Salagou Formation Research Articles

A new Caloneurodea family (Insecta, Archaeorthoptera) increases the insect palaeodiversity of the middle Permian Salagou Formation (southern France)

A new genus and species of the archaeorthopteran order Caloneurodea are described and illustrated from the Salagou Formation (France) as Lodevogramma pumilia gen. et sp. nov. The particular wing venation of this species precludes its placement within one of the already described families of Caloneurodea. Consequently, the family Lodevogrammatidae fam. nov. is created to accommodate this specimen. A detailed comparison of the new species with other Caloneurodea is provided. This new species differs from all other Caloneurodea because it has: petiolate wings; the area between C and R/RA is very narrow; vein RA ends near the wing apex; vein RP has two branches; the fork of CuP basad the base of M; and two very short anal veins are present. This new species increases the diversity of Caloneurodea in the Salagou Formation and provides additional information on the diversity of the order around the late Capitanian extinction. We compared the diversity of Caloneurodea with that of Megasecoptera, another order with a similar history between the Carboniferous and the Permian, and hypothesized that the decrease in the size of both groups could be an indicator of their declines, possibly related to floral changes, following a pattern similar to that of Permian tetrapods. The decline of Caloneurodea could also be related to the diversification of the Orthoptera during the middle–late Permian. http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:1A14DF89-0F25-4105-B087-DC79D644728F

A new ‘grylloblattodean’ genus and species (Insecta: Polyneoptera) from the middle Permian Salagou Formation (France)

Lodevoisadia coheni gen. et sp. nov. is described as the ninth species of ‘Grylloblattodea’ from the middle Permian of the Salagou Formation, near Lodève town (France). It is currently not reasonable to place this species into a specific family, even though it seems to share most characters with the small family Tunguskapteridae. The lack of phylogenetic analysis and the current poor delineation of the majority of the grylloblattodean families (lacking synapomorphies) render any attribution of new taxa to a particular family often uncertain.

A new species of the ʻprotozygopteranʼ damselfly (Odonata: Permagrionidae) from the Lower-Middle Permian of Russia

The small Paleozoic protozygopteran family Permagrionidae comprises 11 described species in 5 genera from the Lower Permian Chekarda and Solikamsk localities in Russia (Zalessky, 1948; Nel et al., 2012) and Salagou Formation in France (Nel et al., 1999; Fate et al., 2013), the Middle Permian Soyana and Kargala localities in Russia (Martynov, 1932; Martynov, 1937; Nel et al., 2012), and the Upper Permian Bodie Creek Head locality in Malvinas Tillyard (1928). Here we describe the new species, Epilestes rasnitsyni sp. nov. from the Ufimian of Perm Territory, which is characterized by specific arrangement of veins in the petiole and the unique preservation of body structures.

Rock Magnetic Cyclostratigraphy of Permian Loess in Eastern Equatorial Pangea (Salagou Formation, South-Central France)

We present the findings from analysis and modeling of a stratigraphic series of magnetic susceptibility data measured with a portable magnetic susceptibility meter from the Permian Salagou Formation loessite (south-central France). The results reveal discernible Milankovitch-scale paleoclimatic variability throughout the Salagou Formation, recording astronomically-forced climate change in deep-time loessite of eastern equatorial Pangea. Optimal sedimentation rates are estimated to have ranged between 9.4 cm/kyr (lower Salagou Formation) and 13 cm/kyr (mid-upper Salagou Formation). A persistent 10-m-thick cyclicity is present that likely represents orbital eccentricity-scale (~100 kyr) variability through the middle to late Cisuralian (ca. 285—275 Ma). Subordinate, higher-frequency cycles with thicknesses of ~3.3—3.5 m and ~1.8 m appear to represent obliquity and precession-scale variability. If the driver of magnetic enhancement is pedogenic, then the ~10 m thick cyclicity that is consistent over ~1000 m of section may represent the thickness of loessite-paleosol couplets in the Salagou Formation. Laboratory rock magnetic data show generally low magnetic enhancement compared to analogous Eurasian Quaternary loess deposits. This is related to the predominance of hematite (substantially weaker signal than magnetite or maghemite) in the Salagou Formation which may be explained by different conditions of formation (e.g. syn depositional processes, more arid and/or oxidizing climate conditions) than in present Eurasia and/or post depositional oxidation of magnetite and maghemite.

Loess in eastern equatorial Pangea archives a dusty atmosphere and possible upland glaciation

Abstract Carboniferous–Permian strata in basins within the Central Pangean Mountains in France archive regional paleoequatorial climate during a unique interval in geological history (Pangea assembly, ice-age collapse, megamonsoon inception). The voluminous (∼1.5 km) succession of exclusively fine-grained red beds that comprises the Permian Salagou Formation (Lodève Basin, France) has long been interpreted to record either lacustrine or fluvial deposition, primarily based on a local emphasis of subaqueous features in the upper ∼25% of the section. In contrast, data presented here indicate that the lower-middle Salagou Formation is dominated by up to 15-m-thick beds of internally massive red mudstone with abundant pedogenic features (microscale) and no evidence of channeling. Up-section, limited occurrences of ripple and hummocky cross-stratification, and mudcracks record the intermittent influence of shallow water, but with no channeling nor units with grain sizes exceeding coarse silt. These data suggest that the most parsimonious interpretation for the Salagou Formation involves eolian transport of the sediment and ultimate deposition as loess in shallow, ephemeral lacustrine environments. Provenance analyses of the Salagou Formation indicate coarse-grained protoliths and, together with geochemical proxies (chemical index of alteration [CIA] and τNa) that correspond respectively to a low degree of chemical weathering and a mean annual temperature of ∼4 °C, suggest that silt generation in this case is most consistent with cold-weathering (glacial and associated periglacial) processes in the Variscan highlands. Together with previous studies that detailed voluminous Permian loess in western equatorial Pangea, this work shows a globally unique distribution of dust at low latitudes that can be linked either directly to glaciated alpine terranes or to reworked and deflated deposits of other types (e.g., fluvial outwash) where fine-grained material was originally generated from glacial grinding in alpine systems. These results further support a revised model for early Permian climate, in which extratropical ice sheets coexisted with a semiarid tropics that may have hosted significant ice at moderate elevation.

Discovery of the first lacewings (Neuroptera: Permithonidae) from the Guadalupian of the Lodève Basin (Southern France)

Lacewings and their relatives (Neuroptera) are one of the ancient holometabolous insect order reaching spectacular diversity during the Mesozoic and Cenozoic, but with a surprisingly sparse record during the Late Palaeozoic. Here, we describe the first members of the stem-group Permithonidae from the middle Permian (Guadalupian) of Salagou Formation in the Lodève Basin (Languedoc region, Southern France): Lodevothone pectinata nov. gen., nov. sp., and Lodevosisyra reducta nov. gen., nov. sp. Both diagnoses are based on unique wing venation patterns. Discovery of these two new permithonid species in the Lodève Basin fits well with the distribution of other taxa known from the Permian of Euramerica, Siberia, and Gondwana. The fossil record of Permithonidae is documented and briefly discussed in respect of stratigraphical range and geographical distribution. A check-list of all taxa including their synonymy is provided.

New Middle Permian insects from Salagou Formation of the Lodève Basin in southern France (Insecta: Pterygota)

SummaryNew insects are described from the Middle Permian (Guadalupian) of Salagou Formation in the Lodève Basin (Languedoc region, France). Palaeopterans are represented by new odonatopterans viz. Huangiopterum lodevense n. gen., n. sp. and Huangiopterum species B, attributed to clade Panodonata (Huangiopteridae n. fam.), already recorded through the family Saxonagrionidae in the same formation, and a diaphanopterodean Martynovia cf. halli Beckemeyer 2004 (Martynoviidae) known from the Lower Permian of Oklahoma. Archaeorthopterans are supplemented by Bethouxia ariegensis n. gen., n. sp., Paralongzhua elongata n. gen., n. sp., Lodevolongzhua incompleta n. gen., n. sp., the caloneurodean Jarmiloptera mouralensis n. gen., n. sp., and a cnemidolestodean cf. Tococladus sp. (Tococladidae). Permophyllum rotundatum n. sp. (?Tettigoniidae) demonstrates the first presence of Orthoptera with wings probably mimicking Peltaspermales reproductive organs in Late Palaeozoic possibly analogous to the known crypsis of roachoid tegmina with pteridosperm pinnules. Frequent occurrence of hardly identifiable grylloblattid wing fragments support their significant role in term of abundance and diversity of the Permian faunas. New taxa based on wing venation pattern as Genera and species undetermined A, B (Liomopteridae), Permobaharellus salagousensis n. gen., n. sp. (family uncertain), Lodevophlebia reticulata n. gen., n. sp. (Sylvaphlebiidae), Oborella lodevensis n. sp. (Euryptilonidae), and Genus and species undetermined C, were described. Paoliida is represented by a paoliid gen. et sp. indet. and three anthracoptilids Strephocladus gandi n. sp., Strephocladus mouralensis n. sp., Lodevocladus subtilis n. gen., n. sp. The first record of miomopteran Palaeomantis sp. (Paleomanteidae) from Salagou Formation is presented. Acercarian insects are represented by the first record of Thripida and diverse new hemipterans, namely Euroscytina lutevanorum n. gen., n. sp. (Cicadomorpha: Scytinopteridae), Prosbole dio n. sp., Prosbole garrici n. sp., Pervestigia cf. veteris Becker-Migdisova 1961 (Prosbolidae), Archescytina species A (Paleorrhyncha: Archescytinidae) and Permopsyllidium lesclansis n. sp. (Sternorrhyncha: Psylloidea: Protopsyllidiidae). Entomofauna from the Salagou Formation demonstrate highly diverse insect communities with some taxa linked to early and late Permian ones known from assemblages in Euramerica and Russia, such as Obora (Czech Republic), Wellington Formation (Kansas and Oklahoma, USA), and Tshekarda (Ural, Russia).

New Middle Permian palaeopteran insects from Lodève Basin in southern France (Ephemeroptera, Diaphanopterodea, Megasecoptera)

Three new palaeopteran insects are described from the Middle Permian (Guadalupian) of Salagou Formation in the Lodève Basin (South of France), viz. the diaphanopterodean Alexrasnitsyniidae fam. n., based on Alexrasnitsynia permiana gen. et sp. n., the Parelmoidae Permelmoa magnifica gen. et sp. n., and Lodevohymen lapeyriei gen. et sp. n. (in Megasecoptera or Diaphanopterodea, family undetermined). In addition the first record of mayflies attributed to family Syntonopteridae (Ephemeroptera) is reported. These new fossils clearly demonstrate that the present knowledge of the Permian insects remains very incomplete. They also confirm that the Lodève entomofauna was highly diverse providing links to other Permian localities and also rather unique, with several families still not recorded in other contemporaneous outcrops.

Notostraca trackways in Permian playa environments of the Lodève basin (France)

For nearly 20 years, Dr. Lapeyrie, surgeon at Lodeve, has gathered many fossils coming from the Salagou Formation of the Lodeve Permian basin. They are Insects, Notostraca, plants and ichnofossils. Among the latter, appears a multitude of Arthropoda trackways, finely preserved, which were collected in the top of sequences deposited in a playa environment. The locomotion experiments undertaken with extant animals suggested allocation of the majority of these trackways to Notostraca which are also known by several hundreds of remains (carapace, appendages, body whole). From these different parts, it was described as Triops cancriformis permiensis and Lepidurus occitaniacus. All these trackways were made under water and correspond to various etho-morphotypes known in the literature under the name of Acripes for the walking prints, Rusophycus for resting traces (= stationary digging; horizontal, procline and opisthocline positions) and Cruziana for locomotion active and digging. Many fossiliferous slabs clearly allow to see the passage from one activity to another. A similar situation was also filmed with the modern Lepidurus. The following ichnotaxa were distinguished: Acripes multiformis nov. isp, Rusophycus eutendorfensis, R. carbonarius, R. versans, R. minutus, R. furcosus, Cruziana problematica, C. pascens and Scoyenia, isp., less common. With also numerous footprints, this assemblage characterizes the Scoyenia facies restricted to overbank settings. For the Salagou Formation, they correspond to a floodplain/playa in which shallow and temporary pools were inhabited by Nostotraca, Insects, Arachnids and Conchostraca (= Spinicaudata + Laevicaudata), this last group only known by body-fossils. This distal playa environment under arid climate lasted during most of the Permian, possibly between Upper Cisuralian to lower Lopingian.

Lodetiella magnifica nov. gen. and nov. sp. (Insecta: Palaeodictyoptera; Permian), an extreme situation in wing morphology of palaeopterous insects

Based on published data and review of Mecynoptera splendida Handlirsch, 1904, a wing venation ground plan applicable to most taxa of the Palaeozoic superorder Palaeodictyopteroidea is proposed, where each major vein system has a simple anterior sector, and, primitively, a dichotomously branched posterior sector. Lodetiella magnifica nov. gen. and sp. is described, based on an isolated hind wing from the Salagou Formation (Middle to Late Permian; Hérault, France). The venation of Lodetiella magnifica conforms to the predicted ground plan, but differs by its simple posterior cubitus sector. This character is diagnostic of the family Calvertiellidae (Palaeodictyoptera), whose diagnosis is updated. Wing movement in flight is inferred from the peculiar wing vein organization of Lodetiella magnifica. Some ecological preferences might explain the relative rarity of calvertiellids in the fossil record.

Identification of Permian palaeowind direction from wave‐dominated lacustrine sediments (Lodève Basin, France)

AbstractLacustrine environments are an excellent indicator of continental palaeoclimate. In particular, the sedimentary record of waves in lakes may be used to constrain atmospheric palaeocirculation. Wave ripples have been identified in a Permian lacustrine basin (the Salagou Formation, 260–250 Ma, Lodève Basin) located in the southern French Massif Central, part of the western European Hercynian mountain chain. Wave ripple patterns are interpreted with regards to hydrodynamics and water palaeodepth. It is shown that, in the case of the Salagou Formation, wave ripple orientations were controlled by the direction of the prevailing palaeowind. The Late Permian wind blew from between north and 20° east of north, possibly over several millions of years and certainly throughout the period of deposition of about 2000 m of strata in the Lodève Basin. Permian lacustrine sedimentation is widespread and well preserved on the Earth's surface and so wave ripple data may help constrain numerical modelling of the Earth's past climates, especially with regards to Permian times outside of desert regions.

A new species of Tococladidae CARPENTER, 1966 from the Permian of France (Insecta: Archaeorthoptera)

A new forewing venation pattern of the Tococladidae is proposed and the phylogenetic affinities of this family are discussed, based on Tococladus garrici nov. sp. This fossil comes from the Salagou Formation (Permian, Saxonian Group, Lodève basin, France). The Tococladidae is assigned to the Archaeorthoptera BÉTHOUX and NEL, 2002. The biostratigraphic implications of this discovery are briefly discussed, but it is still not possible to infer any definite conclusion about the age of this formation.

New Martynoviidae from the Permian of Southern France (Lodève basin) (Insecta: Palaeoptera: Diaphanopterodea)

A new genus and two new species, Salagouneura chimaira nov. gen. and nov. sp. and Phaneroneura minuta nov. sp., together with several other specimens of uncertain affinities, are herein assigned to the family Martynoviidae. This family was previously only known from the Lower Permian of Oklahoma and Kansas (USA). The new specimens have been discovered in the Salagou Formation (Permian; Hérault, France). Stratigraphical and palaeoecological implications of the occurrence of this family in the Salagou Formation are discussed. These discoveries seem correlated with similar palaeoenvironmental conditions between the Salagou Formation and the Midco Salt Lake Formation (Oklahoma).

Discovery of the genus Iasvia Zalessky, 1934 in the Upper Permian of France (Lodève basin) (Orthoptera, Ensifera, Oedischiidae)

New material attributed to the species Iasvia reticulata ZALESSKY, 1934 and to a new species in this genus is described from the Salagou Formation (Saxonian Group, Lodève basin). Preamble to the taxonomic section, the wing venation pattern of Orthoptera is discussed. The numerous described specimens yield decisive information about variability of wing venation within the genus, previously based on a single specimen from the Russian Permian. I. reticulata is the first species from the Lodève basin that is already known from another site. The biostratigraphic implications are discussed.

Surijoka Lutevensis nov. sp.: The first glosselytrodea (insecta) from the upper permian of France (Lodève basin)

Abstract Surijoka lutevensis nov. sp. is described from the upper part of the Salagou Formation (Saxonian Group, Lodeve basin). This new taxon is described after a complete forewing of a Glosselytrodea: Jurinidae. This is the first record of this order in the french Permian. Surijoka lutevensis nov. sp. is very close to the type species Surijoka grandicella Martynova , 1958 from the Kazanian of the Kuznetsk Basin, Russia. We discuss on the wing veins homology, and propose a subsequent new wing vein nomenclature and new hypotheses on the phylogenetic relationships of the Glosselytrodea. The family Permoberothidae is excluded from this order and transferred into the Mecopterida, close to the Neuroptera. The Glosselytrodea are tentatively considered as an orthopteroid order.

Saxonagrion minutus nov. gen. et sp., the oldest damselfly from the Upper Permian of France (Odonatoptera, Panodonata, Saxonagrionidae nov. fam.)

Saxonagrion minutus nov. gen. et sp. was found in the Saxonian (Salagou Formation) of the Lodève basin. It is the oldest and the first record of the modern infra-order Panodonata in the Palaezoic (Upper Permian of France). The present discovery supports the hypothesis concerning the persistance of many groups of Odonatoptera through the Permo-Triassic boundary.

Biocénoses à triopsidés(Crustacea, Branchiopoda) du Permien du bassin de Lodève (France)

Triopsids (Crustacea, Branchiopoda), which are abundant in the “Saxonian” facies of the Salagou Formation of the Lodève Basin and dated to the Thuringian, Saxonian or Artinskian by different workers, are described here. From thousands of carapace and thoraco-abdominal fragments and more rarely from intact specimens, we identify and describe two new species: Triops cancriformis permiensis nov. ssp. and Lepidurus occitaniacus nov. sp., which are morphologically similar to modern species. On the basis of the ecological preferences of modern triopsids and the sedimentological characteristics of their environment in Permian times, we confirm the occurrence of shallow, temporary expanses of water during the deposition of the Salagou Formation. These pools were either neutral or slightly alkaline and were scattered across a playa type environment and endured with the same characteristics during deposition of the formation which is more than 1000 m thick in the south of the basin. Aridity that prevailed during this long period of sedimentation had been suggested earlier from the study of sedimentological data (dessication cracks, rubefaction) and of Isopodichnus ichnites attributed to notostracean triopsids. This is now confirmed by the discovery of large numbers of these crustaceans in crescent-shaped megaripples from the base to the top of the Salagou Formation. The organism fragments are located in minor sequence limestone horizons within the sandstone body. The fossiliferous strata formed during restrictive stages of the living environment, essentially from moulting. Triopsids and Isopodichnus,, viewed as their trace fossilw, are not found together in the same strata showing that the fossilisation conditions for the organisms and their tracks differed.