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Bosellini F.R., Papazzoni C.A. & Vescogni A. (2020)
Paleo-archives of Cnidaria and Porifera in space and time. Bollettino della Società Paleontologica Italiana 59, 183-184.
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Young G.A. & Hagadorn J.W. (2020)
Evolving preservation and facies distribution of fossil jellyfish:
a slowly closing taphonomic window. Bollettino della Società Paleontologica Italiana 59, 185-203.
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Abstract
Although medusoids (medusa-like fossils, putative medusae) are widely reported in the literature, there are only thirteen
confirmed medusa-bearing deposits. These have a predictable and evolving distribution through time and across facies - including in coarse
clastic sand flats where mouldic preservation predominates, restricted lagoonal facies where anoxia and hypersalinity fostered preservation,
and offshore settings where rapid burial and early diagenetic mineralisation catalysed preservation. The medusan preservational window
became progressively more restricted through the Phanerozoic. Preservation in sandy beach and sandflat facies is only known from the
Cambrian, there are no open shelf medusa-bearing deposits after the Carboniferous, and the latest known lagoonal fossil medusae are from
the lower Cenozoic. This restriction in occurrence through time is associated with changes in bioturbation, evolution of scavengers, occurrence
of microbial mats, and possibly evolution of microbial communities. There is evidence of jellyfish blooms in five of the thirteen deposits, and
medusan fossilisation may have been associated with anoxia caused by the partial decomposition of large masses of dead medusae.
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Ohar V. (2020)
Tournaisian (Carboniferous) rugose corals of the Donets Basin, Ukraine. Bollettino della Società Paleontologica Italiana 59, 205-224.
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Abstract
The results of the study of a rugose coral collection from the southern part of the Donets Basin are presented herein. Some
species that were only mentioned in previous Donets Basin faunal lists are described and illustrated. The genera Aulokoninckophyllum
Sando, 1976 and Merlewoodia Pickett, 1967 are reported for the first time from the Donets Basin. The stratigraphic distribution of the
studied species is analysed. The uneven distribution of corals in the Tournaisian of the Donets Basin is explained by a complex combination
of regional paleogeographic conditions and global events. The studied stratigraphic levels with corals are compared with the coral zones
and third-order sequences of the Belgian Namur-Dinant Basin.
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Somerville I.D., Kossovaya O.L., Rodríguez S. & Cózar P. (2020)
New data on the Serpukhovian (Carboniferous) coral assemblages
from the northwestern part of the Moscow Basin (Russia). Bollettino della Società Paleontologica Italiana 59, 225-233.
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Abstract
Research in two quarries of the Borovichi area near the Uglovka town (northwestern Moscow Basin) has provided several
rugose and tabulate corals that improve the knowledge on the palaeontology of that area. The Zarech’e quarry yielded rare specimens
of Syringopora reticulata and Dibunophyllum bipartitum, as well as common specimens of Actinocyathus floriformis, A. borealis and A.
crassiconus. The Uglovka quarry provided also Syringopora reticulata, Dibunophyllum bipartitum but different species of colonial rugosans:
Actinocyathus sp., Lonsdaleia multiseptata and Schoenophyllum sp. The palaeogeographical distribution of the recorded species indicates
a good communication of the Eastern European Basin with western and eastern Palaeotethys during the Serpukhovian. The presence of the
genus Schoenophyllum suggests also connection with North America, probably along the northern coast of Laurussia.
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Lin W. & Herbig H.G. (2020)
A soft-bodied endosymbiont in Serpukhovian
(late Mississippian, Carboniferous) rugose corals from South China. Bollettino della Società Paleontologica Italiana 59, 235-245
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Abstract
An endosymbiotic relation between the solitary rugose corals ?Yuanophyllum and ?Dibunophyllum and a large soft-bodied
worm-like organism is described from the Hezhou Formation (Serpukhovian), Lower Yangtze Platform, South China. The endosymbiont lived
in a U-shaped tube, probably with a horizontally sideways bent base connecting the vertical shafts. A membranous epidermis and relicts of a
probable cuticulo-muscular tube are preserved. The corals reacted with skeletal encasement of the infesting organism and irregular, in part
dense growth of additional skeletal elements adjacent to it. This is the first description of such an endosymbiotic, parasitic or commensal
relation of solitary rugose corals after the Frasnian-Famennian Boundary Event. Similarities between the Devonian association of
pleurodictyoform tabulates and the ichnotaxon Hicetes are remarkable. Moreover, the association proves the extraordinarily rare persistence
of bioclaustrations in corals after the Hangenberg Event at the Devonian-Carboniferous boundary during the Permo-Carboniferous period
of arrested endosymbiont development.
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Rodríguez-Castro I., Rodríguez S. & Fregenal-Martínez M. (2020)
Donezella-chaetetid mounds in the Valdeteja Formation (Bashkirian,
Pennsylvanian) at Truébano, Cantabrian Mountains, northern Spain. Bollettino della Società Paleontologica Italiana 59, 247-259.
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Abstract
The Bashkirian-lower Moscovian Valdeteja Formation crops out in the Cantabrian Zone (NW Spain). It is composed
of pale grey limestone with a diverse fossil content, calcareous breccias and massive limestone composed of algal and microbial mounds
accumulated in a high relief carbonate platform. Outstanding outcrops of that formation appear near the village of Truébano (León Province,
North Spain) at the old coal mine “Mina Rosario.” The mine is a peculiarity in the formation as it shows interbedded siltstones and coal
beds containing coal balls. The studied succession above the coal seam is lower Bashkirian and 20.2 m thick. Dark grey, massive to wellbedded
limestones interbedded with thin marly beds are dominant in that interval. The main component of the limestones is the algospongia
Donezella that is found in two different facies: packstone of resedimented Donezella, which appears in the lower beds of the section, and
boundstone of Donezella, Girvanella and chaetetids, in the upper beds. Additional components are highly diverse including foraminifera,
other calcified microbes, rhodophyta, sponges, echinoderms, arthropods, brachiopods, bryozoans and scarce corals and molluscs. Organic
matter is abundant in the marly beds, but palynomorphs are poorly preserved. An interbedded layer of quartz sandstones lacking fossil content
occurs in the upper part of the sequence.
The depositional environment of the facies is part of a carbonate platform top near the fair-weather wave base, within subtidal zone, with
development of “algal” mounds and sedimentation of debris from the same buildups. The composition and components distribution of both
microfacies fit well with the mounds previously described in other outcrops of the Valdeteja Formation, with the exception of the participation
of chaetetids as a main building component in some beds.
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Kossovaya O., Novak M. & Weyer D. (2020)
New data on lower Permian rugose corals
from the Southern Karavanke Mountains (Slovenia). Bollettino della Società Paleontologica Italiana 59, 261-280.
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Abstract
Studies of upper Palaeozoic corals from the Southern Alps (Karavanke Mountains in Slovenia and Carnic Alps along
the Austrian/Italian border) started at the end of the 19th century. Since the mid-20th century, corals of the Karavanke Mountains have been
studied in detail by several authors. Recently, several coral type localities and the coral groups occurring therein have been reinvestigated.
This paper deals in particular with the study of Carinthiaphyllum Heritsch, 1936 and all previously known data have been revised within
this study. Most specimens of Carinthiaphyllum originate from museum collections and from new findings in the Dovžanova Soteska area
of northern Slovenia. Additional material is represented by newly found samples from the locality of Mt. Boč in eastern Slovenia. The
stratigraphic position and age of the Carinthiaphyllum occurrences are determined by fusulinid and conodont assemblages. Two species,
Carinthiaphyllum crasseseptatum Gräf & Ramovš, 1965 and C. ramovsi n. sp., are described herein. New morphological features, including
root-like protrusions and connecting stereoplasmic tubes, have been found for the first time in gregaria growth mode. Therefore, these new
observations provide evidence of a solitary gregaria growth mode: individuals are invariably separated with contact and reciprocal support
only by root-like, sometimes channeled tubes occurring as outgrowths of the archaeothecal wall. An emended diagnosis of Carinthiaphyllum
is proposed herein. The studied collection is housed in the Museum für Naturkunde (Leibniz-Institut) at the Humboldt University in Berlin.
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Weidlich O. (2020)
Intraspecific competition in Guadalupian fasciculate rugose coral clusters
(Hawasina Nappes, Oman Mountains). Bollettino della Società Paleontologica Italiana 59, 281-289.
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Abstract
Guadalupian (middle Permian) reef blocks of the Al Jil and Bai’d formations (Hawasina Nappes, Oman Mountains) contain
rugose corals. Praewentzelella regulare, a fasciculate coral, is found in clusters, with more than 80% of the colonies in growth position. The
good preservation of microstructure and minimal taphonomic alteration (e.g., lack of postdepositional tilt or transport of colonies) allow to
discuss whether or not live-live interactions for space, particularly intraspecific competition, has been preserved. The evaluation is based
on the distribution of coral colonies mapped in the field, three-dimensional reconstruction of coral growth using serial cuts of a block and
microfacies evaluation of thin sections.
A rarely observed phenomenon of intraspecific competition is described herein and the term “intra-clonal aggression” is proposed for
interactions between sedentary organisms of the same species leading to the distortion of skeletal elements of one colony.
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Bosellini F.R., Stolarski J., Papazzoni C.A. & Vescogni A. (2020)
Exceptional development of dissepimental coenosteum in the new Eocene
scleractinian coral genus Nancygyra (Ypresian, Monte Postale, NE Italy) Bollettino della Società Paleontologica Italiana 59, 291-298.
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Abstract
In colonial corals, the polyps are interconnected with a common tissue called coenosarc. Polyps and coenosarc secrete
distinct skeletal structures: corallites and coenosteum, respectively. Ratio of corallite to coenosteum development may vary resulting in two
extreme architectural patterns of coral colonies: corallite-dominated (e.g., cerioid) and coenosteum-dominated (e.g., aphroid) colonies.
A large suite of examples of these patterns can be identified among extant and fossil corals, including Paleozoic rugosan corals. Herein
we describe the new early Eocene colonial scleractinian coral genus Nancygyra that forms exceptional coenosteum-dominated colonies.
The colonies were found in Ypresian limestones at Monte Postale (Lessini Mountains, Veneto, NE Italy), very close to the Pesciara di
Bolca Fossil-Lagerstätte, where coralgal buildups have been recently recognised and described. The corallum is massive and consists of
corallites of variable size (typically few millimeters in lesser calicular diameter) dispersed and protruding from a very extensive and dense
dissepimental coenosteum. The coenosteum forms ca. 60-80% of the corallum volume and is made of vesicular convex dissepiments. The new
coral is tentatively assigned to Euphylliidae (known in the fossil record since the Paleocene) whose modern representatives develop similar
extensive coenosteum with sticking-out corallites (Galaxea) and form coralla with well-developed walls and thickened axial margins of septa
(Euphyllia). Among stratigraphically older scleractinian corals, similar extent of dissepimental coenosteum development is shown by some
Mesozoic amphiastreids and rhipidogyriids.
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Frisone V., Preto N., Pisera A., Agnini C., Giusberti L., Papazzoni C.A., De Angeli A., Beschin C., Mietto P., Quaggiotto E., Monaco P., Dominici S., Kiessling W., Luciani V., Roux M. & Bosellini F.R. (2020)
A first glimpse on the taphonomy and sedimentary environment
of the Eocene siliceous sponges from Chiampo, Lessini Mts, NE Italy. Bollettino della Società Paleontologica Italiana 59, 299-313.
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Abstract
A diverse assemblage of bodily preserved sponges has been recovered from a lower Lutetian tuffite horizon in the Chiampo
Valley, Lessini Mountains, Italy. The sponge assemblage is dominated by hexactinellids and lithistids. Using uniformitarian criteria, the
composition of the assemblage suggests a water depth greater than 200 m. Sponges are often preserved in growth position including sponge
clusters. Taphonomic processes facilitating sponge preservation include rapid burial of a living sponge community and early diagenetic
calcification. Different modes of attachment suggest heterogeneous substrate conditions. The associated fauna, such as abundant pteropods
in the matrix and in-situ preserved crinoids, confirms a rather deep-water environment. However, there are also common benthic elements
of shallow-water origin. Although some of these elements show signs of transport, others, such as decapod crustaceans, do not. Moreover,
trace fossils indicate high-energy environments. To reconcile these observations, we propose rapid, tectonically triggered sea-level changes.
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Stemann T.A. & Robinson N. (2020)
A solitary coral-larger benthic foraminifera association
from the late Eocene of Jamaica. Bollettino della Società Paleontologica Italiana 59, 315-317.
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Baron-Szabo R.C. & Sanders D. (2020)
Scleractinian corals (Anthozoa) from the lower Oligocene (Rupelian)
of the Eastern Alps, Austria. Bollettino della Società Paleontologica Italiana 59, 319-336.
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Abstract
In the Werlberg Member (Rupelian pro parte) of the Paisslberg Formation (Eastern Alps), an assemblage of colonial corals
of eleven species pertaining to eleven genera and eleven families was identified: Stylocoenia carryensis, Acropora lavandulina, ?Colpophyllia
sp., Dendrogyra intermedia, Caulastraea pseudoflabellum, Hydnophyllia costata, Pindosmilia cf. brunni, Actinacis rollei, Pavona profunda,
Agathiphyllia gregaria, and Faksephyllia faxoensis. This is the first Oligocene coral assemblage reported from the Paisslberg Formation
(Werlberg Member) of the Eastern Alps, consisting exclusively of colonial forms. The assemblage represents the northernmost fauna of reefal
corals reported to date for Rupelian time.
The Werlberg Member accumulated during marine transgression onto a truncated succession of older carbonate rocks. The corals grew
as isolated colonies and in carpets in a protected shoreface setting punctuated by high-energy events. Coral growth forms comprise massive
to sublamellar forms, and branched (dendroid, ramose) forms. The coral fauna is dominated by forms with medium- to large size corallites
4 to >10 mm in diameter. The assemblage consists of stress-resistant genera widespread in the Eocene to Miocene of central and southern
Europe, Central America, and the Caribbean Islands. On the species level, closest correspondence is with faunas of southern Europe,
especially with those of northern Italy (Lessini Shelf). On the genus-level, greatest affinities are with the lower Oligocene faunas of northern
Italy (Lessini Shelf). Regarding similarities to other lower Oligocene faunas, seven genera have also been reported from Jamaica, Germany
(Reit im Winkel), and Slovenia, and five genera were found in Greece. Ten (91%) of the described Austrian coral taxa from the Paisslberg
Formation were found elsewhere in (sub)tropical reefal and peri-reefal settings. The caryophylliine coral Faksephyllia faxoensis, however,
stands out as the only taxon which, in addition, has been reported from deep-water environments.
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Bosellini F.R., Vescogni A., Kiessling W., Zoboli A., Di Giuseppe D. & Papazzoni C.A. (2020)
Revisiting reef models in the Oligocene of northern Italy
(Venetian Southern Alps). Bollettino della Società Paleontologica Italiana 59, 337-348.
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Abstract
The lower Oligocene coral communities and reefs exposed in the Lessini Shelf of northern Italy may record one of the oldest
well-developed barrier reef/lagoon systems of the Cenozoic. However, the rimmed-shelf interpretation has been repeatedly challenged in favour
of a ramp model with scattered corals. Based upon a re-analysis of selected localities in the Lessini Shelf, we here provide support for the
barrier reef model based on four key observations: 1) systematic changes of coral growth-forms from branching in the proximal areas to massive
at the platform margin; 2) a progressive increase of the hydrodynamic energy from the proximal belt towards the more distal environments
in the Berici Hills; 3) the occurrence of shallow-water, euphotic conditions throughout the whole depositional system; and 4) the presence
of restricted circulation in the proximal environments during sea-level lowstands, with lack of coral colonies. These features, together with
the evidence of coral frameworks located on the southeastern edge of the Lessini Shelf, substantiate the occurrence of a reef-rimmed margin.
The reefal rim acted as an efficient barrier, with the formation of a landward, wide lagoon protected from the action of waves and currents.
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Wallace C.C., Portell R.W. & Muir P.R. (2020)
Lineages of Acropora (staghorn) corals in the Oligocene to Miocene
of Florida and SW Georgia (USA). Bollettino della Società Paleontologica Italiana 59, 349-354.
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Abstract
The staghorn coral genus Acropora is the most diverse living genus of reef-building corals. From earliest records around
the K-Pg event, the genus has a geo-history of strongly persistent morphological lineages, dating from 49 Mya to present and extending across
the Eocene of England and Europe, Oligocene to early Miocene of Europe, Oligocene to present in the western Atlantic, and late Paleogene to
present reef-bearing areas in the Indo-Pacific. Because of these records and the usually well-preserved Acropora fossils, it is regarded as an
exemplar for studying modern diversity and distribution of reef corals and predicting their response to future climate change. Here we examine
previously undocumented diversity of Acropora species groups present in Oligocene and Miocene (Suwannee Limestone and Tampa Member
of the Arcadia Formation, respectively) deposits in Florida and southern Georgia, USA. We find evidence of both species-group lineages from
the European region and novel, probably unique Atlantic lineages. Of 11 extant species-group lineages first present in the Eocene to Miocene
of the European region, seven are present in this American material, including the cervicornis group, never recorded in the Indo-Pacific and
now extant only in the western Atlantic. Two as yet undescribed species in the samples and the known species Acropora tampaensis Weisbord,
1973 could not be matched within the 19 species groups recognised in extant Acropora, and these may be lineages uniquely developed and
lost in the Americas. The two species in the cervicornis species group, both now categorised as critically endangered, are the only surviving
representatives of the family Acroporidae, which was previously represented by five genera in the western Atlantic. Acropora species from
Florida and Georgia reefs clearly played a substantive role in the continuation and diversification of Acropora species groups during the
Oligocene-Miocene in the western Atlantic and it is possible that this contributed to the success of the genus in the Indo-Pacific, as well as
cervicornis group as a critical environmental feature of western Atlantic reefs.