Assessment of serpulid-hydroid association through the Jurassic: A case study from the Polish Basin

The coexistence of sessile, tube-dwelling polychaetes (serpulids) and hydroids, has been investigated. Serpulid tubes bearing traces after hydroids are derived from different stratigraphic intervals spanning the Middle and Upper Jurassic, the rocks of which represent the diverse paleoenvironments of the Polish Basin. Although fossil colonial hydroids classified under the species Protulophila gestroi are a commonly occurring symbiont of these polychaetes during the Late Cretaceous and Cenozoic, they seem to be significantly less frequent during the Jurassic and limited to specific paleoenvironments. The hydroids described here are represented by traces after a thin stolonal network with elongated polyp chambers that open to the outer polychaete tube’s surface with small, more or less subcircular apertures. Small chimney-like bulges around openings are an effect of the incorporation of the organism by in vivo embedment (bioclaustration) within the outer layers of the calcareous tube of the serpulid host. Considering the rich collection of well-preserved serpulid tubes (>3000 specimens), the frequency of bioclaustrated hydroids is very low, with an infestation percentage of only 0.6% (20 cases). It has been noticed that only specimens of the genus Propomatoceros from the Upper Bajocian, Lower Bathonian, Middle Bathonian, and Callovian have been found infested. However, the majority of bioclaustrated hydroids (17 cases) have been recorded in the Middle Bathonian serpulid species Propomatoceros lumbricalis coming from a single sampled site. Representatives of other genera are not affected, which is congruent with previous reports indicating that Protulophila gestroi was strongly selective in the choice of its host. A presumably commensal relationship is compared with the recent symbiosis between the hydroids of the genus Proboscidactyla and certain genera of sabellid polychaetes.

First records of Somalinautilus (Cephalopoda: Nautiloidea) from the Jurassic of Southern Germany – inferences for trans-provincial migrations

The Late Jurassic nautiloid Somalinautilus antiquus (Dacqué, 1910), previously only known by the holotype from Lower Kimmeridgian strata of Ethiopia, is reported from the Lower Kimmeridgian (Platynota Zone) of Southern Germany. This unexpected record largely expands the known geographic distribution of this species. Another species of Somalinautilus, S. clavifer Tintant , 1994, is recorded for the first time from the Middle Jurassic (Lower Bathonian, Zigzag Zone) of Southern Germany. A short stratigraphic and palaeogeographic review of Somalinautilus occurrences is provided. Faunal migrations of nautiloids over large distances were probably triggered by sea- level highstands and/or palaeocurrents.

Ammonites and infrazonal stratigraphy of the lower bathonian besnosovi zone of the Russian plate

Ammonites and deposits of the Lower Bathonian Besnosovi Zone of the central and southern regions of the Russian Plate are studied. The paper discusses the infrazonal stratigraphy and correlation of two reference sections: the Pletnyovka Quarry in the north of the Penza oblast and the Sokur Quarry near the city of Saratov. The successive biohorizons Oraniceras issae, O. calvum, and O. besnosovi are recognized on the basis of ammonites of the genus Oraniceras (family Parkinsoniidae) in the Besnosovi Zone. Provisional O. mojarowskii and O. scythicum biohorizons are proposed below the above-mentioned biohorizons, whereas the O. cf./aff. besnosovi Biohorizon is proposed above them. The Besnosovi Zone corresponds to the middle part of the Western European Zigzag Zone. The Michalskii Zone underlining the Besnosovi Zone apparently corresponds to the Bajocian–Bathonian boundary interval. It is suggested that only one A. excentricum migrational biohorizon, corresponding to the upper part of the O. besnosovi Biohorizon and correlating with the lowermost part of the Ishmae Zone of the Boreal scale, can be established on the basis of Boreal ammonites of the genus Arcticoceras in the Sokur Section. Central Russian representatives of the genera Oraniceras [M] and Sokurella [m] are assigned here to the subfamily Pseudocosmoceratinae that is eudemic to the Central Russian late Bajocian–early Bathonian sea. It is suggested that the above-mentioned genera evolved from Pseudocosmoceras [M and m] that is cryptogenic neoendemic of the East European Peritethyan marine basin. New species are described: Oraniceras issae sp. nov. [M], O. calvum sp. nov. [M], Sokurella pletniovkae sp. nov. [m], and S. elshankae sp. nov. [m].

Detailed biostratigraphic scales as based on the palaeobiogenetical approach (an example of the Upper Bajocian – Lower Bathonian ostracod scale of the Russian Platform)

Two new species of ostracods of the family Progonocytheridae Sylvester-Bradley Camptocythere (C.) lateres Tesakova et Shurupova, sp. nov. and C. (C.) angustius Tesakova et Shurupova, sp. nov. from the Michalskii and Besnosovi ammonite zones (Upper Bajocian – Lower Bathonian, Middle Jurassic) of the Sokur section (Saratov) are described. The changes in ontogenesis in the phylogeny of Camptocythere (C.) lateres Tesakova et Shurupova in the stratigraphical interval corresponding to the Palaeocytheridea kalandadzei ostracod Zone, and especially to the beds with C. (C.) lateres, have been studied. The levels of the change in the predominant type of sculpture (corresponding to evolutionary boundaries) are recognized in the sculpture development among the adult representatives of the species in its phylogeny. This palaeobiogenetic (heterochrony) approach allows subdivision of the beds with C. (C.) lateres into three stratigrapical intervals characterized by changes in the type of sculpture.