-western area of the Middle Miocene sedimentary basin of Transylvania. In this salt the fossils are rare and refer strictly to plant remains (fragments of wood, pine cones, etc.). A sample of charred wood collected from the area of Ocna Dej salt deposit of Middle Badenian age (Wielician) was submitted to a microscopic study for a taxonomic assignation. It was identified as Cupressinoxylon sp. aff. Thujoxylon sp. as a remain of the synchronous vegetation. This wood type is found for the first time in Ocna Dej salt and could contributes to the paleo-environmental reconstruction of this area. Obviously, wildfires occurred at that time around the marine sedimentary basin of Transylvania.
The Nezzazatoidea (“nezzazatoids” herein) is a superfamily of “larger” benthic foraminifera (LBF) that are common in the Cretaceous (especially mid-Cretaceous) neritic carbonate successions of Neotethys. They are encountered in suitable rocks in a broad belt centred around Central America, the Mediterranean region, the Middle East, and the Himalayas. To improve their stratigraphic utility, the identities and distribution of 15 species are critically reviewed based on published records, these taxa having at least possible occurrences in Cenomanian strata. It is shown that misidentifications have erroneously overextended the ranges of some taxa. However, there are indeed species that have long ranges, suggesting some nezzazatoids form part of a group of environmentally tolerant LBF that were able to recover from palaeoceanographic events such as widespread anoxia or sea-level change. Some of these taxa have short ranges within the Cenomanian that mark them out as potential species to be used, alongside species from other LBF groups, in the development of a biozonation/bioevent scheme for Cenomanian LBF. As with almost all mid-Cretaceous LBF, work on taxonomy/identity of nezzazatoids is an ongoing task requiring access to pristine material, including topotypes.
Larger benthic foraminifera are described for the first time from the Upper Cretaceous Yigeziya Formation of the southwestern Tarim Basin, China. They occur in middle-outer ramp carbonates with debris of rudists, coralline algae, echinoids, pithonellids, and rare dasycladalean green algae. The material allows an open taxonomic approach for a few taxa. The assemblage includes Charentia cf. cuvillieri Neumann, Cuneolina cf. parva Henson, Nezzazatinella cf. picardi (Henson), orbitolinid gen. et sp. indet., cyclamminid indet., Tetrataxiella? floriforma Schlagintweit & Sanders, Suturina? sp. and the new species Dictyopselloides? tarimensis n. sp. Lacking any resilient stratigraphic data in our material, a Campanian age is tentatively assumed. The benthic association is typical for Neotethys assemblages but also shows conspicuous overlap with the Campanian Tielongtan Formation of western Tibet.
An updated classification of Paleozoic foraminifera is proposed, consisting of three classes. Calcareous Paleozoic foraminifera are mainly included in the class Fusulinata but also represented in the classes Miliolata and Nodosariata. The current classification includes in the Fusulinata: 2 subclasses, 5 orders, 25 superfamilies, 65 families, 51 subfamilies, 572 genera, 14 subgenera, in the Miliolata: 1 order, 2 suborders, 2 superfamilies, 8 families, 9 subfamilies, 89 genera, and in the Nodosariata: 1 order, 2 superfamilies, 10 families, 2 subfamilies, 56 genera. Three other classes remain elusive: Allogromiata, Astrorhizata, and Textulariata. Four new replacement names are introduced: Leveniranella pro Iranella Leven in Leven and Vaziri Mohaddam, 2004, Tianshanellites pro Triticites (Tianshanella) Da in Da & Sun, 1983, Gublerites pro Gublerina Minato & Honjo, 1959 and Qinglongella pro Qinglongia Zhang & Dong in Xiao et al., 1986. The family Globoendothyridae is formally described as new.
We had to study several petrified wood remains from „Velitzelos Collection “, coming from some late Oligocene - early Miocene fossiliferous sites, from the Aegean area from Evros, from Limnos Island, and Lesbos Island. Nine dicot fossil species were identified: Laurinoxylon aff. czechense Prakash, Březinová & Bůžek, Laurinoxylon ehrendorferi Berger, Cinnamomoxylon seemannianum (Mädel) Gottwald, Populoxylon cf. Populus alba L., Quercoxylon intermedium Petrescu et Velitzelos, Engelhardioxylon lesbium Iamandei et Iamandei, sp. nov., Eucaryoxylon lesbium Iamandei et Iamandei, sp. nov., Rhysocaryoxylon madsenii Sakala et Gryc and Rhysocaryoxylon sp. aff. Juglans regia L., and these new identifications add new elements to the forest assemblages of the Oligocene - Miocene Greek flora, this being useful to reconstruct the evolution of the Cenozoic palaeovegetation and palaeoclimate in the Aegean area.
