Schweigert, Günter

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GeoResearch Forum Vol. 6 (2000) pp. 203-210 02000 Trans Tech Publications, Switzerland Immigration of Amoeboceratids into the Submediterranean Upper Jurassic of SW Germany G. Schweigert Staatliches Museum fiir Naturkunde, Rosenstein 1, DE-70191 Stuttgart, Germany E-Mail: schweigert9gmx.de Kewords: Ammonites, Amoeboceras, Biochronospecies, Paleobiogeography, Late Jurassic, Southern Germany Abstract: During the Late Jurassic, Southern Germany was part of the Submediterranean Fauna1 Province. Several ammonite faunal horizons within the rock sequence, however, yield remarkabls numbers of amoeboceratids which are of great importance for correlations between the Tethyan Standard Zones and zonal schemes of Subboreal and Boreal areas. Based on the succession of amoeboceratid biochronospecies in Southern Germany, such correlation is possible for the stratigraphic interval between the Middle Oxfordian Transversarium Zone and the Uppw Kimmeridgian Acanthicum Zone of the Tethyan standard.' Introduction Different Upper Jurassic zonal schemes exist for the Tethyan Realm and the more northerly areas of Europe in order to deal with strong bioprovincialism. During the last two decades several efforts have been made to correlate these zonal schemes (Sykes and Callomon, 1979; Matyja and Wierzbowski, 1988). In principle, correlation is possible using Boreal faunal elements which also occur in adjacent parts of the Tethyan Realm. One of the most important ammonite groups for such correlations are the amoeboceratids. While some efforts have been made to analyse the occurrence of amoeboceratids in the Submediterranean Upper Jurassic of E France, N Switzerland and central Poland (Atrops et al., 1993), the exact succession of amoeboceratid biochronospecies in SW Germany remained unknown, although several important species names are based on specimens from there. It is the purpose of this paper to give a brief overview on the state of knowledge in SW Germany (Fig. 1) based on new bed-by-bed collections and additional material from older collections. Amoeboceratids of the Middle and Late Oxfordian In the westernmost part of Swabia (Wutach area) and in adjacent parts of Switzerland, the Upper Jurassic begins with a succession of three thin lithostratigraphic members, the "Glaukonitsandmergel" (Cordatum Zone) at the base, followed by the very condensed "Mumienmergel" and an approximately 20 cm thick glauconitic limestone bed in which siliceous sponges accompanied by thrombolithic microbial crusts occur for the first time (Gygi, 1977). The latter, known as "Mumienkalk", is very rich in ammonites which have not yet been described as a whole. In the "Mumienkalk", Submediterranean perisphinctids such as Subdiscosphinctes elisabethae (De Riaz) are very common, together with rare macroconchs such as the subzonal index species Perisphinctes parandieri (Loriol) (Transversarium Zone, Parandieri Subzone). In contrast to the very condensed and partly reworked glauconitic "Murnienmergel" of the Plicatilis Zone (Antecedens Subzone) below, where cardioceratids are abundant, in the overlying Parandieri Subzone the large majority of ammonites consists of Mediterranean faunal elements: Ochetoceras canaliculatum (Buch), Glochiceras subclausum (Oppel), Trimarginites frimarginatus (Oppel), Trimarginites arolicus (Oppel), Neomorphoceras collinii (Oppel), Taramelliceras bachianum (Oppel), TarameNiceras semiplanum (Oppel). Even such typical Tethyan elements as Gregoryceras riazi (De Grossouvre), Sowerbyceras sp., Holcophylloceras manfredi (Oppel) and Lissoceratoides erato (d'orbigny) are recorded from this level; Gregoryceras riazi is relatively common at this 204 Sh Jurassic Symposium, Vancouver level (Gygi, 1977). Its intraspecific variability suggests a possible synonymy both with G. transversarium (Quenstedt) and with G. toucasianum (d'orbigny). Besides these Tethyan elements, very rarely the first macroconch amoeboceratids occur. They have been identified as Amoeboceras ilovaiskii (Sokolov) (Pl. 1.1-2) and Amoeboceras transitorium Spath (Pl. 1.3). Due to their rarity, it is uncertain whether these forms are really two different biospecies occurring together, or whether they represent different morphological varieties within a single biochronospecies. Microconch amoeboceratids have not yet been recorded, a striking difference compared to higher levels, where microconchs are predominant. However, correlation is possible with the Glosense Zone of Great Britain, in which identical amoeboceratids occur (Wright, 1996). Figure 1. Submediterranean ammonite zonation compared to SubboreallSoreal zonations. This correlation is mainly based on amoeboceratid biochronospecies from the Upper Jurassic of SW Germany. . srtblilicnelalrtnt Biinaminatum Bifurcatus Stenocycloides In the following beds of the Transversarium Zone, amoeboceratids and other Boreal or Subboreal faunal elements are rare. They reappear in the upper part of the Bifurcatus Zone (not investigated in detail so far) and also at the base of the Bimamrnatum Zone (Hypselum Subzone, semimammatum faunal horizon). At these levels, microconch amoeboceratids are very common, especially adjacent to small sponge bioherms, whereas adult macroconch amoeboceratids are nearly absent. A fragmentary macroconch Amoeboceras of the regulare group, from the semimammatum horizon of Franconia, was named "Cardioceras" neischli (see Dom, 1930, P1. 18, Fig. 28). The microconchs may be identified as Amoeboceras alternans (Buch) (Pl. 1-4) or Amoeboceras ovule (Quenstedt) (Pl. 1.5). The neotype and lectotype specimens of both morphospecies may come from the same faunal horizon at the foot of the "Lochen" hill near Balingen (Western Swabian Alb), thus representing morphological varieties of the same biochronospecies. It can be noted, however, that specimens with a more coarsely ribbed alternans sculpture are more typical in the Bifurcatus Zone. The immigration of amoeboceratids coincides exactly with the initial growth of siliceous sponge Transversar iurn Rotoides Schilli Luciaeformis A. Ira~zsiloriunz A. ilovaiskii Pumilus - - -  - - - - - -  Glosense GeoResearch Forum Vol. 6 205 mud mounds in the Swabian Jurassic ("Lochen Spongiolithic Limestones"). Another Subboreal influx is demonstrated by the occurrence of the ammonite genus Ringsteadia (R. salfeldi Dom) together with its microconch counterpart Microbiplices/Prorasenia and the byssate bivalve Buchia concentrica (Sowerby). Levels with amoeboceratids are often glauconitic. The glauconitic semimammatum horizon with exactly the same ammonite faunal composition is also known from Franconia (Grafenberg quany). The following berrense faunal horizon of the Hypselum Subzone, mainly characterised by its index Epipeltoceras berrense (Favre), contains few ammonites. Only a few records of amoeboceratids are indicated from this level: an unnamed Amoeboceras species with bi- and trikcating secondaries (PI. 1.6). In the middle part of the Bimatnmatum Zone (bimammatum fauna1 horizon) the ammonite fauna of SW Germany reached its greatest diversity during the whole of Oxfordian time. Tethyan faunal elements predominate in this horizon, but amoeboceratids also occur. Again, glauconitic layers are common. Most of the amoeboceratids belong to the microconch species Amoeboceras praebauhini (Salfeld) (PI. 1.8). Just as in Central Poland (Matyja and Wierzbowski, 1988), the variability of this biochronospecies is remarkably high and includes specimens which are transitional to the younger biochronospecies A. bauhini (Oppel). This does not mean, however, that A. bauhini first appears already in the bimammatum horizon, so that its correlation value is well established. The corresponding macroconch of A. praebauhini is very close to, or identical with, Amoeboceras rosenkrantzi Spath, a species known from Greenland and other Bored areas. The strange Amoeboceras transversum (Quenstedt) (PI. 1.7, Fig. 2a) is interpreted as being a very coarse ribbed variant of A. rosenkrantzi (see Sykes and Callomon, 1979: PI. 120.1). Adult macroconch amoeboceratids, however, are extremely rare. Other Subboreal elements at this level are Ringsteadiaj7exuoides (Quenstedt) which is close to R. pseudocordata Salfeld, and its microconch counterpart which belongs of the genus Prorasenia. Amoeboceratids from the OxfordianlKimmeridgian Boundary Beds In the western part of Swabia the top of the Bimammatum Zone is marked by a W e r  glauconitic level, where ammonites are locally very abundant. In adjacent Switzerland, this bed partly coincides with the "Knollenschicht" of Moesch (see Gygi, 1969). In Swabia it yields the bauhini faunal horizon which is mainly characterised by its index species Amoeboceras bauhini (Oppel) (PI. 1.9) together with the Tethyan index Taramelliceras haufianum (Oppel). In the Subboreal succession in Great Britain, A. bauhini is indicative for the base of the Lower Kimmeridgian Baylei Zone (Schweigert, 1995, Schweigert and Callomon, 1997) associated with Pictonia densicostata. Similar results as in SW Germany have been obtained from central Poland (Matyja and Wierzbowski, 1997). Hence, the overlying Submediterranean Planula Zone falls completely into the Early Kimmeridgian according to the Subboreal zonal scheme. If we accept the traditional definition of the base of the Kimmeridgian in Great Britain as binding on the chronostratigraphic standard time scale, then the Planula Zone of the Submediterranean (Crussolian) standard zonation has to be included within the Kimmeridgian Stage (see Atrops er al., 1998). Amoeboceras bauhini is accompanied by its extremely rare macroconch counterpart Amoeboceras schulginae Mesezhnikov (PI. 1.10), but surprisingly another dimorphic pair also occurs, with the macroconch resembling Euprionoceras (PI. 1.1 1). The best exposure which yields the fauna of the bauhini horizon and which is extremely rich in fossils, is the Plettenberg quany near the town of Balingen. The Planula Zone is characterised by a Submediterranean fauna comprising mainly perisphinctids (Subnebrodifes) and oppeliids (Mefahaploceras). Other ammonite groups occur only sporadically. Amoeboceratids are very rare in the Planula Subzone and at the beginning of the Galar Subzone. Most specimens look somewhat pathologic, with loss both of the keel and sculpture on the body chamber. Fischer (1913) described this strange Amoeboceras species as "Cardioceras haizmanni" (PI. 1.12). Amoeboceratids from Kimmeridgian Beds of SW Germany In the upper part of the Galar Subzone and in the lowermost faunal horizon of the subsequent Platynota Zone, a last remarkable wave of microconch amoeboceratids swept into the Submediterranean Province, reaching even SE France (Atrops et al., 1993). Some coarser ribbed morphotypes have been misidentified as A. bauhini (Oppel) in the past (e. g. specimens like PI. 1.13), but the retroradiate ribbing style of the latter is a good feature for easy distinction of A. bauhini from this younger form. A very fine-ribbed variety coming from this level gives the 206 ~urassic Symposium, Vancouver chronospecific name: Amoeboceras subtilicaelatum (Fontannes) (Pl. 1.14). Macroconchs are close to Amoeboceras bayi Birkelund and Callomon (Fig. 2b). At higher levels, amoeboceratids are extremely rare in the Swabian Upper Jurassic, and most faunal horizons lack these bored elements. A few specimens probably belonging to Euprionoceras cf. modestum Mesezhnikov and Romm (Pl. 1.15) are recorded from a level within the Late Kimmeridgian Acanthicum Zone. The youngest known Amoeboceras from Swabia is an immature macroconch of Euprionoceras kochi Spath (Pl. 1.16), coming from near the base of the Eudoxus Zone. The ammonite faunas of the Divisum and Acanthicum Zones in SW Germany are far from well-known. Hence, correlations at the base of ammonite faunal horizons are hardly possible, since a high resolution stratigraphy of this interval is still missing. Figure 2. a. Amoeboceras cf. rosenkrantzi (=Ammonites alternans in Quenstedt, 1888, PI. 91.25). Bimammatum Zone, Bimammatum Subzone, bimammatum horizon, Lochen area. b. Amoeboceras bayi Birkelund and Callomon. Platynota Zone, Polygyratus Subzone sensu Atrops, subtilicaelatum horizon. Aalen-Westhausen, SW Germany. SMNS (Stuttgart) No. 63645. - Scale bar 1 cm. In Poland and in other Subboreal areas, amoeboceratids occur up to the Late Kimmeridgian Autissiodorensis Zone (Kutek and Zeiss, 1997). During this time, the Subboreal influx in southern Germany diminished, probably because of a change in patterns of marine currents and paleogeographic configurations in the area between Poland and Southern Germany. Thus, no amoeboceratid ammonites have been recorded so far from the late Eudoxus and Autissiodorensis Zones in southern Germany. Acknowledgments The presentation of these results at the Jurassic Symposium at Vancouver was made possible by a grant of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (SCHW 73711-1). References ATROPS. F.. R. GYGI. B. A. MATYJA, AND A. WIERZBOWSKI. 1993. The Amoeboceras faunas of thi ~ i d d l e  Oxfbrdian - lowerm6st Kimrneridgian, Submediterranean succession, and their correlation value. Acta geologica Polonica, 43:213-227. G. MELENDEZ, J. OGG, I. PEREZ-URRESTI, K. PAGE, G. SCHWEIGERT, AND J. WRIGHT 1998. The search for the Oxfordian-Kimmeridgian boydary stratotype: Current state-of-progress and the choice for a possible candidate section. 5 International Symposium on the Jurassic System, Vancouver 1998, Abstracts and Programme, 4-5. DORN, P. 1930. Die Ammoniten des untersten Malm der Frankenalb. Palaeontographica, 73:107- 172. GeoResearch Forum Vol. 6 207 FISCHER, E. 1913. Ober einige neue oder in Schwaben bisher unbekannte Versteinerungen des Braunen und WeiBen Jura. Jahreshefte des Vereins flir vaterltindische Naturkunde in Wiirttemberg, 69:31-59. GYGI, R. 1969. Zur Stratigraphie der Oxford-Stufe (oberes Jura-System) der Nordschweiz und des siiddeutschen Grenzgebietes. Beitage m Geologischen Karte der Schweiz, Neue Folge, 136: 1- , -7 1LJ. . 1977. Revision der Ammonitengattung Gregoryceras (Aspidoceratidae) aus dem Oxfordian (Oberer Jura) der Nordschweiz und von Siiddeutschland; Taxonomie, Phylogenie, Stratigraphie. Eclogae geologicae Helvetiae, 70:435-542. KUTEK, J., AND A. ZEISS 1997. The highest Kimmeridgian and Lower Volgian in Central Poland; their ammonites and biostratigraphy. Acta geologica Polonica, 47: 107-198. MATYJA, B. A., AND A. WIERZBOWSKI. 1988. The two Amoeboceras invasions in Submediterranean Late Oxfordian of Central Poland, p. 421-432. In R. B. Rocha and A. F. Soares (eds.), 2nd. International Symposium on Jurassic Stratigraphy, Lisboa 1988, 1. , A N D .  1997. The quest for a unified OxfordianlKirnmeridgian boundary: implications of the ammonite succession at the turn of the Bimammatum and Planula Zones in the Wielu Upland, Central Poland. Acta geologica Polonica, 47:77-105. QUENSTEDT, F. A. 1888. Die Ammoniten des Schwabischen Jura. 3. Der WeiBe Jura. 817-1 140. SCHWEIGERT, G. 1995. Zum Auftreten der Ammonitenarten Amoeboceras bauhini (Oppel) und Amoeboceras schulginae Mesezhnikov im Oberjura der Schwabischen Alb. Jahreshefte der Gesellschaft fiir Naturkunde in Wiirttemberg, 15 1 : 171-1 84. , AND J. H. CALLOMON. 1997. Der bauhini-Faunenhorizont und seine Bedeutung fiir die Korrelation zwischen tethvalem und subborealem Oberiura. Stuttearter Beitraee zur - Naturkunde, Serie B, 247:1d9. SYKES, R. M., AND J. H. CALLOMON. 1979. The Amoeboceras zonation of the Bored U o ~ e r  A Oxfordian.~alaeontolo~~, 22339-903. WRIGHT, J. K. 1996. The Amoeboceras faunas of the Upper Calcareous Grit Formation (Jurassic, Upper Oxfordian) of North Yorkshire. Proceedings of the Yorkshire Geological Society, 51:33- 43. 208 5'* Jurassic Symposium, Vancouver Plate 1 .  1-2. Amoeboceras ilovaislbii (Sokolov). Transversarium Zone, Parandieri Subzone, elzsabethae horizon, "Mumienkalk" Bed, Blumberg, SW Germany. 1. BSPM (Munich) No. 1950 XXX l l l ;  2. SMNS (Stuttgart) No. 63643; 3. Amoeboceras transitoriwn Spath. Transversarium Zone, Parandieri Subzone, elisabethae horizon, "Mumienkalk" Bed, Blurnberg, SW Germany. SMNS (Stuttgart) No. 63644; 4. Amoeboceras alternuts (Buch). Bifurcatus Zone, Lochen Sponge Beds, Lochengriindle near Balingen, SW Germany. SMNS (Stuttgart) No. 6364011; 5. Amoeboceras ovaleb (Quenstedt). Bimammatum Zone, Hypselum Subzone, semimammatum horizon, Lochen Sponge Beds, Lochengriindle near Balingen, SW Germany. SMNS (Stuttgart) No. 6364111; 6. Amoeboceras s p .  Bimammatum Zone, Bimammatum Subzone, berrense horizon, Impressamergel Formation, former Lochen quarry near Balingen. SMNS (Stuttgart) No. 63638; 7. Amoeboceras hansversum(Quenstedt), probably a very coarse ribbed variant of A. cf. rosenkrantzi (Spath). Bimammatum Zone, Bimammatum Subzone, bimammatum horizon. Lochen Sponge Beds, Lochengriindle near Balingen, SW Germany. SMNS (Stuttgart) No. 14353; 8. Amoeboceras praebauhini YSalfeld). Bimammatum Zone, Bimammatum Subzone, bimammatum horizon, Impressamergel Formation, MiihlheimiDonau, SW Germany. SMNS (Stuttgart) No. 23276; 9. Amoeboceras bauhini (Oppel). Bimammatum Zone, Hauffianum Subzone, bauhini horizon, transitional beds between Impressamergel Formation and Wohlgeschichtete Kalk Formation, Plettenberg quany, SW Germany. SMNS (Stuttgart) No. 6286815; 10. Amoeboceras schulginae aMesezhnikov. Haufianurn Subzone, bauhini horizon, transitional beds between Impressamergel Formation and Wohlgeschichtete Kalk Formation, Lochen quarry, SW Germany. SMNS (Stuttgart) No. 9716; 11. ? Euprionoceras sp. Bimammatum Zone, Hauffianurn Subzone, bauhini horizon, transitional beds between Impressamergel Formation and Wohlgeschichtete Kalk Formation, Plettenberg quarry, SW Germany. SMNS (Stuttgart) No. 62471; 12. Amoeboceras haizmanni.(Fischer). Planula Zone, Planula Subzone, probably schroederi horizon, Wohlgeschichtete Kalke Formation, Tuttlingen, SW Germany. SMNS (Stuttgart) No. 63636; 13. Amoeboceras subtilicaelatum (Fontannes), coarsely ribbed variety. Planula Zone, Galar Subzone, falcula horizon, Wohlgeschichtete Kalke Formation, road section MiihlheimiDonau - Kolbingen, SW Germany. SMNS (Stuttgart) No. 63642; 14. Amoeboceras subtilicaelatum (Fontannes), finely ribbed variety. Platynota Zone, Polygyratus Subzone, subtilicaelatum horizon, Lacunosamergel Formation, SW Germany. SMNS (Stuttgart) No. 63639; 15. Euprionoceras cf. modestum~Mesezhnikov and Romm. Untere Felsenkalke Formation, Acanthicum Zone, Stettener Tal near Tuttlingen, SW Germany. SMNS (Stuttgart) No. 63634; 16. Euprionoceras kochi Spath. Eudoxus Zone, Untere Felsenkalke Formation, "Paradise cave", Lippachtal near Miihlheim/Donau, SW Germany. SMNS (Stuttgart) No. 63635. Scale bar 1 cm. GeoResearch Forum Vol. 6 

Immigration of amoeboceratids into the submediterranean Upper Jurassic of SW Germany

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