Neogyroporella? gawlicki n.sp., a New Dasycladale from the Upper Jurassic–Lower Cretaceous Lärchberg Formation of the Northern Calcareous Alps, Austria

A new Dasycladale (calcareous green alga) is described as Neogyroporella? gawlicki n.sp. from the Upper Jurassic–Lower Cretaceous “Lärchberg Formation” of the Northern Calcareous Alps, Austria. It is distinguished from the type-species Neogyroporella elegans YABE & TOYAMA (Upper Jurassic of Japan; currently the only representative of the genus), by its distinctly smaller dimensions and a higher number of laterals. The generic attribution of the new taxon is discussed, including similarities/differences to allied genera, especially Humiella SOKAC & VELIC. Neogyroporella? gawlicki n.sp. is so far only known from the Northern Calcareous Alps. In addition, some other Dasycladales accompanying Neogyroporella? gawlicki n.sp. are also illustrated

Iberopora bodeuri GRANIER & BERTHOU 2002 (incertae sedis) from the Plassen Formation (Kimmeridgian–Berriasian) of the Tethyan Realm

Iberopora bodeuri GRANIER & BERTHOU 2002, formerly known as “crust problematicum” (SCHMID, 1996) is described from the Plassen Formation (Kimmeridgian–Berriasian) of the Northern Calcareous Alps (NCA). Here, it occurs either as an incrustation on corals/stromatoporoids or it forms nodular masses (“solenoporoid morphotype”). It is typically found in the fore-reef facies of the platform margin, and (upper) slope deposits where autochthonous dasycladales are absent. Water turbulence appears to control the morphological development of Iberopora. Thus, flat crusts appear in less agitated settings. The crusts are almost always accompanied by calcareous sponges/sclerosponges and abundant micro-encrusters, mostly Koskinobullina socialis CHERCHI & SCHROEDER and “Tubiphytes” morronensis CRESCENTI. The stratigraphic range of Iberopora known to date is Oxfordian–Berriasian. In addition to the Northern Calcareous Alps, it has been reported from the epicontinental area of NW-Germany, the northern margin of the Penninic and Tethyan ocean (Slovakia, Switzerland, Spain, Poland, Portugal) and the southern Tethyan domain (Greece, Romania, Yugoslavia). Until other morphological elements (e.g. reproductive organs or protoconch) are found, its systematic position remains uncertain. Currently, it is considered questionably to be an ancestral rhodophyceae or acervulinid-like foraminifera

Gosavisiphon gen. nov. based on Halimeda paucimedullaris SCHLAGINTWEIT&EBLI, 1998: a remarkable macroalga (Udoteaceae?) from the Late Cretaceous of the Northern Calcareous Alps(Austria and Germany) with affinites to Late Paleozoic and Late Triassic phylloids

The new genus Gosavisiphon with the type-species Halimeda paucimedullaris SCHLAGINTWEIT & EBLI, 1998, tentatively referred to the Udoteaceae, is described from the Late Cretaceous (Middle/Late Cenomanian-Santonian) of the Branderfleck Formation and the Lower Gosau Subgroup of the Northern Calcareous Alps (Austria, Germany). It is a plurimillimetric to pluricentimetric marine, hard-substrate dwelling macroalga, with membraneous and partly fused plates and an internal siphonaceous construction but lacking a real medullary zone. Although some thallus details are still unknown, Gosavisiphon gen. nov. can, from a strictly morphological point of view, directly be compared with the Late Palaeozoic and Upper Triassic phylloid algae. Gosavisiphon gen. nov. is the first fossil record of a platy siphonal alga in the Cretaceous, since the Late Triassic Ivanovia triassica REID. The monotypic taxon is most probably endemic to the Northern Calcareous Alps where it dwelled in protected, terrestrially influenced lagoonal environments attaching to hard substrates, (metazoan skeletons, rudistid shells). Based on findings of the cylindrical Halimeda? aff. johnsoni PAL and another taxon described as Halimeda sp. with typically flattened ovate segments, some considerations on the segment-morphological phylogenetic evolution of Halimeda LAMOUROUX are provided. Halimeda species with discoidal-flattened segments, that can morphologically be compared with extant species, are not known prior to the Turonian. Forms possessing cylindrical segments date further back, but can not directly be compared morphologically with modern counterparts, thus placing doubts on the existence of long-lasting methusalemi species by uniting extant and fossil species, as proposed by both botanists and palaeontologists in recent times. The new genus Gosavisiphon with the type-species Halimeda paucimedullaris SCHLAGINTWEIT & EBLI, 1998, tentatively refered to the Udoteaceae, is described from the Late Cretaceous (Middle/Late Cenomanian-Santonian) of the Branderfleck Formation and the Lower Gosau Subgroup of the Northern Calcareous Alps (Austria, Germany). It is a plurimillimetric to pluricentimetric marine, hard-substrate dwelling macroalga with membraneous and partly fused plates and an internal siphonaceous construction but lacking a real medullary zone. Although some thallus details are still unknown, Gosavisiphon gen. nov. can, from a strictly morphological point of view, directly be compared with the Late Paleozoic and Upper Triassic phylloid algae. Gosavisiphon gen. nov. is the first fossil record of a platy siphonal alga in the Cretaceous, since the Late Triassic Ivanovia triassica REID. The monotypic taxon is most probably endemic to the Northern Calcareous Alps where it dwelled in protected, terrestrically influenced lagoonal environments attaching to hard substrates (metazoan skeletons, rudistid shells). Based on findings of the cylindrical Halimeda? aff. johnsoni PAL and another taxon described as Halimeda sp. with typically flattened ovate segments, some considerations on the segment-morphological phylogenetic evolution of Halimeda LAMOUROUX are provided. As one result, Halimeda species with discoidal-flattened segments, that can morphologically be compared with extant species, are not known prior to the Turonian. Forms possessing cylindrical segments date further back, but can not directly be compared morphologically with modern counterparts, thus putting doubts on the existence of long-lasting methusalemi species by uniting extant and fossil species, as proposed by both botanists and palaeontologists in recent times.<--

Neomeris mokragorensis sp. Nov. (Calcareous alga, Dasycladales) from the cretaceous of Serbia, Montenegro and the Northern calcareous Alps, (Gosau group, Austria)

The new species of the genus Neomeris - Neomeris mokragorensis sp. nov. described in this paper from western Serbia originates: from the Albian of Mokra Gora (the succession transgrading on the serpentinite) and from the Turonian of the Skrapež-Kosjerić area (the succession transgrading on the Carboniferous). The presence of this species has been noted in the Turonian of the Kukes and in the Santonian of the Metohija Cretaceous Unit (Mirdita Zone). In the surrounding of Podgorica (Dinaric Carbonate Platform, Montenegro), the same species previously was presented as Neomeris cf cretacea STEINMANN. Well preserved Neomeris specimens from the Turonian to the Santonian strata of the Northern Calcareous Alps (Gosau Group, Austria) previously described as Neomeris circularis BADVE & NAYAK, is assigned to Neomeris mokragorensis sp. nov. Neomeris mokragorensis is characterized by a thin loosed skeleton formed only around ampullae, by which, besides the form of the ampullae, this species is clearly distinct from Neomeris cretacea (Steinmann)

New and poorly known Middle Jurassic larger benthic foraminifera from the Karst Dinarides of Croatia

Some new and poorly known larger benthic foraminifera are described from Middle Jurassic (Upper Aalenian-Bajocian) shallow-water limestones of the Croatian Karst Dinarides. Cymbriaella lorigae FUGAGNOLI is reported for the first time beside its type-locality, the Upper Pliensbachian of the Southern Alps. New taxa described include Bosniella bassoulleti n. sp. and Dubrovnikella septfontainei n. gen., n. sp. (family Biokovinidae). Both Cymbriaella lorigae and Everticyclammina praevirguliana FUGAGNOLI are reported for the first time from Middle Jurassic strata. The new findings allow further insights into the phylogenetic evolution of the larger benthic foraminifera during the Early to Middle Jurassic period.</p

Cretaciclavulina gusici n. gen., n. sp. (?family Valvulinidae BERTHELIN, 1880), a new larger benthic foraminifer from the lower Campanian of Brač Island, Croatia

The larger benthic foraminifera Cretaciclavulina gusici n. gen., n. sp. is described from the lower Campanian Pučišća Formation of the Island of Brač, Croatia. With its elongate test, trochospiral to uniserial coiling, simple chambers, paraporous wall structure, and areal aperture provided with a cribrate apertural plate, Cretaciclavulina is tentatively placed into the family Valvulinidae BERTHELIN, 1880. Besides Neobalkhania bignoti CHERCHI, RADOIČIĆ & SCHROEDER, 1991, Fleuryana adriatica DE CASTRO, DROBNE & GUŠIĆ, 1994, and Reticulinella fleuryi CVETKO, GUŠIĆ & SCHROEDER, 1997, Cretaciclavulina gusici represents the fourth benthic foraminifera newly described from the Upper Cretaceous shallow-water carbonates of Brač Island

Glomospirella cantabrica n. sp., and other benthic foraminifera from Lower Cretaceous Urgonian-type carbonates of Cantabria, Spain : biostratigraphic implications

A new benthic foraminifer is described as Glomospirella cantabrica n. sp. from several sections of the Upper Aptian Reocín Formation and one occurrence in the lowermost Albian Las Peñosas Formation of Cantabria (northern Spain). It represents a rather large-sized Glomospirella with up to eight planispiral whorls observed in lagoonal wackestones and packstones. The Upper Aptian (Late Gargasian-Clansayesian) age of the Reocín Formation is indicated by the co-occurrence with other benthic foraminifers, i.e., orbitolinids. Further data for the biostratigraphy of the Aptian-p.p. Albian shallow-water carbonates of the North Cantabrian Basin are provided. The rareness of dasycladalean green algae in these deposits is also highlighted

Two look-alike dasycladalean algae: Clypeina isabellae masse, Bucur, Virgone & Delmasso, 1999 from the Berriasian of Sardinia (Italy) and Clypeina loferensis sp. N. from the upper Jurassic of the Northern Calcareous Alps (Austria)

New material from the Berriasian of eastern Sardinia, Italy, and from the NW of Sardinia published by PECORINI in 1972 as 'Clypeina sp. A', allows a better characterization and an emended diagnosis of Clypeina isabellae MASSE et al., 1999 from the Berriasian of SW France. Another morphologically somehow similar Clypeina species from the Upper Jurassic of the Northern Calcareous Alps of Austria is described as Clypeina loferensis n. sp. Remarks on the genera Clypeina MICHELIN and Hamulusella ELLIOTT, a Clypeina-type dasycladalean alga with proximal bulged laterals, and Clypeina jurassica-sulcata are also provided