Fossil Fauna Research Articles

Tommotian (Lower Cambrian) stratigraphy and fossil fauna communities in the Kiya River section (Kuznetsk Alatau)

The lower Ust’-Kundat Formation has been studied in detail in a section along the Kiya River (Kuznetsk Alatau, Altai-Sayan folded area). The section was deposited during the Tommotian stage and is a stratotype for the Lower Cambrian Ust’-Kundat sequence comprising several members of the Ust’-Kundat Formation. Member 2 contains newly discovered and previously known species of archaeocyathids near its top found stratigraphically lower than the oldest known archaeocyathan assemblage of the Nochoroicyathus mariinskii biozone. The found archaeocyaths cannot be dated precisely and may have either Tommotian or Atdabanian ages. Small shelly fossils from the same section cover a large stratigraphic range as well. The findings call for updating the age of the upper Ust’-Kundat sequence and the Tommotian upper boundary in the regional stratigraphy of the Altai-Sayan folded area.

Геоморфология «Протопоповского» оползня в долине реки Оки (на территории города Коломны Московской области)

This article is devoted to the development of the slope processes in the Oka river valley in the city of Kolomna. There are considered the modern ecological and engineering-geological condition of floodplain terraces in the city quarter of Kolychevo. The aim of the work was to study the geomorphology of landslide processes. There is considered the identification of the causes of landslides in the Oka river valley. The is considered the identification of representatives of fossil fauna of organogenic limestones of the left Bank of the Oka river to. In this paper, for the first time the «Protopopovskiy» landslide is described in the scientific literature.

Геологічні подорожі Валеріана Домгера у басейнах річок Омельник, Самоткань та До-моткань

This article covers only a small but significant part of the territory of the former Katerynoslav and Kherson governorates, where Valerian Domger made his significant geological explorations between 1881 and 1884 on the commission of the Geological Committee. Here, 70 years after Domger made his exploration, a unique mineral deposit, one of the world`s richest deposits of titanium-zirkonium ore, was discovered. This article presents the results of analysis of the research made by the prominent geologist Valerian Domger, acknowledges the scientific and historical value of his proceedings; covers the main biographical facts of this researcher of the geology of the Middle PreDniproviya region; emphasizes the details which are less familiar and seldom mentioned in the literature; covers the analysis of Domger`s route across gullies, ravines and rivers, where he travelled to compose a 10 verst map for the project of constructing the Katerynynska railway. These journeys became the basis for all further studies in the region. This paper proves the fact that V. Domger was the discoverer of the world`s largest deposits of manganese ore; evaluates the results of Domger`s studies of the valleys of the rivers Omelnyk, Samotkan and Domotkan – these works were first to provide data on the structure of pre-Cambrian crystalline basement of the Ukrainian shield, its petrography and the mineralogy of its rocks. The study revealed important patterns in the structure of the sedimentary Paleogene-Quaternary cover; defined Domger`s role in determining the stratigraphic position of the Mandrykivski layers, which he discovered in 1882 during the construction of the railway bridge across the Dnieper. He was first to assign an Upper-Eocene Epoch for the Mandrykivska fossil fauna, which later would for a long period of time be considered Oligocene fauna. Using the works by prominent paleontologists Deshayes, Nyst, Wood and Michelin, Domger did immensely significant work on the Mollusca fauna. The paper analyses Domger`s view on the role of continental glaciations in the formation of Quaternary loess cover in the Middle PreDniprovya region. The researcher also wrote on the Kryvorizke iron ore deposits. His works on analysis of geology of the basins of the Saksahan and Ingulets rivers contributed to the beginning of exploitation of these deposits. Using particular examples, the paper analyses the current condition of the stratigraphic divisions of the different age associations which are mentioned in the works of V Domger; evaluates the significance of Domger`s research and the possibility of using it during geological surveys and monitoring of the most significant objects of geological heritage.

Dedication: Nigel Trewin (1944-2017).

![Graphic][1] In recent years, no one has done more to promote research on the famous 407 Ma fossiliferous chert deposits near Rhynie (Aberdeenshire, Scotland) than Nigel Trewin, who died 100 years after the publication of the first of a series of seminal papers on the fossil plants that are celebrated in this issue. Working together with Clive Rice at the University of Aberdeen, Nigel literally reopened the field with excavations and boreholes resulting in particular in a much better understanding of the geology, the processes resulting in fossilization, and the fossil fauna. Much of this work was drawn together in a synthetic volume of the Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh published in 2004 that comprised 16 scientific papers on diverse aspects of the Rhynie chert system [1]. This has … [1]: /embed/inline-graphic-1.gif

Equinoideos irregulares (Orden Spatangoida) del Cretácico de México

Irregular echinoids (Order Spatangoida) from the Cretaceous of Mexico. Echinoids are a very important part of the Mesozoic and Cenozoic fossil fauna of Mexico. Among them, spatangoids are widely represented in several Cretaceous fossiliferous outcrops, and have stratigraphical and paleoecological value due to their good preservation of the Cretaceous. The review of order Spatangoida L. Agassiz, 1840 from the Cretaceous in Mexico allowed un update the taxonomy of species and contributed to the study of paleogeographic and stratigraphic distribution. The order Spatangoida is the most diverse in Mexico with three families (Toxasteridae, Hemiasteridae, Micrasteridae), seven genera (Epiaster, Heteraster, Macraster, Washitaster, Hemiaster, Proraster, Micraster) and 21 species. Family Toxasteridae is the most numerous with 54 % of the species reported for the Cretaceous of Mexico. Spatangoids from the Cretaceous of Mexico are found in different localities in Sonora (Cerro de las Conchas), Chihuahua (Cerro de Muleros, Sierra de Juárez, Placer de Guadalupe, Sierras La Ranchera, El Presidio, Sierra Banco de Lucero, Sierra La Encantada, Villa Ahumada), Coahuila (Sierra de Tlahualilo), Nuevo León (Sinclinal de Delgado), San Luis Potosí (Zamachihue), Colima (El Rosario), Puebla (San Juan Raya, Barranca Salitrillo), Guerrero (Cerro de Ahuexotitlán) and Oaxaca (Las Huertas). Rev. Biol. Trop. 65(Suppl. 1): S113-S136. Epub 2017 November 01.

Late Cenozoic palaeogeography of Sulawesi, Indonesia

Sulawesi has a remarkable biodiversity, an unusually rich endemic fauna, and is the largest island in Wallacea, just west of the Wallace Line. Alfred Russel Wallace himself suggested it could perhaps be the most remarkable island on the globe because of its peculiar fauna. It was home to extinct fossil fauna such as dwarf proboscideans, records significant Pleistocene faunal turnover, and evidence of early human occupation suggests an important role in hominid migration through the Sunda-Sahul region. Information on Neogene palaeogeography is essential for understanding biogeographic patterns, biodiversity and faunal changes. New palaeogeographic maps reflecting recent work on Sulawesi's complex geology and changes in tectonic interpretations are presented for intervals from the Early Miocene to Pleistocene, at 20, 15, 10, 8, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1Ma. Additional maps illustrate the effects of glacially-driven sea level change in the last 1Myr. They are based on a field-based investigation of sedimentary rocks in Sulawesi, accompanied by palaeontological, petrological and heavy mineral studies and U-Pb dating of detrital zircons, to date and determine depositional environments. The new results have been supplemented by re-evaluation of previous studies, including reports from oil company wells and seismic lines. Igneous rocks provided ages, indications of surface environment of eruptions, and location of magmatic activity. For most of the Neogene from the Early Miocene Sulawesi was a shallow marine area with a number of small islands, surrounded by relatively deep marine areas. Deep inter-arm bays began to form in the Late Miocene and the islands became larger. The most significant palaeogeographic change began in the Pliocene with an increase in the area and elevation of land accompanied by major subsidence of the inter-arm bays. The separate islands gradually coalesced in the Pleistocene to form the distinctive K-shaped island known today.

Diets of mammalian fossil fauna from Kanapoi, northwestern Kenya

Carbon isotope ratios of mammalian teeth from the Kanapoi site in northern Kenya are interpreted in the context of C3 and C4 derived resources to investigate the paleoecology of Australopithecus anamensis. δ13C values of large mammals, when compared at the taxon level, show an ecosystem that is strongly biased towards mixed feeders and browsers. However, sufficient C4 resources were present such that some C4 dominated grazers were also present in the large mammal fauna. Analyses of micromammals shows that their diets were C3 dominated or C3–C4 mixed. Carbon isotope studies of primates shows that the major primate tribes—Colobini, Papioini, Hominini—all made some use of C4 resources in their respective diets; the Hominini had a higher fraction of C3 diet resources than the other primate tribes represented in the fossil record.

Environmental and ecological implications of strontium isotope ratios in mid-Pleistocene fossil teeth from Elandsfontein, South Africa

The well-known South African mid-Pleistocene site of Elandsfontein has yielded an abundance of fossil fauna and artifacts (ca. 1 to 0.6 million years ago) and has produced hominin fossils, specifically a calvarium and mandibular fragment often assigned to the species Homo heidelbergensis. Elandsfontein is located within the Greater Cape Floristic Region of South Africa, in an area that is today dry, hot, and covered by marine-derived sand dunes. It is primarily vegetated by woody shrubs and sedges of the fynbos biome with minimal amounts of grass. In contrast, the Elandsfontein faunal assemblage from the mid-Pleistocene is rich in large mammalian grazing herbivores, indicating that past environment and ecology was substantially different from that of today. It is unknown whether these animals survived on local vegetation, suggesting a substantially different landscape and ecology from today, or if they migrated to nonlocal, nutrient-rich areas to obtain food, such as to the shale substrates ~20 to 30km inland from Elandsfontein, where palatable grass and shrubs grow today. The strontium isotope ratios (87Sr/86Sr) of fossil teeth provide insights into the ranges of the animals recovered from Elandsfontein because they reflect the 87Sr/86Sr of plants consumed by these animals, which in turn reflect the 87Sr/86Sr of the substrates (or soils) in which those plants grew. We measured 87Sr/86Sr in 24 fossilized teeth (158 measurements) from Elandsfontein and compared these ratios with the bioavailable 87Sr/86Sr from major substrates in the region to determine if the large mammalian herbivores obtained sufficient resources locally (i.e., teeth reflect local 87Sr/86Sr) or if they traveled inland to find food. The distribution of bioavailable 87Sr/86Sr for coastal marine sands range from 0.709380 to 0.711690; most of this range is lower than the bioavailable 87Sr/86Sr for granite, sandstone, and shale substrates in the region which range from 0.711421 to 0.723563. 87Sr/86Sr of fossil teeth of carnivores, large herbivores, and rodents from Elandsfontein fall within the 87Sr/86Sr range of the marine sands. Our results indicate localized habitation patterns for a diversity of large African mammals, including communities of grazing herbivores, and a resource-rich environment that made mid-Pleistocene Elandsfontein and coastal southwestern South Africa attractive to hominins for which there is no modern analogue.

Chronology and environments of the Pleistocene peopling of North Asia

The Pleistocene peopling of North Asia was a complex evolutionary process controlled by interactions of climates and environments determining the spatial-temporal dynamics of migrations and specific forms of natural adaptations of early humans. The Quaternary geology, palaeoecology and geoarchaeology records uncovered at the investigated occupation sites document an ancient intermittent presence of people in Siberia and the Russian Far East. The earliest homini dispersal into this vast territory is evidenced by rudimentary flaked cobble-flake stone industries associated with the Early(?) and Middle Pleistocene fossiliferous alluvia in the major Siberian (Ob, Yenisei and Lena) basins. More diagnostic and broadly distributed Middle Palaeolithic cultural complexes (time-equivalent to MIS 12–4), often associated with humanly articulated fossil fauna skeletal remains, represent the pre-modern (Neanderthal/early Homo sapiens) traditions characterized by the Levallois prepared-core technology. The biotically productive Last Interglacial (MIS 5e–c) parkland ecosystems preconditioned the documented site density increase and promoted human geographic expansion into the sub-Arctic regions. During the cold and hyper-arid early Last Glacial (MIS 4), most of the land was likely vacated except for the presumed natural refugia in the Alta-Sayan foothills. The subsequent interstadial (MIS 3) warming facilitated colonization of the Siberian Arctic by the late Middle (Neanderthal?) and the progressive Upper Palaeolithic people. Following the Last Glacial Maximum (24–19ka BP), most of North Asia was re-settled by dispersed and the regionally heterogeneous Final Palaeolithic groups adapted to the mosaic post-glacial ecosystems replacing the disappearing and biotically most productive periglacial tundra-steppe. Mapping the Pleistocene climate history and the associated environmental transformations in the boreal and (sub)polar regions in northern Asia has a principal bearing to elucidation of the initial human migrations to the American continent.

The family Carditidae (Bivalvia) in the early Danian of Patagonia (Argentina)

AbstractThe first systematic analysis of the Danian carditids of Patagonia is presented, which includes four genera—one new genus and the first records of three other genera in South America. They consist ofClaibornicardia paleopatagonica(Ihering, 1903), a widely distributed species occuring in the Jagüel, Roca and Salamanca formations (Neuquén, Río Negro and Chubut Provinces);RotundicardiaHeaslip, 1968, represented by the new speciesR.mariobrosorumn. sp., which is restricted to the Roca Formation (Río Negro Province);Cardites feruglioi(Petersen, 1846) (Roca and Lefipán formations, Río Negro and Chubut Provinces); and byKalelianew genus, which includesK.burmeisteri(Böhm, 1903) from the Salamanca and Roca formations (Río Negro and Chubut Provinces), which is related to the Paris Basin speciesK.multicostata(Lamarck, 1806) n. comb. andK.pectuncularis(Lamarck, 1806) n. comb. ‘Venericardia’ iheringi(Böhm, 1903), a species known only from internal molds, is described and regarded as a carditid with uncertain affinities. The presence ofClaibornicardia,Rotundicardia, andCarditesin Patagonia constitutes the most ancient record of these genera and confirms biogeographical connections previously established between the Danian Argentinian and North American/European fossil faunas.

A new mysid (Crustacea, Mysida) from the Ladinian Stage (Middle Triassic) of Conca de Barberà (Catalonia, NE Iberian Peninsula)

AbstractThe oldest known fossil mysid (order Mysida) Aviamysis pinetellensis n. gen. n. sp. is described here from two nearly complete specimens found in the Alcover unit from El Pinetell (Catalonia). It differs significantly from other Mysida and is placed in a new genus assigned to the family Mysidae and tentatively to the subfamily Boreomysinae. These specimens represent the first described mysid material from the Alcover outcrops (Middle Triassic, upper Ladinian, 235–242 Ma), extending the known geological range of the poorly understood fossil fauna of the order Mysida by at least 70 Myr.

SEQUENCE STRATIGRAPHY AND PALEONTOLOGY OF THE UPPER MIOCENE PISCO FORMATION ALONG THE WESTERN SIDE OF THE LOWER ICA VALLEY (ICA DESERT, PERU)

The sequence stratigraphic framework and a summary of the fossil fauna of the upper Miocene portion of the Pisco Formation exposed along the western side of the Ica River (southern Peru) is presented through a new geological map encompassing an area of about 200 km 2 and detailed chronostratigraphic analyses. Extensive field mapping and sedimentological study of outcrop sections have shown that the Pisco Formation is a cyclical sediment unit composed of at least three fining-upward, unconformity-bounded depositional sequences, designated P0, P1, and P2 from oldest to youngest. In the study area, these sequences progressively onlap a composite basal unconformity from southwest to northeast. Integration of biostratigraphic and tephrochronologic age determinations constrains the ages of the three Pisco sequences within the study area. Based on the age of surrounding sediments, a conservative estimate of the age of P0 suggests deposition of these strata between 17.99 ± 0.10 Ma and 9.00 ± 0.02 Ma, whereas diatom biostratigraphy and calculated 40 Ar/ 39 Ar ages converge to indicate that strata of the P1 sequence were deposited sometime between 9.5 Ma and 8.9 Ma and that those of the P2 sequence are younger than 8.5 Ma and older than 6.71 ± 0.02 Ma. Our survey for both vertebrate and macro-invertebrate remains in the three sequences confirms the outstanding paleontological value of the Pisco Formation and contributes to depict regional faunal shifts in the fossil assemblage.

The identification of Oligo-Miocene mammalian palaeocommunities from the Riversleigh World Heritage Area, Australia and an appraisal of palaeoecological techniques.

Fourteen of the best sampled Oligo-Miocene local faunas from the Riversleigh World Heritage Area, north-western Queensland, Australia are analysed using classification and ordination techniques to identify potential mammalian palaeocommunities and palaeocommunity types. Abundance data for these faunas are used, for the first time, in conjunction with presence/absence data. An early Miocene Faunal Zone B and two middle Miocene Faunal Zone C palaeocommunities are recognised, as well as one palaeocommunity type. Change in palaeocommunity structure, between the early Miocene and middle Miocene, may be the result of significant climate change during the Miocene Carbon Isotope Excursion. The complexes of local faunas identified will allow researchers to use novel palaeocommunities in future analyses of Riversleigh’s fossil faunas. The utility of some palaeoecological multivariate indices and techniques is examined. The Dice index is found to outperform other binary similarity/distance coefficients, while the UPGMA algorithm is more useful than neighbour joining. Evidence is equivocal for the usefulness of presence/absence data compared to abundance.

Endo‐ and epilithic faunal succession in a Pliocene–Pleistocene cave on Rhodes, Greece: record of a transgression

AbstractA fossil cave and associated sediments and fossil fauna located on the Greek island of Rhodes in the eastern Aegean Sea is reported here, and the depositional history discussed. The sediments were deposited during the late Pliocene, in the interstitial space between basement boulders of up to 1500 tons. The depositional history of the cave comprises eight stages. From initial flooding, the basin experienced a continuous transgression with sea‐level rise in excess of 500 m, followed by a rapid, forced regression of similar magnitude. The recognition of a succession of fossil communities illustrates this transgression, with a seemingly abrupt shift from endolithic to epilithic biota dominance late in the transgressive cycle. The communities recording the increasing water depth from 0 to >150 m are: The Gatrochaenolithes torpedo (bivalve boring) and Entobia gonioides (sponge boring) ichnocoenosis, with peak distribution between 0 and 1 m water depth; the E. gonioides – E. magna ichnocoenosis, with 1–5 m depth peak distribution; the exclusive E. magna ichnocoenosis, with 5–40 m depth peak distribution; and the E. gigantea ichnocoenosis, with a peak distribution approaching 150–200 m. Below this depth, an epilithic community without boring organisms takes over, characterized by the calcareous sponge Merlia cf. normani, and the inarticulate brachiopod Novocrania turbinata. Simultaneously with the succession of the endo‐ and epilithic cave wall fossil communities, skeletal calcarenite accumulated on the cave floor; the erosional remnants of this sediment are insufficient to further expand the overall transgression–regression model.

Mise en évidence d’un changement climatique dans le site pléistocène inférieur d’El Kherba (Algérie), et son possible impact sur les activités des hominidés, il y a 1,7 Ma

Recently discovered, the site of El Kherba is part of the Plio-Pleistocene site complex of Ain Hanech (Algeria). The archaeological excavations conducted at this site have yielded a fossil fauna associated with a rich lithic industry recovered from three distinct archaeological levels. The fauna is savanna type comprising elephants, hippopotamus, rhinoceros, equids, suids, large and small bovids, girafids, carnivores, lagomorphs, and crocodiles. The lithic industry is Oldowan (Mode I technology) similar to the one known from East African Plio-Pleistocene sites. The site is estimated to date to 1.7 million years ago (Ma). One of the research aspects undertaken at the site is the reconstruction of the prevailing ecology relative to hominid behavior. The fauna suggests an open and arid landscape, in particular during the archaeological level A, corroborated by carbon stable isotope (δ13C) analysis of pedogenic carbonates along the El Kherba stratigraphic profile. The open environment is correlated with an increasing temporal aridification, which seemingly impacted negatively hominid foraging activities, particularly during level A.

The Chironomidae diversity based on records from early Eocene Cambay amber, India, with implications on habitats of fossil Diptera

A fossil fauna of Chironomidae in early Eocene Cambay amber from India is reported for the first time. The fossil assemblage consists of 192 specimens from five subfamilies. Chironomidae from Cambay amber represent a fauna whose composition in the fossil record is most similar to Dominican amber, with the exception of the presence of Podonominae in Cambay amber. Chironomidae genera recorded from Cambay amber indicate the presence of freshwater habitats and standing water bodies as well as springs. Incorporation of other dipteran groups from Cambay amber adds evidence of diverse aquatic and semi-aquatic habitats in the Cambay amber forest and implies entrapment of the fossils from a wide range of different locally separated areas.

Allometric models in paleoecology: Trophic relationships among Pleistocene mammals

Paleoecology is a discipline within paleontology that has grown enormously but still remains relatively new. The paleoecology of South American Pleistocene mammals has been a point of major debate since the mid-1990s. This debate focuses mainly on the discussion of the existence of an ecological imbalance between the energetic requirements of the carnivores and the amount of energy provided by the herbivores, and the possibility of using allometric models when studying fossil faunas. The aim of this work was to study the Pleistocene mammalian faunas as a whole and to contribute to such debate. A total of 107 Pleistocene faunas was selected and studied with four thermodynamically based trophic models. Two other faunas were included in the study, Serengeti (modern) and Santa Cruz (Miocene) because they would contribute to the discussion of the relevance of allometric models used in paleoecology. Although this approach may produce results with errors, currently it is among the best tools to be employed in studying paleontology since they can predict characteristics of species, communities or environments with small amounts of data. The models behaved differently in each territory and none of them could explain on its own the paleoecology of the Pleistocene mammalian faunas. The Productivity models are the ones that better explain the paleoecology of several faunas and show the absence of imbalance in the modern Serengeti fauna. Further refinement of these models will make it possible to better understand Pleistocene mammal communities around the world and to analyze vertebrate faunas from other times in the fossil record.

Conidae and Terebridae (Gastropoda: Neogastropoda) from the Plio-Pleistocene of the Philippines.

Six species of Conidae and seven species of Terebridae are reported from the Plio-Pleistocene "Cabarruyan" fauna of Pangasinan, the Philippines. Eleven species are identified; these species all occur in the Recent Indo-Pacific fauna and seven of these are previously known from the fossil record as well. The species composition of this fauna shows little overlap with other fossil assemblages, except with the Fijian fossil assemblage. This is attributed to a lack of knowledge on Indo-pacific fossil faunas as well as to the relatively deep water setting (200-300 m) of this fauna. More research is needed to determine why the Fijian assemblage is relatively similar.

Fossil fauna and flora of a re-discovered locality in the Late Carboniferous Ploužnice Horizon of the Krkonoše Piedmont Basin, Bohemian Massif

Here we present preliminary information on the fossil content of a rediscovered fossiliferous locality in the Late Carboniferous (Stephanian; Kasimovian/Gzhelian) Ploužnice Horizon, Semily Formation, in the Krkonoše Piedmont Basin of the Bohemian Massif. Several meters thick reddish to grey tuffaceous siltstones of this lacustrine horizon contain centimetre thick bone-bed layers and sporadically distributed plant remains. Common are isolated fish remains of actinopterygians, chondrichthyans, and acanthodians as well as isolated insect wings, mainly from blattoids. The biostratigraphic age is determined by blattoid insects as Stephanian B/C (Kasimovian/Gzhelian).

Lista anotada de los escorpiones (Arachnida: Scorpiones) de la Española (República Dominicana y Haití)

Se listan los escorpiones de La Española (República Dominicana y Haití) conocidos hasta ahora: tres familias (Buthidae, Hormuridae y Scorpionidae), ocho géneros, 46 especies vivientes y cuatro especies fósiles. Buthidae, con cinco géneros y 37 especies vivientes, es la familia más diversificada en esta isla antillana, siendo Tityus C. L. Koch, 1836, Microtityus Kjellesvig-Waering, 1966 y Centruroides Marx, 1890, los géneros de mayor distribución geográfica y riqueza específica con 14, 12 y siete especies, respectivamente. República Dominicana (que ocupa las dos terceras partes orientales de la isla) posee 45 especies, 36 de ellas endémicas del país, mientras que Haití cuenta con nueve especies que incluyen un solo endemismo nacional. El único taxon no endémico de la isla es Isometrus maculatus (De Geer, 1778), introducido en ambos países. Esta es la única isla antillana que contiene representantes tanto de la familia Hormuridae como de la fauna fósil (en ámbar).