ACTA PALAEONTOLOGICA ROMANIAE
Acta Palaeontologica Romaniae, Vol. 20 (2) 2024 - Online Articles 
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VITALY DERNOV
BELOPTERA LONGA NAEF, 1922 (CEPHALOPODA: COLEOIDEA) FROM THE LATE EOCENE (PALAEOGENE) OF UKRAINE
Acta Palaeontologica Romaniae, 20 (2), 2024: 3 - 10

available online
11.03.2024

Abstract. Beloptera longa Naef, 1922 and Beloptera aff. longa Naef, 1922 have been described from the Priabonian Mandrykivka Beds of the Rybalsky Quarry Konzentrat-Lagerstate in addition to previously known Beloptera belemnoidea de Blainville, 1825, B. cf. longa Naef, 1922, Belosaepia blainvillei (Deshayes, 1835) and Vasseuria occidentalis Munier-Chalmas, 1880. The geographical and stratigraphic distribution of the species Beloptera longa, which was previously recorded only in the Bartonian of England, has been expanded. Cephalopod assemblages from the Priabonian of Ukrainian consist of the genera Beloptera, Vasseuria, Belosaepia, Aturia and Eutrephoceras.
Keywords: spirulids, Priabonian, Mandrykivka Beds, Ukraine.

FELIX SCHLAGINTWEIT
CHALLENGES IN ORBITOLINID IDENTIFICATION AND BIOSTRATIGRAPHIC CONSEQUENCES: AN APTIAN EXAMPLE
Acta Palaeontologica Romaniae, 20 (2), 2024: 11 - 15

Abstract. The much-cited importance of Orbitolinidae in biostratigraphy depends on the species and time-interval under consideration. In any case, correct species identification is of primary importance as the basis for drawing conclusions. This task is best achieved in an assemblage where centered sections (axial and transverse) showing all details of the complex megalospheric embryo are available. Difficulties in the correct interpretation of oblique sections is exemplified by an example from the Aptian of Turkey, respectively Praeorbitolina versus Mesorbitolina. Resulting differences in species determination not only has an impact on age interpretation, but also associated geologic-tectonic conclusions, as well as basic taxonomic data (e.g., stratigraphic ranges, statistics on stage diversities).
Keywords: Foraminifera, taxonomy, wall structure, embryonic apparatus, Lower Cretaceous.

available online
14.03.2024

Abstract. Babazadeh & Cluzel (2023) studied two stratigraphic sections from the Eocene deposits of the southwest of Shahrekord region (Zagros region, Iran). According to the biostratigraphic ranges of larger benthic foraminifera, the authors suggested in total three assemblage zones assigned to the Ypresian-Bartonian and Bartonian. In a previous contribution, Babazadeh (2022) described three new species of agglutinated conical foraminifera from the Eocene biostratigraphic framework in the Mahallat region of central Iran. It is demonstrated herein that the identified larger benthic foraminifera in both publications need reassessment with respect to taxonomy and biostratigraphic outcomes.
Keywords: Eocene, Larger Benthic Foraminifera, Nummulites, Alveolina, Orbitolinidae, Coskinolinidae.

available online
6.04.2024

STĂNILĂ IAMANDEI, EUGENIA IAMANDEI, VLAD AUREL CODREA & CRISTINA FĂRCAŞ
A NEW MID-MIOCENE WOOD FROM OCNA DEJ SALT MINE
Acta Palaeontologica Romaniae, 20 (2), 2024: 25 - 32

Abstract. Ocna Dej is an iconic locality for salt mining in Transylvania, being located in the north - north-western area of the Middle Miocene sedimentary basin of Transylvania. In this salt the fossils are rare and refer strictly to plant remains (fragments of wood, pine cones, etc.). A sample of charred wood collected from the area of Ocna Dej salt deposit of Middle Badenian age (Wielician) was submitted to a microscopic study for a taxonomic assignation. It was identified as Cupressinoxylon sp. aff. Thujoxylon sp. as a remain of the synchronous vegetation. This wood type is found for the first time in Ocna Dej salt and could contributes to the paleo-environmental reconstruction of this area. Obviously, wildfires occurred at that time around the marine sedimentary basin of Transylvania.
Keywords: fossil wood, Cupressaceae, salt, Ocna Dej, wildfire, Middle Miocene.

available online
3.07.2024

MICHAEL D. BIDGOOD, FELIX SCHLAGINTWEIT & MICHAEL D. SIMMONS
THE GENUS ORBITOLINA D'ORBIGNY, 1850 (LARGER BENTHIC FORAMINIFERA) AND ITS CONSTITUENT SPECIES: NOTES ON IDENTITY AND STRATIGRAPHIC RANGES
Acta Palaeontologica Romaniae, 20 (2), 2024: 33 - 59

Abstract. Following a literature review of the species of Orbitolina and its allies, the identity criteria and stratigraphic ranges of the six potential constituent species of the commonly encountered mid-Cretaceous foraminiferal genus Orbitolina d ' Orbigny, 1850 (sensu stricto) are reviewed based on published material. It is noted that correct taxonomic assignment of Orbitolina species requires observation and measurement of both the embryonic apparatus in centred axial thin-sections and of the chamber passage shape in tangential sections. As a consequence, many illustrations purportedly of Orbitolina sensu stricto in the published literature cannot confidently be identified to species level, and such specimens (including new material) should be described or re-described as Orbitolina spp. The genus Orbitolina has a range of late Albian - middle Cenomanian. Species of Orbitolina, when identifiable, have shorter ranges. Orbitolina concava (Lamarck 1816) is restricted to the early - middle Cenomanian, and its inception thus forms a potential proxy for the base of the Cenomanian in carbonate platform settings, but care needs to be taken in its identification and separation from other species of Orbitolina that have at least partial late Albian ranges.
Keywords: Orbitolinids, Orbitolina, taxonomy, biostratigraphy, Cretaceous, foraminifera.

available online
14.08.2024

STĂNILĂ IAMANDEI, EUGENIA IAMANDEI, DIMITRIOS VELITZELOS & EVANGELOS VELITZELOS
PALAEOXYLOTOMICAL STUDIES IN THE CENOZOIC PETRIFIED FORESTS OF GREECE. PART THREE - DICOTS
Acta Palaeontologica Romaniae, 20 (2), 2024: 61 - 96

Abstract. We had to study several petrified wood remains from " Velitzelos Collection " coming from some late Oligocene - early Miocene fossiliferous sites, from the Aegean area from Evros, from Limnos Island, and Lesbos Island. Nine dicot fossil species were identified: Laurinoxylon aff. czechense Prakash, Brezinova & Buzek, Laurinoxylon ehrendorferi Berger, Cinnamomoxylon seemannianum (Madel) Gottwald, Populoxylon cf. Populus alba L., Quercoxylon intermedium Petrescu et Velitzelos, Engelhardioxylon lesbium Iamandei et Iamandei, sp. nov., Eucaryoxylon lesbium Iamandei et Iamandei, sp. nov., Rhysocaryoxylon madsenii Sakala et Gryc and Rhysocaryoxylon sp. aff. Juglans regia L., and these new identifications add new elements to the forest assemblages of the Oligocene - Miocene Greek flora, this being useful to reconstruct the evolution of the Cenozoic palaeovegetation and palaeoclimate in the Aegean area.
Keywords: Aegean area, Petrified Forest, Velitzelos Collection, dicotyledons.

available online
14.09.2024

DANIEL VACHARD & FRANÇOIS LE COZE
PALEOZOIC FORAMINIFERA: CURRENT STATE OF THE CLASSIFICATION AND PERSPECTIVES
Acta Palaeontologica Romaniae, 20 (2), 2024: 97 - 130

Abstract. An updated classification of Paleozoic foraminifera is proposed, consisting of three classes. Calcareous Paleozoic foraminifera are mainly included in the class Fusulinata but also represented in the classes Miliolata and Nodosariata. The current classification includes in the Fusulinata: 2 subclasses, 5 orders, 25 superfamilies, 65 families, 51 subfamilies, 572 genera, 14 subgenera, in the Miliolata: 1 order, 2 suborders, 2 superfamilies, 8 families, 9 subfamilies, 89 genera, and in the Nodosariata: 1 order, 2 superfamilies, 10 families, 2 subfamilies, 56 genera. Three other classes remain elusive: Allogromiata, Astrorhizata, and Textulariata. Four new replacement names are introduced: Leveniranella pro Iranella Leven in Leven and Vaziri Mohaddam, 2004, Tianshanellites pro Triticites (Tianshanella) Da in Da & Sun, 1983, Gublerites pro Gublerina Minato & Honjo, 1959 and Qinglongella pro Qinglongia Zhang & Dong in Xiao et al., 1986. The family Globoendothyridae is formally described as new.
Keywords: Foraminifera. Paleozoic. Classification. Taxonomy. Wall microstructures.

available online
21.09.2024

Abstract: Larger benthic foraminifera are described for the first time from the Upper Cretaceous Yigeziya Formation of the southwestern Tarim Basin, China. They occur in middle-outer ramp carbonates with debris of rudists, coralline algae, echinoids, pithonellids, and rare dasycladalean green algae. The material allows an open taxonomic approach for a few taxa. The assemblage includes Charentia cf. cuvillieri Neumann, Cuneolina cf. parva Henson, Nezzazatinella cf. picardi (Henson), orbitolinid gen. et sp. indet., cyclamminid indet., Tetrataxiella? floriforma Schlagintweit & Sanders, Suturina? sp. and the new species Dictyopselloides? tarimensis n. sp. Lacking any resilient stratigraphic data in our material, a Campanian age is tentatively assumed. The benthic association is typical for Neotethys assemblages but also shows conspicuous overlap with the Campanian Tielongtan Formation of western Tibet.

Keywords: Foraminifera, Systematics, Biostratigraphy, Late Cretaceous, Tarim Basin, China

available online
23.10.2024

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