Kimmeridgian and early Tithonian cephalopods from the Kisújbánya Limestone Formation, Zengővárkony (Mecsek Mountains, southern Hungary), their faunal composition, palaeobiogeographic affinities, and taphonomic character

A new collection at Zengővárkony (Mecsek Mountains, Hungary) provided a rich and diverse but poorly preserved cephalopod-dominated fossil assemblage representing the Kimmeridgian and the lower Tithonian. The material came from mixed scree, soil, and amongst roots affected by weathering processes having been exposed to the elements for a long time. The nautiloid Pseudaganides strambergensis is the first record from the Mecsek Mountains. Due to the weathering, the ammonite fauna consists of mainly fragmentary and dissolved individuals that comprises 528 specimens belonging to 34 species and 30 genera out of which 20 species and 15 genera are reported for the first time from the Mecsek Mountains. The fauna includes specimens of known taxa. No new taxa are introduced. Based on the comparison with other faunas, this assemblage most closely resembles the fauna of the Venetian Alps (Italy). Additional faunal elements include aptychi (Laevaptychus latus, Lamellaptychus murocostatus), belemnites (Hibolithes semisulcatus), and an indetermined brachiopod. The first record of Spiraserpula spirolinites, an encrusting fossil polychaete preserved on the internal mould of a Taramelliceras shell fragment indicates favourable bottom conditions for the epifauna. The presence of Aspidoceras caletanum, Gravesia aff. gigas, and Pseudowaagenia inerme indicates faunal connections with the Submediterranean Province of the Tethys, which is in line with the tectonic and palaeogeographical position of the Mecsek Zone during the Late Jurassic. The ammonite assemblage represents elements of five Tethysian ammonite zones of the Kimmeridgian and Tithonian. The lower Kimmeridgian Herbichi Zone is indicated by Streblites tenuilobatus and Praesimoceras herbichi. The upper Kimmeridgian Acanthicum Zone is indicated by Aspidoceras acanthicum, and the Cavouri Zone by Mesosimoceras cavouri and Aspidoceras caletanum. The upper Kimmeridgian Beckeri Zone is suggested by Hybonoticeras pressulum and Pseudowaagenia inerme. Whereas Gravesia aff. gigas, Lithacoceras aff. siliceum, and Malagasites? denseplicatus are faunal elements characterising the Early Tithonian Hybonotum Zone. Phylloceratid and lytoceratid specimens account only for 12% of the fauna, while the majority of the specimens belong to the Oppeliidae and Ataxioceratidae (60%).

New hermit crabs (Crustacea, Anomura, Paguroidea) from the Lower Oligocene of the Ligure Piemontese Basin, northwest Italy

Extinct hermit crabs from Italy have been recorded by several authors, mainly on the basis of both complete or fragmentary chelipeds. Here we add three new paguroids, Dardanus cherpionensis n. sp.,Paguristes collinsi n. sp. and Paguristes laurae n. sp., from Lower Oligocene (Rupelian) strata in the Ligure-Piemontese Basin of northwest Italy. Paguristes laurae n. sp. is preserved in situ within the internal mould of a indeterminate xenophorid gastropod.

Conditions of staphylococcal enterotoxin production in milk and milk products

The authors reviewed the existing scientific data, concerning the ability of Staphylococcus aureus to grow and produce enterotoxins in milk and in dairy products particularly in cheeses. S. aureus can grow well in liquid raw or pasteurized milks and produce enterotoxins if the product is stored in favorable for the pathogen temperature. Cream also supports growth of S. aureus and enterotoxin production, but butter as well as fermented products like yogurt and buttermilk are not favorable substrates for the production of enterotoxins. Cheeses represent a complex environment, due to their great variety in processing technology and environment. Fresh cheeses, soft cheeses and semi-hard and hard cheeses can support growth of S. aureus during the first stages of production up to 48 hours. Normally, the pathogen, if it is present in the milk, will multiply for 3-4 logs and after that, when acidity develops, the populations of S. aureus decrease and usually disappear by the end of the ripening period. However, if enterotoxins are produced during the multiplication phase of the pathogen, it will remain active in the cheese for a long time. Internal mould ripened cheeses (e.g. blue cheese), pasta filata cheeses or the processed cheeses do not represent favorable substrates for the multiplication of S. aureus and enterotoxin production. On the contrary, whey cheeses form a very favorable environment for the enterotoxins' production, because of their high pH and the absence of antagonistic bacterial flora.

The Stoppani Collection of Large Bivalves (Bivalvia, Megalodontida) from the Upper Triassic of Lombardy, Italy

During a reorganisation of the MSNM’s palaeontological collections, we uncovered specimens from the original collection of Antonio Stoppani. These included around one hundred original fragments of megalodontid bivalves (mostly internal moulds) from the Upper Triassic of Lombardy, and 14 plaster casts of original fossils, and hypothetical internal mould and valve reconstructions. Among this materials an original fragment and 8 moulds were illustrated in Stoppani, 1860-65 in his appendix on large bivalves from the Upper Triassic of Lombardy. One of the moulds is of the holotype of <em>Conchodon</em> <em>infraliasicus</em> Stoppani, 1860-65.

The echinoid Holaster laevis from the Albian (Lower Cretaceous) of the Winterswijk area, eastern Netherlands

A single internal mould of the holasterid echinoid Holaster laevis (Brongniart, 1822) constitutes the first record of this species from the upper portion (‘Upper Holland Marl’) of the Holland Formation (Rijnland Group), of middle-late Albian age, in the Winterswijk area (eastern Netherlands). The geographic range of H. laevis can thus be extended to this part of western Europe, with previous records from southern England (Wiltshire, Devon) and the Département Ain in east-central France.

Evidence for ammonite survival into the Danian (Paleogene) from the Cerithium Limestone at Stevns Klint, Denmark

Two ammonite species, Baculites vertebralis and Hoploscaphites constrictus, are recorded from the Cerithium Limestone (lower Danian, Paleogene) at Stevns Klint, Denmark. Most of the specimens represent internal and external moulds of shell fragments, the sole exception being a complete, well preserved internal mould of H. constrictus. The infilling of the body chamber and phragmocone of this specimen is indistinguishable from the surrounding limestone. The ð13C value for the phragmocone fill is 1.382, matching Danian values much better than the more positive Maastrichtian values for the fine-fraction ð13C curve of the Stevns Klint succession. Additionally, the phragmocone infill contains Operculodinella operculata, a calcareous dinocyst typical of the Danian at high latitudes. The specimen is thus interpreted to be an indigenous early Danian ammonite. In view of the mass occurrence of calcitic bryozoans, brachiopods, and bivalves in the topmost Maastrichtian chalk at Stevns Klint, the total absence of brachiopods and near-absence of bryozoans and calcitic bivalves in the Cerithium Limestone provide evidence against significant redeposition of Maastrichtian fossils into the latter unit. Consequently, all ammonites from the Cerithium Limestone studied are interpreted as early Danian survivors.