Lower Cretaceous Of Southern England Research Articles

New Palaeontinidae (Insecta: Hemiptera) from the Lower Cretaceous of southern England

Two new species of butterfly bug, Valdicossus mikewebsteri sp. nov. and Ilerdocossus prowsei sp. nov. are described from the Lower Cretaceous of southern England. Valdicossus mikewebsteri is the first complete hindwing of a palaeontinid from the UK. It is different from the type species in having a hindwing with a different colour pattern, vein Sc + R straight, and branch RA2 slightly curved posteriorly then recurved; the length of vein RP + MP1 is shorter than that of the type species and vein A1 is short. Ilerdocossus prowsei sp. nov. is described based on a well-preserved forewing from the Lower Weald Clay (upper Hauterivian) of England; it is different from other species of the genus in possessing a narrower forewing and vein CuA bifurcating beyond the nodal line; the membrane is pitted distal of the nodal line.

A new afrograptid (Diplostraca: Estheriellina) from the Lower Cretaceous of southern England

The Family Afrograptidae is a ‘conchostracan’ group with multiple radial costae reaching to the umbo on their carapaces. It comprises four described genera: Afrograpta, Camerunograpta, Congestheriella and Graptoestheriella with a total of thirteen described species which are occasionally reported from the Jurassic and the Cretaceous in Africa, Europe and South America (i.e. Afrograpta from the Upper Cretaceous of Cameroon; Camerunograpta from the Jurassic to Cretaceous of Cameroon; Congestheriella from the Jurassic to Upper Cretaceous of the Congo Basin, Brazil, Bulgaria, Venezuela and Argentina; and Graptoestheriella from the Upper Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous of Brazil). A new genus and a new species, Surreyestheria ockleyensis gen. et sp. nov., belonging to the Family Afrograptidae from the Lower Cretaceous (lower Barremian) Upper Weald Clay Formation of Ockley Village, Surrey County, southern England is described in this paper. The new genus mainly differs from the other four genera by the special reticulate ornamentation on its carapace. It indicates that the Family Afrograptidae was more diverse and more widely distributed in the late Mesozoic than previously supposed. Afrograptidae is a special branch of Estheriellina the latter originating in the late Palaeozoic and the former in the early Mesozoic. Afrograptids, as a whole had been widespread across Pangea in the Early Jurassic.

A tubiculous perspective: New caddisfly cases (Insecta: Trichoptera) from the Lower Cretaceous of southern England and comparison with the Chinese indusifauna

New finds reveal that cases of larval caddisflies (indusifauna) are widespread aquatic domichnia in Eurasian non-marine deposits. 16 new ichnospecies are described in 6 ichnogenera from the Wealden Supergroup (Lower Cretaceous) of southeast England, mainly from the Ashdown Formation (Valanginian), but some also from the Weald Clay Group (Hauterivian–Barremian). New ispp. are: Terrindusia valdensis isp. nov., T. anomala isp. nov.; Secrindusia sarahae isp. nov.; Conchindusia dianae isp. nov., C. elderi isp. nov., C. goodmani isp. nov.; Pelindusia duprati isp. nov.; ?Ostracindusia mixta isp. nov.; Folindusia stouti isp. nov., F. bipennis isp. nov., F. ruffordi isp. nov., F. chiasma isp. nov., F. woodhamsi isp. nov., F. boothi isp. nov., F. avancnae isp. nov., and F. whitei isp. nov. Two new forms, a variety and aberration of Conchindusia (an igen. with no modern analogue) are also recognised. The first Chinese isp. (Conchindusia sinensis isp. nov.) is described from the Yixian Formation (Aptian) and 31 morphotypes are listed from eight Lower Cretaceous Chinese formations.The aquatic palaeoenvironment and palaeoecology are discussed. The UK indusifauna is dominated by Conchindusia–Folindusia in contrast to a Terrindusia dominance in China; furthermore, the UK EPT (Ephemeroptera–Plecoptera–Trichoptera) richness is skewed towards Trichoptera. This reflects differences in the fluvio-lagoonal and fluvio-lacustrine settings, respectively.

New teeth of nodosaurid ankylosaur from the Lower Cretaceous of Southern England

We present new nodosaurid teeth from the Valanginian of Bexhill, Sussex and the Barremian of the Isle of Wight, the first from the Lower Cretaceous of the United Kingdom. Teeth found during the mid-1800s from the Valanginian and ascribed to the nodosaurid Hylaeosaurus are probably from sauropod dinosaurs. The Isle of Wight tooth could possibly be referred to Polacanthus foxii, the teeth of which are unknown. These new English nodosaurid teeth are similar to those of North American and European Jurassic to Late Cretaceous nodosaurids, especially the American Gastonia, Texasetes, Mymoorapelta, Gargoyleosaurus, and the European Hungarosaurus.

A new genus and species of Palaeontinidae (Insecta: Hemiptera: Cicadomorpha) from the Lower Cretaceous of southern England

A new genus and species of Palaeontinidae (Insecta: Hemiptera: Cicadomorpha) from the Lower Cretaceous of southern England

A new genus and species of Palaeontinidae (Insecta: Hemiptera: Cicadomorpha) from the Lower Cretaceous of southern England

Valdicossus chesteri, a new genus and species belonging to Palaeontinidae (Insecta, Hemiptera), is described based on a well-preserved hindwing from the Early Cretaceous Wealden Supergroup of southern England. The specimen is the first well-preserved hindwing of Palaeontinidae from the UK. It differs from other genera as follows: veins M 1 , M 2 and M 3+4 arise from stem M near wing base; vein M 3+4 unbranched; fusion between veins RP and M 1 basal of the level of wing indentation; and vein A 1 absent.

Grasshoppers and crickets (Insecta: Orthoptera) from the Lower Cretaceous of southern England

This is a synoptic monograph of fossil Orthoptera from the English Lower Cretaceous (Purbeck and Wealden groups). The previously described taxa of these insects are revised on the basis of type specimens and examination of extensive new material. Eight new genera and 30 new species are proposed: Probaisselcana cretacea sp. nov., Minelcana membranacea gen. et sp. nov., Panorpidium proximum sp. nov., P. bimaculatum sp. nov., ? P. parvum sp. nov. (Elcanidae); ? Cyrtophyllites cretaceus sp. nov. (Haglidae); Aenigmoilus minutus gen. et sp. nov., Pseudaboilus wealdensis gen. et sp. nov., P. purbeckensis sp. nov., Tettigoilus sonorus gen. et sp. nov., ? Agrionidium obscurum sp. nov. (Prophalangopsidae); Notocearagryllus britannicus sp. nov., N. grandispeculum sp. nov., N. cordispeculum sp. nov., Anglogryllus lyristes gen. et sp. nov., A. rotundispeculum sp. nov., Speculogryllus acutispeculum gen. et sp. nov., Sharategia davisi sp. nov., S. batchelorae sp. nov., S. baldocki sp. nov. (Baissogryllidae); ? Araripegryllus orientalis sp. nov. (Gryllidae); Deinovitimia occidentalis sp. nov. (Ensifera: infraorder incertae sedis); Cretoxya rasnitsyni gen. et sp. nov. (Tridactylidae); Locustopsis posterior sp. nov., Zeunerella prior sp. nov., Zessinia borealis sp. nov., Mesolocustopsis anglica sp. nov., M. angusta sp. nov., M. problematica sp. nov., and Britannacrida distincta gen. et sp. nov (Locustopsidae). The subfamily Baisselcaninae is synonymized with Elcaninae, and a new subfamily (Archelcaninae subfam. nov.) is proposed for a segregate of Elcaninae. A preliminary comparison of the Purbeck/Wealden with other Early Cretaceous orthopteran faunas is given.

The first mayfly from the Lower Cretaceous of southern England (Insecta: Ephemerida= Ephemeroptera)

The first mayfly from the British Cretaceous, Durlophlebia radleyi gen. et sp. nov., is described on the basis of a subimaginal hind wing from the Berriasian Purbeck Limestone Group of Dorset, UK. Its presence in hypersaline deposits in the Lulworth Formation indicates that there were also fresher water bodies in the region at that time.

The status of the shark genus Lissodus Brough, 1935, and the position of nominal Lissodus species within the Hybodontoidea (Selachii)

ABSTRACT The hybodont form genus Lissodus is taken under revision and found to comprise a number of lineages. Twelve species, stratigraphically extended from the Scythian, Lower Triassic to the Albian, Lower Cretaceous, are retained in Lissodus s.s. Thirteen other species can be included in Lonchidion, here considered as a justified genus, ranging from the Ladinian in the Middle Triassic to the Maastrichtian in the Upper Cretaceous. Of the species previously included in Lissodus, two new genera, Vectiselachos, gen. nov. and Parvodus, gen. nov., are described. Vectiselachos is at present a monotypic genus including a single species from the Lower Cretaceous of southern England. Parvodus comprises three species and is known from the Bathonian, Middle Jurassic to the Valanginian, Lower Cretaceous. Another species is placed in Steinbachodus, expanding the stratigraphical range of the genus from the Rhaetian in the Upper Triassic to the Cenomanian in the Upper Cretaceous. Palaeozoic small-toothed hybodonts are extremely poorly known and alleged Lissodus species fall into two genera, but these are at present kept in open nomenclature. The family Lonchidiidae is considered justified and includes the genera Lissodus, Lonchidion, Vectiselachos, Hylaeobatis and Parvodus.

New true flies (Insecta: Diptera) from the Lower Cretaceous of southern England

The fossil record of Eoptychopteridae, Ptychopteridae and Dixidae (Insecta: Diptera) is discussed. One new genus and eight new species are described from the English non-marine Lower Cretaceous (Purbeck and Wealden groups):Eoptychoptera longifurcata sp. nov., Eoptychoptera britannica sp. nov., Eoptychopterina demissa sp. nov., Eoptychopterina dimidiata sp. nov., Eoptychopterina camura sp. nov. (Eoptychopteridae) , Brodilka mitchelli gen. nov., sp. nov., Zhiganka woolgari sp. nov. (Ptychopteridae) and Eucorethrina westwoodi sp. nov. (Dixidae). Bittacomorphella miocenica (Cockerell, 1910) is transferred to Ptychoptera.

Eomatsucoccus andrewi sp. nov. (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Coccinea) from the Lower Cretaceous of southern England

Eomatsucoccus andrewi sp. nov. (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Coccinea: Matsucoccida) has been established on the basis of a wing impression from the Lower Weald Clay (Hauterivian, Lower Cretaceous) at Keymer Tileworks, West Sussex, southern England. It differs from the other two Lower Cretaceous species, E. sukachevae Koteja and E. popovi Koteja, in wing size (c. 3.3mm long) and shape (gradually tapering towards apex). The taxonomy and palaeontology of the matsucoccids are discussed.

A new genus and species of weevil from the Lower Cretaceous of southern England (Insecta: Coleptera: Curculionoidea)

Metrioxenoides pusillusgen. et sp. nov. is described from the Lower Purbeck (Berriasian) of Dorset and placed with some reservation in the family Nemonychidae. This is the first definite weevil to have been found in the English Cretaceous succession.

Tectonic accentuation of sequence boundaries: evidence from the Lower Cretaceous of southern England

Abstract Three sequence boundaries (SB1, SB2 and SB3) are documented in the Upper Aptian martinioides to jacobi zones of the Lower Greensand Group of southern England. Correlation shows how folding affects only the strata of the lowest depositional sequence, indicating a discrete phase of tectonism in the nutfieldiensis zone/subzone (SB2). No similar tectonic deformation occurs at the sequence boundaries above or below. The regional features of this unconformity surface demonstrate that tectonically enhanced sequence boundaries may be discerned from those of eustatic/global tectonic origin. The tectonically enhanced sequence boundary (SB2) was initially interpreted as a transgressive surface at individual outcrops, but the regional pattern of truncation indicates that the transgressive surface is amalgamated onto a sequence boundary. Comparison of the geometry of each sequence on a regional (basin-wide) scale shows clearly the structural origin to truncation. Correlation of the three depositional sequences is made using their bounding surfaces, and the variable deposits of fuller’s earth bentonite, estuarine sand and lagoonal muds between SB1 and SB2 are resolved as time-equivalent facies deposited at the turn-around from sealevel lowstand to transgression. This correlation can be compared to that achieved by two conflicting ammonite zonal/subzonal schemes: the older biostratigraphy suggests diachroneity of the deformed lower sequence, whilst a new zonation shows this same sequence to be approximately synchronous.

Lost & Found: 139. Footprints from the lower Cretaceous of southern England.

Work being carried out, with the aid of the Sylvester-Bradley Award for 1982, on ichnites spp. from the Lower Cretaceous of Southern England has already demonstrated that footprints, sets or individual natural casts/moulds, exist in museums, university departments and in private collections but are not recorded in the literature. I would be grateful if anyone who knows of the whereabouts of any such material from the Wealden or Purbeck strata of southern Hlngland could communicate this Information to rne. Catalogue/Accession numbers and any other details of where, when and by whom it was collected would be much appreciated. Photographic records of sites or material would also be of considerable interest. Please...

A meander‐belt sandstone of the Lower Cretaceous of Southern England

ABSTRACTThe meander‐belt deposit comprises a sandstone resting on an erosion surface and bounded above and below by massive varicoloured mudstones with rootlet traces. The sandstone unit is composed of six bodies separated from one another, horizontally, by erosion surfaces; together the bodies form a single multilateral sand body. Internally each body is composed of lateral accretion units inclined at up to 6° from the horizontal. Vertical sequences of facies show significant variations but the grain size generally fines upwards. The principal lithofacies within the sandstones are, in common ascending order, intraformational conglomerate, large‐scale cross‐bedded, horizontal bedded and small‐scale cross‐laminated sandstone, and alternate sandstones and mudstones. Current directions are normal to the true slope of accretion surfaces and show insignificant scatter within individual bodies but are very diverse overall. Five of the sand bodies are believed to represent individual point bars, and one body an abandoned channel. Together they comprise the meander belt. The river was subject to very variable discharges and carried high suspended loads. Analysis of vertical profiles indicates that grain size segregation along the length of the point bars caused differentiation of the bars into coarse‐grained heads and sandy tails.