Early Tithonian Saturnalidae (Radiolaria) from the Solnhofen area (Southern Franconian Alb, southern Germany)

In order to complete the study of the very rich early Tithonian (Hybonoticeras hybonotum Zone) radiolarian fauna from the Mühlheim Member of the Mörnsheim Formation outcropping in the Solnhofen area, the taxa of the family Saturnalidae are described. Although rather rare, the Saturnalidae of this member contain 14 species, ten of which are new. These species belong to four genera, one of which is new (Moebicircus n. gen.), and two subfamilies (Hexasaturnalinae and Saturnalinae). The taxonomy at generic level of these late Jurassic radiolarians is founded on the basis of the position of the blades along the ring and number and morphology of the spines. Type of spines (simple or forked) has either species level value or none, depending on species. Special attention was given to anomalies, which sometimes are rather frequent, since they can give Information of paleobiological and paleoecological Orders. Among them frequent cases of open ring and additional spines withDicerosaturnalis and Siamese twins skeletons withSpongosaturninus andDicerosaturnalis are to be noted. The authors hope that this new taxonomy will give a better image of the evolution and radiation of the Saturnalidae during the Tithonia

Eptingiacea and Saturnaliacea (Radiolaria) from the middle Carnian of Turkey and some late Ladinian to early Norian samples from Oman and Alaska

This article is a taxonomic study of the radiolarian species of the superfamilies Eptingiacea and Saturnaliacea occurring in the middle Carnian fauna from the Köseyahya section, near the town of Elbistan, southeastern Turkey. This fauna is characteristic of the Tetraporobrachia haeckeli Radiolarian Zone as defined in Austria and later found also in Turkey and Oman. It comes from an 8m thick succession of clayey/cherty limestones from the lower part of the section. In addition, a few species from the late Ladinian and Carnian from Oman and the early Norian from Alaska have also been included in this study, in order to improve some generic diagnoses and to show the diversity and evolutionary trends of some genera. 32 radiolarian species of which 22 are new are described and illustrated, and assigned to 16 genera of which three are new (Capnuchospyris, Veleptingium, and Triassolaguncula). The diagnoses of some species, genera, subfamilies and families have been revised, and the family Eptingiidae has been raised to the rank of superfamil

The Occurrence of Skeletons of Silicoflagellata and Other Siliceous Bioparticles in Floral Honeys

International audienceSiliceous marine microfossils were unexpectedly discovered during the analysis of flower honey samples from Poland and Tunisia. The microfossils were represented by protist with siliceous skeletons: silicoflagellates, diatoms, and endoskeletal dinoflagellates. This is the first record of such microfossils in honeys. Based on the high percent of anemophilous pollen grains and spores in the sample, it was hypothesized that silicoflagellates were deposited from the air onto the nectariferous flowers, then bees harvested them with the nectar. Based on the comparison of pollen content of honeys and flowering calendar of Tunisia, the harvest time of honey was identified as a period between 1 April and 31 May 2011. Trajectory analysis of air masses in this period confirmed that siliceous microfossils could be aerosolized by wind from the rocks of the so-called Tripoli Formation of Messinian age (6–7 Ma). Similar to the Tunisian case, the Polish trajectory simulation also supports the hypothesis of atmospheric transport of silicoflagellates from outcrops of Oligocene age in the Polish Outer Carpathians. In the case of diatom content of honey, however, the source can be both natural (wind) and artificial (diatomaceous earth filters). For a correct determination, natural sources of siliceous bioparticles, such as wind transport from nearby outcrops should be also considered. Silicoflagellates could be used as complementary indicators of the geographical origin of honeys collected in areas characterized by diatomite outcrops, supporting the results obtained with other methods; thus, such indicators merit further studies within the area of honey authenticity

Aalenian to Cenomanian Radiolaria of the Bermeja Complex (Puerto Rico) and Pacific origin of radiolarites on the Caribbean Plate

The study of the radiolarian ribbon chert is a key in determining the origins of associated Mesozoic oceanic terranes and may help to achieve a general agreement regarding the basic principles on the evolution of the Caribbean Plate. The Bermeja Complex of Puerto Rico, which contains serpentinized peridotite, altered basalt, amphibolite, and chert (Mariquita Chert Formation), is one of these crucial oceanic terranes. The radiolarian biochronology presented in this work is mainly based by correlation on the biozonations of Baumgartner et al. (1995) and O'Dogherty (1994) and indicates an early Middle Jurassic to early Late Cretaceous (late Bajocian-early Callovian to late early Albian-early middle Cenomanian) age. The illustrated assemblages contain about 120 species, of which one is new (Pantanellium karinae), and belonging to about 50 genera. A review of the previous radiolarian published works on the Mariquita Chert Formation and the results of this study suggest that this formation ranges in age from Middle Jurassic to early Late Cretaceous (late Aalenian to early-middle Cenomanian) and also reveal a possible feature of the Bermeja Complex, which is the younging of radiolarian cherts from north to south, evoking a polarity of accretion. On the basis of a currently exhaustive inventory of the radiolarite facies s.s. on the Caribbean Plate, a re-examination of the regional distribution of Middle Jurassic sediments associated with oceanic crust, and a paleoceanographic argumentation on the water currents, we come to the conclusion that the radiolarite and associated Mesozoic oceanic terranes of the Caribbean Plate are of Pacific origin. Eventually, a discussion on the origin of the cherts of the Mariquita Formation illustrated by Middle Jurassic to middle Cretaceous geodynamic models of the Pacific and Caribbean realms bring up the possibility that the rocks of the Bermeja Complex are remnants of two different ocean

Catalogue and Systematics of Pliensbachian, Toarcian and Aalenian Radiolarian Genera and Species

This volume comprises a catalogue of 90 genera, 274 species and 13 subspecies of Pliensbachian, Toarcian and Aalenian Radiolaria. Two genera, 37 species and 3 subspecies are new formal descriptions, 24 species are described in open nomenclature. Each taxon is presented with a complete and up-to-date synonymy, original description and original remarks (translated into English where necessary), subsequent emendations, remarks by the authors of this catalogue, and etymology. Descriptions of species/subspecies further contain the original measurements, type locality, and data on geographic distribution. Plates illustrate the holotype and one or several specimens from our material, from different paleogeographic realms where possible. The material was collected from 30 measured sections in the Circum-Pacific belt (Baja California Peninsula, Oregon, British Columbia, Japan) and the Tethyan realm (Oman, Turkey, Slovenia, Austria). Abbreviated locality information and a list of all treated taxa are given in the last two chapters.A useful book for paleontologists interested in taxonomy of Jurassic radiolarians.Katalog obsega 90 rodov, 274 vrst in 13 podvrst radiolarijev iz treh stopenj v spodnji in srednji juri: pliensbachija, toarcija in aalenija. Dva rodova, 37 vrst in 3 podvrste so formalno opisani novi taksoni, 24 vrst je opisanih v odprti nomenklaturi. Vsak takson je predstavljen z vso dosedanjo sinonimiko, originalnim opisom in originalnimi opombami (v prevodu, če originalni jezik ni angleščina), poznejšimi revizijami, pripombami avtorjev tega kataloga in etimologijo. Opisi vrst in podvrst vsebujejo še originalne meritve, ime tipične lokalitete in podatke o geografski razširjenosti. Vsaka vrsta ali podvrsta je predstavljena s samostojno tablo, na kateri so slike holotipa in več primerkov iz naših vzorcev. Kjer je mogoče, so ilustrirani primerki z različnih paleogeografskih območij. Vzorci so bili pobrani na 30 profilih, posnetih v cirkumpacifiškem pasu (Kalifornijski polotok, Oregon, Britanska Kolumbija, Japonska) in v območju Tetide (Oman, Turčija, Slovenija, Avstrija). Dodatek na koncu knjige vsebuje kratek opis vzorčevanih profilov in seznam vseh obravnavanih taksonov

Une nouvelle classification systématique intégrée basée sur la phylogénèse moléculaire et le classement morphologique des radiolaires du Cénozoïque (Classe des Polycystinea) – taxonomie supragénérique et actes logiques de nomenclature

Une révision de la taxonomie des familles de radiolaires du Cénozoïque est particulièrement importante, car de nouvelles analyses phylogénétiques moléculaires pour Collodaria, Entactinaria, Nassellaria et Spumellaria ont montré d’excellents résultats pour les rangs taxonomiques familiaux ou supérieurs. En ce sens, cette étude présente une nouvelle taxonomie complète au niveau familial, qui intègre une classification fondée sur les gènes marqueurs taxonomiques ribosomiques (ADNr) et la taxonomie classique fondée sur des caractéristiques morphologiques. De plus, de nombreux noms de familles communément utilisés pour les radiolaires polycystines du Cénozoïque dérivent de genres dont les espèces types n’ont jamais été illustrées au moment de la définition du genre. Apparemment, dans la plupart de ces cas, le « Principe de Typification » défini dans le Code international de Nomenclature zoologique (ICZN 1999: Art. 61) ne peut être logiquement utilisé. Cela a généré une longue incompréhension (un siècle) quant à la validité des taxa cénozoïques (noms d’espèces, genres, et/ou familles) érigés à partir de types non illustrés ou dessinés, en particulier dans l’immense travail de Ernst Haeckel sur les échantillons récoltés par l’Expédition du « Challenger » (1872-1876). Le réexamen de la collection d’Haeckel a définitivement confirmé que tous les originaux des espèces types d’Haeckel (les spécimens à partir desquels Haeckel a établi les taxa des groupes d’espèces) n’existent pas, en d’autres termes que les spécimen-types sont réduits aux illustrations des planches dessinées d’Haeckel. Comme les « types » sont indispensables, un taxon nominal du groupe espèce sans aucune illustration (ou sans indication du lieu de conservation) ne permet pas de confirmer la définition de l’espèce. D’après les règles et recommandations de l’ICZN, ces noms devraient être exclus de tous les actes de nomenclature et de taxonomie. Cette révision-ci présente un « état de l’art » de tous les noms du groupe famille (avec des listes complètes de synonymes) pour les Polycystines cénozoïques.La liste des familles ainsi que leurs noms sont fondés sur 6694 publications (89% de toutes les références connues sur les radiolaires). Ces références ont été revues afin de clarifier et définir le statut des noms de familles qui ont été classés comme : valides, synonymes juniors, nomen dubium, nomen nudum, homonymes et noms invalides. Un total de 372 noms de groupes familiaux a été proposé pour le Cénozoïque. Ils comprennent 94 noms de familles valides, 118 synonymes juniors de familles, 111 nomina dubia de familles (principalement artificiellement créés en ensembles hypothétiques), 6 groupes familiaux d’homonymes juniors, 19 groupes familiaux de nomina nuda et 24 noms invalides. Un nomen novum et quatre familles nouvelles sont aussi présentés. Les descriptions de 25 familles ont été également émendées.Cette étude souligne les avantages d’une approche intégrée de la taxonomie des Polycystines par la combinaison d’analyses systématiques à la fois morphologiques et moléculaires. Sur la base d’analyses de séquences et phylogénies moléculaires, une systématique à un niveau supra-générique peut être ainsi proposée :a) Ordre des Spumellaires : trois lignées phylogénétiques moléculaires (PM Lignées = sous-ordre), 13 superfamilles et 42 familles ;b) Ordre des Entactinaires : un PM Lignée, cinq superfamilles et neuf familles ;c) Ordre des Nassellaires : quatre PM Lignées, 16 superfamilles et 37 familles ;d) Ordre des Collodaires : trois superfamilles et six familles.A revised taxonomy of Cenozoic radiolarian families is of particular importance because exhaustive molecular phylogenetic analyses for Collodaria, Entactinaria, Nassellaria and Spumellaria have shown high level of confidence at family or higher taxonomic ranks. In this sense, this study presents a new comprehensive taxonomy at the family level that integrated a classification based on ribosomal taxonomic marker genes (rDNA) and classical morphological taxonomy. However, many family names commonly used in Cenozoic radiolarians (Polycystinea) are derived from genera whose type species were never illustrated at the time of the generic definition. Obviously, in the vast majority of those cases, the “Principle of Typification” regulated in the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN 1999: Art. 61) cannot be logically applied. This has contributed to a century-long misunderstanding about the validity of Cenozoic taxa (species, genera and/or family-group names) erected without any illustration or drawing of their types, in particular the huge contribution of Ernst Haeckel from samples of the Challenger expedition (1872-1876). Reexamination of Haeckel’s collection definitively confirmed that all the original types series (the specimens on which Haeckel established the nominal species-group taxon) being nonextant; in other words, all name-bearing specimens (the types) are restricted to the illustrations given in Haeckel’s drawings. Because “types” in taxonomy are precious things, a nominal species-group taxon lacking at all of illustration (or indication to a repository) do not ensure the recognition of the species. Following the rules and recommendations of the ICZN, these names should be excluded from all nomenclatorial and taxonomical acts. This revision presents the state of the art of all proposed family-group names (with full synonymy lists) for Cenozoic Polycystinea.The list of family-group nominal taxa and their names was inventoried from 6694 publications (89% of the whole known references on radiolarians). The references were examined in order to clarify and fix the status of family names; hence these family-group names were rigidly classified as: valid, junior synonym, nomen dubium, nomen nudum, homonym, and invalid names. A total of 372 family-group names were proposed for the Cenozoic. These consist of 94 valid family-groups, 118 junior synonym family-groups, 111 nomen dubium family-groups (mainly artificially created in a hypothetical conceptual framework), 6 junior homonym family-groups, 19 nomen nudum family-groups, as well as 24 invalid names. In addition, one nomen novum et four new families are presented. The description of 25 families have been also emended.This study also outlines the advantages of an integrated approach to taxonomy of Polycystinea by the combination of both morphological and molecular systematics. Based on molecular phylogenetic studies, the systematic classification proposed at suprageneric level is arranged as follows:a) Order Spumellaria: three Phylogenetic Molecular Lineages (PM Lineages = suborders), 13 superfamilies and 42 families;b) Order Entactinaria: one PM Lineage, five superfamilies and nine families;c) Order Nassellaria: four PM Lineages, 16 superfamilies and 37 families;d) Order Collodaria: three superfamilies and six families.</p

New early Late Carnian (Upper Triassic) radiolarians from the Pindos-Huğlu succession of the South-Taurides ophiolite belt

This article is a continuation of the taxonomic study of the exquisitely preserved and extremely rich Late Carnian (early Tuvalian, Spongotortilispinus moixi Zone) radiolarian fauna of the sample G 11 from the Sorgun Ophiolitic Mélange occurring in the Tavusçayiri block, Pindos-Huğlu series, Tauride ophiolite belt, Turkey. 26 species of Spumellaria with spongy test, belonging to 7 genera, are discussed and illustrated. Among them 14 species and two genera (Staurotortilispinus n. gen and Ancoraspongus n. gen) are introduced as new. The assemblage provides new data on the diversity of the radiolarian fauna of the Tethys during the Late Carnian and contributes to a better understanding of the Mesozoic geodynamic evolution of the Mediterranean region

Inventaire des espèces de radiolaires du Cénozoïque (Classe des Polycystinea) – 1834-2020

Cet article présente, pour la première fois, une liste complète des Polycystinea du Cénozoïque décrits entre 1834 et 2020. Elle contient 6898 noms de taxons, décrits à l’origine comme des nouvelles espèces ou sous-espèces attribuées à la Classe des Polycystinea, le groupe le plus étendu de l’infra-embranchement Radiolaria. Cette liste vise donc à fournir un état objectif des noms disponibles et non disponibles, ces derniers comprenant donc des nomina oblita, nomina nuda, homonymes, actes de nomenclature invalides, des espèces décrites et mal assignées aux Polycystinea et des nomina dubia dépourvus de types porte-noms.This paper presents, for the first time ever, a complete list of Cenozoic Polycystinea reported between 1834 and 2020. It records 6898 names of taxa originally described as new species or subspecies, assigned to the Class of Polycystinea, the most important group in the infraphylum Radiolaria. This list only attempts to provide an objective record of available and unavailable names, the latter including nomina oblita, nomina nuda, homonyms, invalid nomenclatorial acts, species wrongly described as Polycystinea and nomina dubia species with inexistent name-bearing specimens.</p