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

Critical review of Pseudocucurbitidae (Miliolina, Foraminiferea) from the Late Triassic reef environments of the Tethyan area

Abstract. The Late Triassic foraminiferal genera Amphorella, Spiriamphorella, Urnulinella, Pseudocucurbita, Paratintinnina, Costifera and Siculocosta are considered junior synonyms of the genus Cucurbita. Consequently, the number of families of the Milioliporacea (Miliolina) is significantly reduced. The valid species of the genus Cucurbita are considered to be Cucurbita infundibuliforme Jablonský, 1973, C. subsphaerica (Borza & Samuel, 1977a) comb. nov., C. longicollum Senowbari-Daryan, 1983, C. battagliensis (Senowbari-Daryan, 1983) comb. nov., C. cylindrica (Senowbari-Daryan, 1983) comb. nov. and C. floriformis (Altiner et al., 1992) comb. nov.

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

Lower and Middle Triassic foraminifera from the Eros Limestone, Hydra Island, Greece

Abstract. The systematics and stratigraphic ranges (constrained by conodont dating) of abundant and well preserved foraminiferal faunas from six sections in the Lower and Middle Triassic Eros Limestone of central and western Hydra (Argolis Peninsula, Greece) are described. A joint analysis of the conodonts, foraminifera and bivalves has enabled the Scythian and Anisian stages to be recognized with some certainty within the Eros Limestone carbonate platform. The foraminifera have affinities with those of many other Tethyan localities, in particular the Dinarides, Balkans, Carpathians and the Southern Alps

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

FLATSCHKOFELIA ANISICA GEN. ET SP. N. (FORAMINIFERIDA) FROM THE MIDDLE TRIASSIC (ANISIAN) OF NORTHERN DOLOMITES, ITALY

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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

Synchrotron radiation reveals the identity of the large felid from Monte Argentario (Early Pleistocene, Italy)

We describe here a partial skull with associated mandible of a large felid from Monte Argentario, Italy (Early Pleistocene; ~1.5 million years). Propagation x-ray phase-contrast synchrotron microtomography of the specimen, still partially embedded in the rock matrix, allows ascribing it reliably to Acinonyx pardinensis, one of the most intriguing extinct carnivorans of the Old World Plio-Pleistocene. The analysis of images and 3D models obtained through synchrotron microtomography – here applied for the first time on a Plio-Pleistocene carnivoran – reveals a mosaic of cheetah-like and Panthera-like features, with the latter justifying previous attributions of the fossil to the extinct Eurasian jaguar Panthera gombaszoegensis. Similarly, we reassign to A. pardinensis some other Italian materials previously referred to P. gombaszoegensis (sites of Pietrafitta and Ellera di Corciano). The recognition of Panthera-like characters in A. pardinensis leads to reconsidering the ecological role of this species, whose hunting strategy was likely to be different from those of the living cheetah. Furthermore, we hypothesise that the high intraspecific variation in body size in A. pardinensis can be the result of sexual dimorphism, as observed today in all large-sized felids

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