PalZ

Bicknell, Russell D. C.; Smith, Patrick M.; Bruthansová, Jana; Holland, Brayden

doi: 10.1007/s12542-021-00572-9pmid: N/A

Trilobite malformations are often ascribed to failed predation and represent key evidence for Paleozoic arthropod predator–prey systems. A large number of malformed trilobites are known to Cambrian-aged deposits and have recently been discussed at length. Conversely, most post-Cambrian records are noted as anecdotal points within larger taxonomic works. To expand the consideration of post-Cambrian injured trilobites, we report two malformed Ogygiocarella debuchii specimens from the Middle Ordovician of Wales and a heavily malformed Spiniscutellum umbelliferum specimen from the Early Devonian of the Czech Republic. These specimens are considered to represent records of failed predation. In considering these specimens, we explore possible injury-making groups, in particular noting that S. umbelliferum was likely prey for multiple apex predators. Continued examination of injured trilobites represents the main direction for uncovering how this iconic group of biomineralised arthropods interacted with higher tropic levels within Paleozoic foodwebs.

Schwarze, Daniel; Harms, Danilo; Hammel, Jörg U.; Kotthoff, Ulrich

doi: 10.1007/s12542-021-00565-8pmid: N/A

Pseudoscorpions belong to the oldest terrestrial lineages with origins in the Devonian (ca. 385 Ma) but their fossil record is extremely sparse and little is known about their diversification over time. Here, we describe the first fossil species of the pseudoscorpion family Pseudotyrannochthoniidae that resemble the Devonian fossils in major details, such as the chaetotaxy of the pedipalps. We describe two new species, Allochthonius balticus sp. nov. from Baltic amber and Centrochthonius bitterfeldicus sp. nov. from Bitterfeld amber in northern Europe. Both species can unequivocally be assigned to extant genera and provide further evidence for dramatic range shifts in European invertebrate biota since the Paleogene. Allochthonius Chamberlin, 1929 is a diverse genus in eastern Asia (China, Korea, and Japan) today but does not occur anywhere in central Asia, Europe or North America. Centrochthonius Beier, 1931 is a poorly known genus but seems to be restricted to high altitude habitats in central Asia (China, Kyrgyzstan, and Nepal). With range retractions to regions more than 4600 km away from the European amber deposits, the fossils highlight total lineage extinction in Europe and survival in refugia that are climatically and botanically most similar to the Baltic amber forest of the Eocene. Overall, our results support the concept of morphological but potentially also ecological stasis in major pseudoscorpion lineages over long periods of time and agree with previous studies that suggested a warm temperate rather than subtropical or tropical climate for the time of amber deposition.

Haug, Gideon T.; Haug, Carolin; van der Wal, Serita; Müller, Patrick; Haug, Joachim T.

doi: 10.1007/s12542-021-00550-1pmid: N/A

Nymphidae, the group of split-footed lacewings, is a rather species-poor group. Split-footed lacewings nowadays are restricted to Australasia, while fossil forms are also known from other areas of the world, indicating that the group was more species-rich and therefore likely diverse in the past. Split-footed lacewings have rather distinct larvae, roughly resembling antlion larvae, but differing from the latter especially with regard to the mandibles. Antlion larvae usually have three prominent teeth on each mandible, while at least extant larvae of split-footed lacewings only have a single prominent tooth per mandible. Fossils interpreted as larvae of split-footed lacewings are well known from amber from Myanmar (ca. 100 myr; Burmese amber) and by a single specimen from Baltic amber (about 40 myr). We here report additional fossil specimens from Myanmar amber, expanding the known record of fossil forms from six depicted specimens to 15. For the extant fauna, we could compile 25 larvae. We compare the diversity of shape of extant and fossil larvae through time using an outline analysis (based on elliptic Fourier transformation) of the head. The results of this analysis indicate that the morphological diversity, or disparity, of split-footed lacewing larvae was higher in the past than it is today. With this type of analysis, we can show a loss of diversity over time, without the necessity to identify the fossil larvae down to a narrow taxonomical range. A similar pattern has already been recognised in silky lacewings, Psychopsidae. This might indicate a general loss of diversity of lacewing larvae.

Bujtor, László; Albrecht, Richárd

doi: 10.1007/s12542-021-00560-zpmid: N/A

Recent discovery of a previously unknown outcrop in the vicinity of the Zengővárkony lime-kilns (Mecsek Mountains, Hungary) provided a few identifiable upper Oxfordian brachiopods that exhibit a truly Mediterranean (Tethyan) character. Dating of the outcrop is based on a rich ammonite fauna: Benetticeras benettii; Trimarginites ex gr. trimarginatus; Orthosphinctes (Orthosphinctes) ex gr. tiziani clearly indicate the Late Oxfordian. The brachiopod fauna indicates a deep-water marine environment and well-oxygenated sea floor. Nucleata bouei and Pygope catulloi are recorded for the first time from the Mecsek Mountains. A pathologic specimen of Pygope catulloi is also recognized. Its ventral valve was injured in an early developmental stage that caused deformation of the left side, which was overgrown by the healthy right side and created an asymmetric adult shell shape. Cause of the injury is unclear but it provides further evidence for subsequent healing of brachiopods after being injured. This is the first description and illustration of Oxfordian brachiopods from the Mecsek Mountains, Hungary. The occurrence of Tethyan originating pygopid brachiopods in the Oxfordian strengthens earlier observations that from the Bathonian/Callovian Tethyan influence became overwhelming in the Mecsek Mountains fauna. Pygope catulloi strengthens records from Algeria that pygopid brachiopods may have occurred very early on the periphery of the Western Tethys.

Reichenbacher, Bettina; Bannikov, Alexander F.

doi: 10.1007/s12542-021-00573-8pmid: N/A

Studies of otoliths suggest that Gobioidei, which are among the most species-rich groups of modern-day vertebrates, were prominent elements of late middle Miocene (early Sarmatian sensu lato) fish faunas in Europe and Western Asia. However, few complete skeletons have come to light. Here, we report an assemblage of six marine gobiid species, based on skeletons preserved with otoliths in situ, from the lower Volhynian (lower Sarmatian s.l.) of Karpov Yar, Naslavcea, northern Moldova (Eastern Paratethys). Previously only one of these species had been reported from the Central Paratethys, based on its otoliths alone. Five new species representing four new genera are described: †Katyagobius prikryli gen. et sp. nov., Pseudolesueurigobius manfredi gen. et sp. nov., †Sarmatigobius compactus gen. et sp. nov., †Yarigobius decoratus gen. et sp. nov., and †Y. naslavcensis gen. et sp. nov. All six species share the following set of characters, suggesting that they represent a monophyletic clade: 27–29 vertebrae (of which 10 are abdominal); spines of first dorsal fin distally filamentous; second dorsal fin with spine and 14–16 soft rays; anal fin with spine and 13–15 soft rays; caudal fin longish-to-lanceolate; otoliths (sagittae) with rounded, trapezoid-to-squarish shape. Their skeletal features suggest that they are closely related to Lesueurigobius Whitley, 1950, but the otoliths preserved in situ do not support such a classification. The new fossils most likely represent a stem lineage of the European Aphia lineage, and indicate that the diversity of gobiid lineages 12 million years ago differed clearly from that observed today.

Villa, Andrea; Gobbi, Simone; Delfino, Massimo

doi: 10.1007/s12542-021-00571-wpmid: N/A

A small sample of fossil vertebrae of amphibians and reptiles found in the historical collection of the Museum of Geology and Palaeontology of the University of Torino is here described. The fossils most likely originate from the same deposits as the old collections from Weisenau, in the Mainz Basin. In spite of the small number of remains, at least five taxa are recognized: one urodele (Salamandra sansaniensis), one lizard (Pseudopus sp.), and three snakes (Falseryx petersbuchi, Zamenis kohfidischi, and Vipera antiqua). Records of only one of these, the viper, were already properly published in previous accounts on the site, whereas the urodele and lizard were only mentioned in literature, which we are now able to confirm. The other two snakes are identified in the early Miocene of Weisenau for the first time. For at least four of the identified taxa, the Weisenau occurrence is the oldest known. This small sample supports the hypothesis that the early Miocene of Europe was an important step towards establishing its modern herpetofauna, soon after the Oligocene/Miocene transition.

Villa, Andrea; Reichenbacher, Bettina

doi: 10.1007/s12542-021-00570-xpmid: N/A

Occurrence of the European extinct cordylid genus ‘Bavaricordylus’ from the early middle Miocene of Switzerland was recently questioned. Reanalysis of the Swiss material supports its assignment to the lacertid genus Janosikia, the presence of which is, therefore, indicated for the first time outside from southern Germany. Based on dentary morphology, it seems that two Janosikia morphotypes were present in the Miocene, one with a smooth and a second with a rough lateral surface of the dentary. The lacertid genus Janosikia seems to be confined to Central Europe, thriving there through at least the first half of the Miocene (from ca. 22 Ma to ca. 15.7 Ma).

Boivin, Myriam; Marivaux, Laurent; Aguirre-Diaz, Walter; Andriolli Custódio, Michele; Benites-Palomino, Aldo; Pujos, François; Roddaz, Martin; Salas-Gismondi, Rodolfo; Stutz, Narla; Tejada-Lara, Julia V.; Yans, Johan; Antoine, Pierre-Olivier

Mecozzi, Beniamino; Iannucci, Alessio; Bona, Fabio; Mazzini, Ilaria; Pieruccini, Pierluigi; Sardella, Raffaele

doi: 10.1007/s12542-021-00553-ypmid: N/A

A river otter hemimandible has been rediscovered during the revision of the historical collections of G.A. Blanc from Grotta Romanelli, complementing the ongoing multidisciplinary research fieldwork on the site. The specimen, recovered from the level G (“terre rosse”; early Late Pleistocene or late Middle Pleistocene), is here assigned to Lutra lutra. Indeed, morphological and morphometric comparisons with other Quaternary Lutrinae fossils from Europe allow to exclude an attribution to the relatively widespread and older Lutra simplicidens, characterized by distinctive carnassial proportions. Differences with Cyrnaonyx antiqua, which possessed a more robust, shellfish-feeding dentition, support the view of a successful niche repartition between the two species during the late Middle to Late Pleistocene of Europe. The occurrence of Lutra lutra from the “terre rosse” of Grotta Romanelli suggests deep modifications of the landscapes due to the ecological adaptation of the taxon, and indicates that the Eurasian otter spread into Europe at the Middle–Late Pleistocene transition.

Stachacz, Michał; Knaust, Dirk; Matysik, Michał

doi: 10.1007/s12542-021-00583-6pmid: N/A

The ichnotaxonomy, producers and ethology of the bivalve trace fossil Oravaichnium Plička and Uhrová, 1990 are revised, and the mode of formation is discussed. The ichnogenus is compared with other mollusc trace fossils such as Protovirgularia, Lockeia and Ptychoplasma, as well as the common, cosmopolitan trace fossils Planolites and Palaeophycus, which are morphologically similar to Oravaichnium. A lectotype of Oravaichnium hrabei Plička and Uhrová, 1990 is defined and illustrated. Oravaichnium carinatum isp. nov. from the Middle Triassic of Poland and Germany is described and interpreted as a bivalve burrow. It differs from the relatively rare O. hrabei by a carinate rather than subquadrate cross section. However, O. carinatum isp. nov. shows a great variation of morphology and transitional forms with O. hrabei are common. Similarly, transitional forms of Oravaichnium with other bivalve ichnogenera, especially Protovirgularia, also occur. The studied Triassic ichnoassemblage clearly indicates that bivalve burrows are much more common than previously believed and are represented by repichnia, fodinichnia and cubichnia. The occurrence of similar ichnofabrics containing Oravaichnium in other Triassic succession of the Germanic and Tethys basins and elsewhere suggests a much wider distribution than hitherto known. It is evident that bivalves, most likely nuculids, participated greatly in bioturbation, and the Middle Triassic infaunalisation is one of the most important steps in Phanerozoic evolution of ichnocoenoses.