THE OLENEKIAN-ANISIAN/EARLY-MIDDLE TRIASSIC BOUNDARY, AND ASSESSMENT OF THE POTENTIAL OF CONODONTS FOR CHRONOSTRATIGRAPHIC CALIBRATION OF THE TRIASSIC TIMESCALE

The conodont Chiosella timorensis (Nogami, 1968) has for a long time been considered to be a suitable biotic proxy for the Olenekian-Anisian/Early-Middle Triassic boundary. The recently acquired ammonoid record around that boundary clearly shows that the FAD of this conodont is located well below the boundary, i.e., in the late Spathian. In the present paper, it is underlined that the conodont Chiosella timorensis was promoted as a proxy for the nominated boundary in the early 1980s when the ammonoid record around the boundary was not yet well established. On the other side, until the mid 1990s the taxonomic definition and the lineage of the conodont Chiosella timorensis were not well stated, and even now there are still controversial interpretations of the taxonomic content of this conodont species. The new data achieved from the ammonoid/conodont record around the nominated boundary, especially in the western USA, and also in the Deşli Caira section in Romania, firmly demonstrate that the conodont Chiosella timorensis is a defunct proxy for the Olenekian-Anisian/Early-Middle Triassic boundary. As a consequence, the present data on the ammonoid-documented Olenekian-Anisian/Early-Middle Triassic boundary requires the recalibration of all physical events that have been tied to the FAD of the conodont Chiosella timorensis. The case of the Albanian Kçira-section, for which the chronostratigraphic interpretation of the ammonoid record is proved incorrect, definitely makes the conodont Chiosella timorensis a defunct proxy for the nominated boundary. Also, the case of the two Chinese sections recently proposed as being “exceptional” GSSP candidates for the Early-Middle Triassic boundary, which is based on an inconsistent ammonoid/conodont biochronology, fully strengthens this conclusion. The history of the controversial usage of the conodont species Chiosella timorensis in defining the Olenekian-Anisian boundary justifies a discussion about the usefulness of conodonts in the chronostratigraphic calibration of the standard Triassic timescale. One may conclude that the conodonts are not qualified, and have not a reasonable potential, to be used to define or to redefine the boundaries of chronostratigraphic units in the standard Triassic timescale, which have been basically defined on ammonoid biochronology.

PALAEOXYLOTOMICAL STUDIES IN THE CENOZOIC PETRIFIED FORESTS OF GREECE. PART TWO – CONIFERS

This paper reports the palaeoxylotomical study of petrified conifer remains from Velitzelos collection, orig-inating from some fossiliferous sites of Greece, especially from the Aegean area (Evros, Limnos, Lesbos), aged of late Oligocene to early Miocene. Ten species were identified: Cupressinoxylon akdikii, Juniperoxylon acarcae, Tetraclinoxylon velitzelosii, Taxodioxylon gypsaceum, Taxodioxylon taxodii, Glyptostroboxylon rudolphii, Glyptostroboxylon tenerum, Pinuxylon pineoides, Pinuxylon halepensoides and Pinuxylon sp. aff. Pinus canariensis. These new identifications add new elements to the forest assemblages of the Oligocene - Miocene Greek flora, useful for understanding the evolution of the Cenozoic palaeovegetation and palaeoclimate in the Aegean area.

CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE STUDY OF THE EARLY JURASSIC PETRIFIED FOREST OF HOLBAV AND CRISTIAN AREAS (BRAȘOV REGION, SOUTH CARPATHIANS, ROMANIA), 2nd PART

The present paper represents the second part of the palaeoxylotomical study on the “Grădinaru Collection” that is housed by the National Museum of Geology, Bucharest. By the study of a new material collected from the Getic domain of the South Carpathians, Romania, the following taxa were identified and discussed in detail: Protocupressinoxylon dragastanii, Protojuniperoxylon holbavicum (sp. nov.), Brachyoxylon holbavicum, B. cristianicum, Palaeoginkgoxylon sp., Bucklandia sp. A, and Bucklandia sp. B. All the studied specimens suggest to a tropical Early Jurassic petrified forest. Thus, the new data have not only palaeobotanical importance, but they also contribute to the palaeobiogeographic, palaeoecologic and palaeoclimatologic knowledge of the Mesophytic

FRONTAL BONE ANATOMY OF TERATOPHONEUS CURRIEI (THEROPODA: TYRANNOSAURIDAE) FROM THE UPPER CRETACEOUS KAIPAROWITS FORMATION OF UTAH

A right frontal bone belonging to the tyrannosaurid theropod Teratophoneus curriei from the Campanian Kaiparowits Formation of Utah provides important anatomical information that is useful in understanding tyrannosaurid taxonomy and relationships. Many aspects of its anatomy indicate a subadult ontogenetic status of this individual, as they compare favorably with subadults of other tyrannosaurids such as Daspletosaurus torosus and Tyrannosaurus rex. This is consistent with the previous interpretation that this individual was subadult, based on different cranial bones such as lacrimal or maxilla. It is likely that a previous assessment of the body mass of this individual was underestimated, and it is presumed here that it was most likely around 1000 kg. This description of the frontal anatomy has several implications for previous works on tyrannosaurid cranial anatomy, and information that corrects aspects of our understanding on tyrannosaurid frontal anatomy is provided. Reanalysis of Nanuqsaurus hoglundi, a tyrannosaurid theropod that has similar frontal morphology with Teratophoneus curriei, implies that parts of its diagnosis are problematic and the proposed evidence for the supposed diminutive body size of this taxon is weak.

LARGE BENTHIC FORAMINIFERA PFENDERICONUS GLOBULUS SIREL & DECEVILER IN SIREL ET AL., 2020 (PRIABONIAN OF TURKEY): A JUNIOR SYNONYM OF PFENDERICONUS MINDANAOENSIS MATSUMARU, 2017 (THANETIAN? OF THE PHILIPPINE ARCHIPELAGO)

Pfendericonus mindanaoensis Matsumaru, 2017 from the Thanetian? of the Philippine Archipelago and Pfendericonus globulus Sirel & Deceviler (in Sirel et al. 2020) from the Priabonian of Turkey display the same internal structure, similar dimensions and both are characterized by possessing wedge-like adult chambers. These species are thus considered synonymous and therefore based on priority date of publication, P. globulus should be considered a subjective junior synonym of P. mindanaoensis.

ORBITOLINIDS AND OTHER LARGER BENTHIC FORAMINIFERA FROM THE APTIAN-ALBIAN OF TIBET: CRITICAL DISCUSSION OF SOME RECENTLY PUBLISHED DATA

Orbitolinidae together with other larger benthic foraminifera are particularly important in Lower Cretaceous shallow-water biostratigraphy provided that they are correctly identified. Especially in the case of the Orbitolininae (with complex embryo), their biostratigraphic range with overlapping ranges corresponds to different lineages displaying ancestor-descendant relationship (e.g., Praeorbitolina-Mesorbitolina). In the last fifty years well established and repeatedly confirmed taxon ranges have been largely extended thereby diluting or negating any biostratigraphic value to individual species. Some biostratigraphic data provided by BouDagher-Fadel et al. (2017) from the Aptian-Albian of Tibet that are contradicting previous results are reviewed herein. This publication mostly refers to the stratigraphic ranges of Praeorbitolina cormyi Schroeder and Pseudochoffatella cuvillieri Deloffre towards the top of the Albian, and that of Palorbitolina lenticularis (Blumenbach) into the late Aptian, as well as some misidentifications.

A TOOTH OF THE EXTINCT LAMNID SHARK, COSMOPOLITODUS PLANUS COMB. NOV. (CHONDRICHTHYES: ELASMOBRANCHII) FROM THE MIOCENE OF POHANG CITY, SOUTH KOREA

An isolated, upper lateral tooth of the extinct lamnid shark Cosmopolitodus planus (Agassiz, 1856), is described from middle Miocene marine deposits (possibly the Duho Formation) in Pohang City, South Korea. This is the first confirmed record of this taxon in the Korean Peninsula. The tooth is less than half the size of a large tooth of this species, suggesting that the tooth comes either from an intermediate or posterior position within the upper jaw, or from a young individual. This report further supports the hypothesis that epipelagic or pelagic sharks were already distributed throughout the entire East Sea in the middle Miocene. It is recommended that the species planus should be transferred to the genus Cosmopolitodus based on numerous similarities with the type species of this genus, C. hastalis (Agassiz, 1838).

COMMENTS ON “STRATIGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION OF SHALLOW-WATER BENTHIC FORAMINIFERA FROM THE LOWER CRETACEOUS TAFT FORMATION, CENTRAL IRAN (YAZD BLOCK), WITH EVIDENCE FOR THE IMPORTANCE OF HIATUSES” BY GHEIASVAND, M. ET AL. [ANNALES DE PALÉONTOLOGIE, 2020, 154 (3), 102399] AND RELATED PAPERS

Gheiasvand et al. (2020) use the two larger benthic foraminifera species Simplorbitolina manasi Ciry & Rat and Mesorbitolina parva (Douglass) (Orbitolinidae) as upper Aptian “potential index fossils” for parts of the Taft Formation in Central Iran. This age assignment is accompanied by changes to well-established orbitolinid biozona-tions (e.g. occurrence of Praeorbitolina in the late Aptian) with far-reaching implications. These data were also used in a later “multidisciplinary study” (Gheiasvand et al., 2021) for isotopic correlations (e.g., location of OAE`s), delimitation of palaeobiogeographic faunal provinces and related migration patterns. It is shown herein that the taxa identified as S. manasi and M. parva belong to Iraqia simplex Henson and Palorbitolina lenticularis (Blumenbach) respectively documenting a lower and not an upper Aptian age. This revised age and the different taxononomic inventory do not question all results obtained by Gheiasvand et al. (2020, 2021), but provide a revised basis interpretation.

AGGLUTINATED CONICAL FORAMINIFERA (ORBITOLINIDAE, COSKINOLINIDAE) FROM THE UPPER CRETACEOUS (CAMPANIAN) OF GREECE, WITH DESCRIPTION OF PARACOSKINOLINA KLOKOVAENSIS N. SP.

An assemblage of agglutinated conical foraminifera including Lepinoconus chiocchinii Cruz-Abad et al., Calveziconus lecalvezae Caus & Cornella, Paleodictyoconus sp., and Paracoskinolina klokovaensis n. sp. are described from the upper lower-middle Campanian of Klokova Mountain of the Gavrovo-Tripolitza Zone, SW continental Greece. With the presence of one rafter in the marginal zone, the new species P. klokovaensis compares to the Lower Cretaceous species Paracoskinolina arcuata (Arnaud-Vanneau) that is distinguished by its cylindroconical test morphology and much larger size. The assemblage occurs in inner platform carbonates associated with other foraminifers such as dicyclinids, and Accordiella conica Farinacci. Representatives of the genus Paracoskinolina were so far only reliably reported from the Upper Berriasian–Albian interval. This new record suggests that the genus either survived the larger benthic foraminifera extinction event associated with the Cenomanian – Turonian boundary anoxic event, or may be an example of an Elvis taxon or homoplasy.

UPPER BURDIGALIAN-MIDDLE SARMATIAN CALCAREOUS NANNOFOSSILS FROM TOTEA-VĂLENI AREA (GETIC DEPRESSION, ROMANIA)

This work presents the calcareous nannofossils identified in samples recovered from 7 boreholes drilled on the western side of the Olt River, in the Totea, Colibasi, Radinesti and Valeni areas, within the central-southern part of the Getic Depression. These boreholes crossed upper Burdigalian–middle Sarmatian sediments. The identified assemblages are typical for the following calcareous nannofossil biozones: upper part of NN 3 – lower part of NN 4, corresponding to the late Burdigalian time interval, upper part of NN 4, corresponding to the early Badenian, NN 5, spanning the middle Badenian, and, respectively, NN 6-NN 8, covering the late Badenian – middle Sarmatian interval. The diversity and abundance of the identified nannofossil assemblages allow palaeoenvironmental reconstructions