Campanian-Maastrichtian pelagic crinoids from NE Belgium and SE Netherlands: preliminary observations

During recent years unexpectedly rich and diverse faunules of diminutive, pelagic crinoids of the order Roveacrinida SIEVERTS-DORECK in MOORE, LALICKER & FISCHER, 1952 have been collected from early and late Campanian and late Maastrichtian strata in the Maastrichtian type area (southern Limburg, The Netherlands, and contiguous areas). Most, if not all, of these forms appear to be still undescribed. Occurrences known to date are briefly discussed; a taxonomic study with detailed descriptions of the various species is under way

A New List of Cuban Crinoids (Echinodermata: Crinoidea)

This review is based on the most recent taxonomic classification of extant Cuban Crinoidea. Existing material in natural history collections in Cuba was analyzed in detail and accurately reflects species presence. The crinoid literature was also reviewed. Several previously unpublished observations of species found in waters off Cuba have also been included. This paper provides the most up to date description of the Cuban crinoid fauna. Habitat, distribution, depth range and localities in Cuba are reported for each species. Collection codes for available specimens are included when known. The work describes a total of 33 species (plus two subspecies) in 20 genera and 10 families representing three of the four living orders of the Class Crinoidea

Geodiversity Examples of Morocco: From Inventory to Regional Geotourism Development

The soil and subsoil of Morocco are rich in geological phenomena that bear the imprint of a history which goes back in time more than 2000 million years. Very many geologically remarkable sites exposed in accessible outcrops, with good quality remained unknown to the general public and therefore deserved to be vulgarized. It is a memory to acquaint the present generations but also to preserve for future generations. In total, a rich geological heritage in many ways: Varied land- scapes, international stratotypes, various geological structures, varied rocks, mineral associations, a huge procession offossiles, remnants of oceanic crust (ophiolites) among oldests ones in the world (800 my), etc. For this geological heritage, an approach of an overall inventory is needed, both regionally and nationally, taking into account all the skills of the earth sciences. This will put the item on the natural (geological) potentialities as a lever for sustainable regional development. For this, it is necessary to implement a strategy of “geoconservation” for the preservation and as- sessment of the geological heritage. A website “lithothèque du Maroc” is under construction.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Cretaceous Roveacrinids from Mexico revisited: Overcoming the taxonomic misidentifications and subsequent biostratigraphic abuse

The Mesozoic carbonate deposits of Mexico yield a number of overlooked, ill-known, and even enigmatic microfossils, among which are roveacrinoids (Echinodermata, Crinoidea, Roveacrinida). Most of these pelagic organisms probably came from the central Tethysian seaways, and later on from the early central Atlantic Ocean through the northwestern Tethysian neck, thus reaching the Central American platforms (Comanchean shelf, Central Texas platform, and Coahuila platform) and the Western Interior seaway. The present work intends to enlist as comprehensively as possible the Mexican records of roveacrinid crinoids, to propose a revised interpretation of the sections illustrated (most of them being originally erroneously assigned) and to provide a sound data base for further systematic and biostratigraphic research

A regurgitalite of the Middle Triassic (Muschelkalk) from Upper Silesia (Poland)

A bromalite from the Middle Triassic (Muschelkalk) of southern Poland, Sadowa Góra Quarry, is herein described and interpreted as a regurgitalite. The fossils occurring within the regurgitalite are angular and have sharp edges. They are represented by common fragments of thin-shelled bivalves as well as rare crinoid and gastropod remains. The composition of the collected inclusion is different from that of the host rock. There are many candidates that could have produced the regurgitalite, including durophagous sharks, marine reptiles, the actinopterygian Colobodus, or nautiloids. Our finding adds to the emerging evidence of durophagous predation in the Triassic sea of Polish part of the Germanic Basin. It is the second record of a regurgitalite from the Muschelkalk of Upper Silesia

First report of a nearly complete comatulid crinoid (Comatulida, Echinodermata) from the Cretaceous of Australia

Finds of stalkless comatulid crinoids in the Southern Hemisphere are extremely rare and are almost exclusively of their centrodorsals. Complete or nearly complete specimens (centrodorsal with articulated arms, cirri and/or pinnules) are known from only a few localities. Here we report a comatulid fossil comprised of a centrodorsal, arms, and pinnules, assigned to Solanocrinitidae gen. et sp. indet. The shape of the centrodorsal; the arrangement, shape, and size of radials; and the morphology of the radial cavity suggest similarity of this fossil to Solanocrinites or Archaeometra rather than to Comatulina, Pachyantedon, or Palaeocomaster. It cannot be ruled out that the studied specimen belongs to Decameros with its relatively low and discoidal centrodorsal. In the light of last phylogenetic analysis both Solanocrinites and Decameros were recovered as part of a clade comprising Himerometroidea, Tropiometridae, and Asterometridae + Ptilometridae. The preserved arms of the Australian specimen reveals variation in the branching pattern, that can be attributed to the inaccurate regeneration of arms after autotomy. This find represents the second articulated comatulid (except of uintacrinids) which consists not only of the centrodorsal, but also having more or less complete arms and pinnules, from the Cretaceous of the Southern Hemisphere. It is also the first found from Australia. The only opalized crinoid known in the world is the stalked isocrinid (Isocrinida) Isocrinus australis. Thus, the present find is also the first record of an opalized comatulid crinoid worldwide. Additionally, the thin sections reveal the occurrence of transversal sections of pelagic roveacrinids (saccocomids), which are also the first from the Australian continent