Linking southern Poland and northern Germany: Campanian cephalopods, inoceramid bivalves and echinoids

The Campanian strata in the Wolbrom-Miechów area at Wierzchowisko, Jeżówka and Rzerzuśnia (i.e., the southwestern part of the Miechów Trough, southern Poland) have been studied in some detail. Collections of macrofossils available to date include generally well-preserved and diverse cephalopods (ammonoids, coleoids), inoceramid bivalves and irregular echinoids of considerable stratigraphic and correlative value. For the present paper, taxa which allow a preliminary correlation with northern Germany (Lägerdorf, Lehrte West Syncline and Münsterland Basin) are singled out for brief discussion. Stratigraphically useful taxa include the ammonites Pachydiscus (P.) haldemsis (SCHLÜTER), Lewyites elegans (MOBERG), Scaphites (S.) hippocrepis III sensu COBBAN, S. (S.) gibbus SCHLÜTER and Trachyscaphites spiniger spiniger (SCHLÜTER), the coleoids Belemnitella ex gr. mucronata (VON SCHLOTHEIM) and Gonioteuthis quadrata (DE BLAINVILLE), the inoceramids Cataceramus dariensis (DOBROV & PAVLOVA), ‘Inoceramus’ azerbaydjanensis ALIEV and ‘I.’ agdjakendsis ALIEV, and the echinoids Offaster pilula (LAMARCK), Galeola papillosa (LESKE), Echinocorys ex gr. subglobosa/turrita, E. ex gr. conica, Micraster (Gibbaster) ex gr. fastigatus/stolleyi and M. (M.) ex gr. schroederi/glyphus. The ammonite fauna, which is dominated by pachydiscids and diplomoceratids, is closely comparable to that from the Busko Zdrój area (i.e., the southeastern part of the Miechów Trough), but hoplitoplacenticeratids are still unknown from the Wolbrom-Miechów area which, taken together with inoceramid data, may point to a gap in the upper Lower Campanian (equivalent of conica/mucronata Zone)

Ammonite Faunal Dynamics Across Bio-Events During the Mid-and Late Cretaceous Along the Russian Pacific Coast

Jagt−Yazykova, E.A. 2012. Ammonite faunal dynamics across bio−events during the mid − and Late Cretaceous along th

Comment on the letter of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology (SVP) dated April 21, 2020 regarding “Fossils from conflict zones and reproducibility of fossil‑based scientific data”: Myanmar amber

Non peer reviewe

SHARK – the How and Why of an Exhibit

John W.M. Jagt ORCID: 0000-0001-6216-1991 Natuurhistorisch Museum Maastricht Elena A. Jagt‑Yazykova Opole University John W.M. Jagt and Elena A. Jagt-Yazykova's report on the exhibit HAAI (Dutch for shark)

First record of the enigmatic coleoid genus Longibelus from Sakhalin (Far East Russia): a contribution to our understanding of Cretaceous coleoid habitats in the Pacific Realm

Abstract A newly collected specimen of the enigmatic coleoid genus Longibelus is recorded from lower Turonian strata along the River Shadrinka in Sakhalin (Russian Far East). To date, this is the first record of Late Cretaceous coleoid cephalopods from the island and, in fact, from the entire Pacific coast of the Russian Federation. Lithological characteristics, coupled with published geochemical analyses (δ13C and Corg content), suggest the habitat of this coleoid taxon to have been the middle to outer (i.e. distal) shelf. Its provenance from the stratigraphical level that is known as the Scaphites Event, characterised by a mass occurrence of Scaphites and Yesoites, may be indicative of occasional or marginal overlap in ranges, rather than life in similar habitats. On the basis of lithological features and in view of the extremely rare occurrence of Longibelus in rich ammonite assemblages with clear ecological/bathymetric preferences, the natural habitat of Longibelus may have comprised neritic to mesopelagic zones over distal shelves and slopes

Eoverruca hewitti Withers 1935

Eoverruca hewitti Withers, 1935 (Figs 2, 3) Original description. Eoverruca hewitti Withers, 1935: 338, text-figs 37, 38; pl. 44, figs 9–18. Types. The holotype (NHM In. 27598) is a fixed scutum (Withers, 1935: pl. 44, fig. 9 a, b), 1.7 mm in length, from the upper Santonian (Uintacrinus socialis Zone) of East Harling, Norfolk, eastern England. Withers (1935) had a total of 64 valves; all of these are contained in the collections of the Natural History Museum, Department of Palaeontology (London), under registration numbers NHM In. 27280-27281, In. 27595-27607 and In. 27725-27748. Material examined. NHMM 2006 024/ 1-30, comprising carinae, a single rostrum, movable and fixed scuta, movable terga, a single fixed?tergum as well as lateral valves; all from samples 3, 4 A, 4 B and 5 taken at the JeŻówka section (Fig. 1 C; Table 1). Description. Valves with transverse ridges sharp-edged, prominent, somewhat overhanging, and undulating on rostrum and carina; a few longitudinal ridges are seen on rostrum and carina; transverse ridges project as sharp points on outer margins of valves. Carina (Fig. 2 G, I) small (0.95–1.0 mm in length), semi-cylindrical, slightly asymmetric; length c. 1.5 times width (but damaged); barely bowed inwards; transversely strongly convex and well rounded; ornament of prominent, smooth transverse ridges (at least nine, as preserved), of varying width and narrow, step-like, occasionally undulating interspaces; basal margin irregular (but damaged), concave, and faintly produced laterally below every transverse ridge; apical portion damaged, but estimated to have projected freely to c. onethird the length from apex; basal portion concave. Rostrum (Fig. 2 H) small (0.85 mm in length, 0.7 in width, as preserved), semi-conical; basal margin irregular (but damaged); barely bowed inwards; transversely strongly convex to semi-carinate; estimated to have projected freely to c. half its length from apex; ornament as in carina, less well marked, with interspaces more or less flush with transverse ridges in single specimen available. Fixed scutum (Fig. 2 J) small (1.15 mm in length, 1.05 mm in width as preserved), triangular (but damaged), faintly curved on tergal side, faintly convex transversely; apico-basal ridge slightly raised, flat-topped, widening markedly towards basal margin, near-equal in width to occludent side of valve; tergal side obliquely inclined inwards, narrow, with two articular ribs; ornament of transverse ridges, projecting beyond both occludent and tergal margins, straight to undulating, with interspaces either narrow or of equal width; occludent side with additional longitudinal striation radiating from apical portion towards basal margin; striae more or less of similar strength. Inner side abraded, but apical portion estimated to have projected freely to c. one-third of length of valve. Movable scutum (Fig. 2 D) small (1.3 mm in length), narrower than fixed scutum; apico-basal ridge also narrower, prominently raised and of near-equal width towards basi-tergal angle; prominent growth ridges not downturned on occludent margin; ornament of transverse ridges, straight to slightly undulating, with longitudinal striation on occludent side, similar, more subdued, to that of fixed scutum (Fig. 2 J); prominent premordial valve with irregular basal margin in one specimen (Fig. 2 D, NHMM 2006 024/ 4), reminiscent of the one seen in Vulcanolepas osheai (see Buckeridge, 2000: fig. 4 F, G; Southward & Jones, 2003; Yamaguchi et al., 2004). Fixed?tergum (Fig. 2 E) small (0.95 mm in length, damaged), subrhomboidal, faintly convex transversely; apico-basal ridge narrow, raised, produced at basal margin; ornament of transverse ridges, undulating and projecting laterally; scutal side damaged, leaving no trace of articular ribs. Movable tergum (Fig. 2 A–C) small (between 1.4 and 1.8 mm in length), elongate; apico-basal ridge central, fairly narrow, increasing in width towards basal angle, of regular curvature; carinal margins of equal length, forming c. 70 degrees angle; occludent margin concave, shorter than scutal margin; two articular ribs on scutal side, one prominent and extending from apex to middle of scutal; depression on scutal side of this, separating it from rounded occludent margin forming second rib; ornament of transverse ridges, straight, produced markedly along upper carinal margin, more or less subdued between articular ribs on scutal side. Lateral valves (Figs. 2 F, 3 A–F) small, with thin edges (overall width between 0.9 and 1 mm), of varying height, and of two types; one with basal angle positioned near-centrally and, on inner surface, c. one-third of valve height marked with few, prominent growth lines; the other with basal angle close to one side and more than upper half with such lines; ornament of pronouced transverse ridges and (sub)central ridge, similar to other valves.Published as part of Jagt, John W. M., Jaskuła, Iwona, Witek, Anna & Jagt-Yazykova, Elena A., 2008, A new record of the Late Cretaceous cirripede Eoverruca hewitti (Verrucomorpha, Proverrucidae) from southern Poland, pp. 59-68 in Zootaxa 1671 on pages 62-64, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.18020

Eoverruca Withers 1935

Genus Eoverruca Withers, 1935 Diagnosis. Verrucomorphs with two lateral valves present on rostro-carinal side, rostrum and carina almost symmetrical, and interlocking ribs developed on fixed and movable scuta and terga (modified from Withers, 1935: 338). Type species. Eoverruca hewitti Withers, 1935, by monotypy.Published as part of Jagt, John W. M., Jaskuła, Iwona, Witek, Anna & Jagt-Yazykova, Elena A., 2008, A new record of the Late Cretaceous cirripede Eoverruca hewitti (Verrucomorpha, Proverrucidae) from southern Poland, pp. 59-68 in Zootaxa 1671 on page 62, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.18020

Comment on the letter of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology (SVP) dated April 21, 2020 regarding “Fossils from conflict zones and reproducibility of fossil-based scientific data”: Myanmar amber

Motivation for this comment Recently, the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology (SVP) has sent around a letter, dated 21st April, 2020 to more than 300 palaeontological journals, signed by the President, Vice President and a former President of the society (Rayfield et al. 2020). The signatories of this letter request significant changes to the common practices in palaeontology. With our present, multi-authored comment, we aim to argue why these suggestions will not lead to improvement of both practice and ethics of palaeontological research but, conversely, hamper its further development. Although we disagree with most contents of the SVP letter, we appreciate this initiative to discuss scientific practices and the underlying ethics. Here, we consider different aspects of the suggestions by Rayfield et al. (2020) in which we see weaknesses and dangers. It is our intent to compile views from many different fields of palaeontology, as our discipline is (and should remain) pluralistic. This contribution deals with the aspects concerning Myanmar amber. Reference is made to Haug et al. (2020a) for another comment on aspects concerning amateur palaeontologists/ citizen scientists/private collectors