CHITRALINA UNDULATA GEN. N. SP. N. (FORAMINIFERIDA) FROM THE LATE PERMIAN OF KARAKORUM (PAKISTAN)

Chitralina undulata  gen. n. sp. n. (Foraminiferida) has been found for the first time in the Permian successions of Karakorum (Pakistan). Biostratigraphic analysis based on fusulinids, brachiopods, conodonts and small foraminifers pointed out that Chitralina undulata gen. n. sp. n. occurs from the Kubergandian to the Late Murgabian-Midian. Morphologically, Chitralina undulata gen. n. sp. n., is comparable to Rectostipulina quadrata  Jenny-Deshusses, 1985, differing from it by means of the thickness and composition of the test and for the presence of marked longitudinal costae. The stratigraphic range of Rectostipulina quadrata spans the Midian-Dorashamian time-interval. The new genus Chitralina is very similar to the Permian genus Giraliarella Crespin, differing from it by means of the absence of transverse growth constrictions. The new family Chitralinidae fam. n., is also described  herein

GLOBIGAETANIA ANGULATA GEN. N. SP. N. (GLOBIVALVULININAE, FORAMINIFERA) FROM THE WORDIAN (MIDDLE PERMIAN) OF NW IRAN

A new small biseriamminoid foraminifer, Globigaetania angulata gen. n. sp. n., is here described from the Wordian of a Permian–Triassic sedimentary succession of NW Iran (Zal and Poldasht stratigraphic sections). The new taxon, dedicated to Prof. Maurizio Gaetani, is characterised by peculiar morphology, coiling, and structures that are characteristic of the subfamily Globivalvulininae Reitlinger, 1950, family Globivalvulinidae Reitlinger, 1950, superfamily Biseriamminoidea Chernysheva, 1941. The introduction of the new taxon contributes to the knowledge of the systematics and evolution of the Palaeozoic biserial microgranular foraminifera

MORPHOMETRIC APPROACH TO DETERMINATION OF LOWER JURASSIC SIPHOVALVULINID FORAMINIFERA

Siphovalvulina is among the first foraminifera that appear on carbonate platforms of the Lower Jurassic, forming a conspicuous element of low-diversity assemblages prior to recovery after the end-Triassic biotic crisis. The high morphologic variability of species of this genus is usually not documented, which makes the determination of species difficult and subjective. We demonstrate the variability in five morphotypes of Siphovalvulina in Sinemurian and Pliensbachian carbonate rocks from the Dinarides and the Southern Apennines. Due to the different interpretation of its architecture, an emendation of the genus Siphovalvulina is proposed. One morphotype has been left in open nomenclature and could belong to either S. variabilis Septfontaine or to S. beydouni BouDagher- Fadel & Noujaim Clark. Three morphotypes, differing in apical angle and/or size belong to S. ex gr. gibraltarensis BouDagher-Fadel, Rose, Bosence & Lord. We also describe a new genus and species, Radoicicina ciarapicae gen. n., n. sp. from the lower Sinemurian of the Southern Apennines. We suggest a close phylogenetic relationship between the two genera and introduce a new family, Siphovalvulinidae fam. n. of the superfamily Eggerelloidea

A LATE TRIASSIC OSTRACOD ASSEMBLAGE FROM THE QUATTERVALS NAPPE (AUSTROALPINE, NORTHERN ITALY)

The up to 1200 m thick Norian succession of the Quattervals Nappe (Central Austroalpine, Italy) documents a tectonically-driven passage from intertidal facies (Dolomia Principale-Hauptdolomit), represented by early-dolomitized bedded to massive gray dolostones, to intraplatform basin sediments (Pra Grata Formation and Quattervals Limestone), consisting of resedimented dark limestones and thin bedded laminated limestones, alternating (mainly in the Pra Grata Formation) with intraformational breccias containing abundant shallow-water facies. The transitional and basinal facies contain an interesting ostracod assemblage, beside bioclastic layers containing shallow-water and upper slope skeletal grains.The ostracod fauna is rich in specimens belonging to few genera, denoting restricted environmental conditions characterized by variations of salinity and low oxygenation. Despite the intense deformation and recrystallization related to the Alpine tectonics, the paleontological analysis of the ostracod assemblage from the base of the Quattervals Limestone, allowed the identification of the two new species of ostracods Rhombocythere dimorphica and Kerocythere quattervalsi in association with other already known forms.&nbsp

TURRIGLOMINA? ANATOLICA, N. SP. (FORAMINIFERIDA) FROM THE CRETACEOUS OF NORTH-WESTERN ANATOLIA (TURKEY): REMARKS ON THE EVOLUTION OF THE MESOZOIC MEANDROSPIRIDS

A new species of foraminifer, Turriglomina? anatolica n. sp., is erected from the Lower Cretaceous of North-Western Anatolia, Turkey. The species is characterized by a well developed meandrospirid stage followed by a rectilinear, helicoidal stage. The morphology of the new taxon is similar to that of the Triassic genus Turriglomina zaninetti, however, the generic attribution is doubtful as the evolutionary path of meandrospirids is not documented from Triassic to Cretaceous.&nbsp

PAULBRONNIMANNINAE RETTORI & ZANINETTI, 1993 (FORAMINIFERIDA, AMMODISCIDAE) AND OTHER ANISIAN FORAMINIFERS FROM THE PIZ DA PERES SECTION (VALDAORA-OLANG, PUSTERIA VALLEY, DOLOMITES, NE ITALY)

The anisian  succession exposed in the Piz da Peres area, studied by De Zanche et al. (1992) using sequence  stratigraphy, is here examined from a micropaleontological  point of view. The Recoaro Limestone, deposited during highstand  time, contains the most diversified microfauna of the stratigraphic succession; it is Pelsonian in age, with the rypical association Meandrospira dinarica-Pilammina densa; the coeval Pelsonian foraminifers Paulbronnimannia  judicariensis  (Premoli Silva, 1971) and Paulbronnimannia  whittakeri Rettori gen. n., sp. n,, are also  present

THE PERMIAN -TRIASSIC BOUNDARY, DEAD SEA, JORDAN: TRANSITIONAL ALLUVIAL TO MARINE DEPOSITIONAL SEQUENCES AND BIOSTRATIGRAPHY

The Permian to Triassic transition in Jordan is characterised by a sequence boundary underlain by red-bed, alluvial lithofacies deposited in a humid-tropical climate by low-sinuosity rivers, and overlain by shallow marine siliciclastics with thin carbonates. The low-gradient alluvial floodplain was repeatedly subjected to the development of ferralitic and pisolitic paleosols on the interfluves. In contrast, dysaerobic environments in the fluvial channels and abandoned lakes resulted in the preservation of a prolific flora of macro-plants and palynomorphs that indicate a probable range from Mid- to Late Permian age, though the abundant presence of the distinctive pollen Pretricolpipollenites bharadwajii indicates the youngest part of that range. Above the sequence boundary, reddened shallow-marine beds characterised by ripple cross-laminated, siltstones/sandstone with desiccation cracks and sparse surface burrows mark the initial Triassic marine transgression in the region (Arabian Plate Tr 10). These are followed by two thin limestone (packstone) beds with shallow scours and bivalve shell lags, that have yielded a low diversity assemblage of conodonts (e.g. Hadrodontina aequabilis) and foraminifera (“Cornuspira” mahajeri) that are interpreted as euryhaline taxa characterising the early Induan (Early Triassic). Thus the absence of body fossils and vertical infaunal burrows in the lowest marine beds may reflect low-diversity ecosystems following the Permian- Triassic extinction event, or be a result of stressed shallow marine environments. A gradational upward increase in grey, green and yellow siltstones beds accompanied by a concomitant increase in bioturbation (and infaunal vertical burrows) and thin-shelled bivalves about 15 m above the boundary indicates colonisation of the substrate under more normal shallow marine conditions perhaps indicating recovery phase following the extinction event