Middle Triassic carbonate platforms in eastern Iberia: Evolution of their fauna and palaeogeographic significance in the western Tethys

Abstract This article reports the first integrated study of the Middle Triassic of Iberia, based on the stratigraphy, sedimentology, and fossil fauna of Muschelkalk facies of the Iberian Ranges and the Catalan Coastal Ranges in Spain. On the basis of this study, new palaeogeographic reconstructions of the westernmost Tethys are proposed, and the evolution of the different palaeogeographic domains of Iberia (e.g., Iberian, Mediterranean, and Levantine–Balearic) are described. In these domains, Muschelkalk facies record the development of wide carbonate platforms that were the consequence of the first two broad marine transgressions of the Mesozoic in Iberia, respectively, late Pelsonian–earl…

Middle Triassic conodonts from northeastern Spain: biostratigraphic implications

The facies development of the Spanish Triassic corresponds to the typical three-fold subdivision of the Germanic Facies: Buntsandstein, Muschelkalk and Keuper. Two intervals interpreted as epeiric carbonate platforms: lower Muschelkalk (Anisian) and upper Muschelkalk (Ladinian) are recognized during the Middle Triassic of northeastern Spain. These carbonate intervals are separated by one siliciclastic/evaporitic interval interpreted as sabbkha and saline deposits: middle Muschelkalk facies (Lower Ladinian). In northeastern Spain (Catalonian Coastal Ranges), two Middle Triassic sections comprising lower Muschelkalk facies have yielded the following conodont taxa: Paragondolella bulgarica, P.…

A database of Triassic conodonts from a comprehensive revisión of literature

The revision of a comprehensive amount of bibliography has made possible the development of a database containing the stratigraphic ranges of the conodont species from the uppermost Permian and the Triassic, with a total of 336 species in 52 genera. This database is aimed at biostratigraphy and studies related to biological, evolutional and palaeodiversity dynamics. La revisión de una amplia cantidad de bibliografía ha hecho posible el desarrollo de una base de datos en la que figuran los rangos estratigráficos de las especies de conodontos presentes desde el Pérmico superior y el Triásico, con un total de 336 especies y 52 géneros. Esta base de datos está dirigida a la bioestratigrafía y a…

The chondrichthyan fauna from the Middle Triassic (Ladinian) of the Iberian Range (Spain)

ABSTRACT Here we present for the first time a detailed taxonomic study of a diverse chondrichthyan fauna from the Middle Triassic of the Iberian Range (Spain). The assemblage consists of isolated remains of seven species of five non-neoselachian shark genera (Palaeobates, Hybodus, Pseudodalatias, Prolatodon, gen. nov., and Lissodus), including a new species of hybodontiform shark, Hybodus bugarensis, sp. nov. In addition, a new homalodontid genus, Prolatodon, sp. nov., is erected for the taxa ‘Polyacrodus’ bucheri and ‘Polyacrodus’ contrarius. The chondrichthyans of the Iberian Range represent a heterogeneous group from a paleogeographic point of view made up of common components of Middle …

The Triassic of the NW Iberian Ranges consists of two carbonatic formations equivalent to the Upper Carbonatic Formation of the Muschelkalk Facies and pass laterally into siliciciastic deposits to the NW. Fossillocalities have been found in both formations. Taphonomic and sedimentologic studies allow for the interpretation as autochthonous associations of the infaunal Bivalves of shallow water marine environments with siliciciastic input. Three faunal associations have been distinguished: 1. Costatoria-Lyriomyophoria association, found in the lower carbonatic formation and the equivalent siliciciastic formation; 2. «Teruel Fauna» association, found in the upper carbonatic formation; 3. Ling…

Ladinian carbonates of the Cabo Cope Unit (Betic Cordillera, SE Spain): a tethys-maláguide palaeogeographic gateway.

7 pages, 4 figures.

Pseudodalatias henarejensisnov. sp. a new pseudodalatiid (Elasmobranchii) from the Middle Triassic of Spain

ABSTRACT Pseudodalatiids, a chondrichthyan family of uncertain phylogenetic affinities, have been hitherto exclusively known from the tooth-based species Pseudodalatias barnstonensis (Sykes, 1971), which has a stratigraphic range restricted to the Upper Triassic of Europe. Pseudodalatias presents a characteristic dentition which allows it to hold and cut its prey, showing a neoselachian design, but lacking the triple-layered enameloid microstructure of neoselachian teeth. The discovery of Pseudodalatias henarejensis nov. sp. in the Ladinian of Spain extends the stratigraphical range and the palaeogeographical distribution of this family. This new species also demonstrates that a cutting-clu…

Further comments on the origin of oysters

In his comment to our recent paper (Marquez-Aliaga et al. 2005), Hautmann (2006) raises two interesting questions: (a) the ambivalent attachment to the substrate recognized in the species cristadifformis Schlotheim, 1820 and spondyloides Schlotheim, 1820, which we include into the Ostreoidae genus Umbrostrea, is in conflict with the sinistral attachment usually recognized as an autapomorphy of the group and (b) antimarginal ribs are not valid as a character linking Prospondylus acinetus Newell and Boyd, 1970 and early oysters (our proposal of derivation), because they appear in several unrelated families of bivalves. Moreover, Hautmann (2005), finds additional difficulties in accepting our …

Early oysters and their supposed Permian ancestors

The origin of oysters is a much debated palaeontological issue. Recent morphological studies indicate that oysters are characterized by a particular ribbing pattern, the so-called antimarginal ribs which are characterized by a proper morphogenetic pattern. Therefore antimarginal ribs can be used as a diagnostic character in phylogeny. The earliest recognized bivalve displaying diagnostic features of oysters (sinistral attachment to the substrate, typical hinge and ligament structure, and antimarginal ribs) is Ostracites cristadifformis Schlotheim, 1820 first appearing in the Anisian of Europe. This common species was later attributed to Enantiostreon and is here transferred to Umbrostrea. S…

Recesión: Gutiérrez-Marco, J.C. y Bernárdez Rodriguez,E.2003. Un tesoro geológico en la Autovia del Cantábrico.- El trúnel Ordovícico del Fabar Ribadesella (Asturias)

Se trata de un libro dirigido al público en general, donde se van describiendo los diversos avatares que los autores han ido superando, hasta acceder, estudiar y describir el gran tesoro geológico y paleontológico que, ya se presumía, estaba contenido en los materiales geológicos bajo la montaña ordovícica.

Ichnological evidence of semi-aquatic locomotion in early turtles from eastern Iberia during the Carnian Humid Episode (Late Triassic)

Abstract Some of the earliest European records of fossil turtle footprints (Late Triassic, Middle Carnian, ~ 227–237 Ma) are interpreted from 46 footprints from three outcrops, Domeno, Quesa and Cortes de Pallas, located in the Iberian Range (eastern Spain). The samples were obtained from Upper Triassic rocks in Keuper Facies. They are characterized in the studied area by two well-defined evaporitic sequences, separated by a detrital stratigraphic interval, constituting the Manuel Sandstones Formation in which the studied fossil footprints were recorded. These fluvial deposits are correlatable with the Carnian Humid Episode. The footprints are tridactyl and tetradactyl, mainly digitigrade, …

Microstructure of Triassic conodont Pseudofurnishius murcianus van den Boogaard: Functional implications

Pseudofurnishius murcianus van den Boogaard is a Triassic conodont with a very characteristic morphology, a blade with a rostral platform heavily denticulated, that makes it easily distinguishable from other coeval species. It is a well-know taxon that has been the object of several palaeobiological works, focused on their apparatus reconstruction, ontogeny and, recently, their P 1 element function. In order to increase our palaeobiology knowledge of this taxon we undertook a histological analysis to corroborate the functional hypothesis established for this conodont. The histological study demonstrated the presence of different microstructural types, suggesting that they are functional ada…

Bivalves from the Triassic-Jurassic transition in Northern Spain (Asturias and Western Basque-Cantabrian Basin)

Abstract. Bivalve mollusks from the Triassic-Jurassic transition collected in eight localities in Asturias and the western Basque-Cantabrian Basin (Palencia province) are systematically revised. Preservation is poor at all localities. The dominant Rhaetian bivalves are Isocyprina concentrica (Moore) and Bakevellia (Bakevelloides) praecursor (Quenstedt). These species, together with Isocyprina cf. ewaldi (Bornemann), Pteromya cf. crowcombeia (Moore), Pseudoplacunopsis alpina (Winkler), and Modiolus? sp. (cf. minimus J. Sowerby), with a specimen of Arcestidae (?), belong to an assemblage similar to that found in the Westbury and Lilstock formations (Penarth Group) in the late Rhaetian of sout…

On the ontogeny and orientation of the Triassic Conodont P1-element in Pseudofurnishius murcianus Van den Boogaard, 1966

Successive growth stages of P1-elements in the Middle to early Late Triassic species Pseudofurnishius murcianus allows the observation of a detailed ontogeny. Besides the gradual enlargement of its curved blade and the growing number of its denticles, a small internal platform develops, eventually followed by an external one, both bearing denticles. The number of denticles on the blade and internal platform increases from five and one in the smallest specimens, respectively, to 14 and 9 in fully developed ones, whereby the distribution pattern of platform-denticles, on the inner one in particular, is of great morphological variety. For the orientation of the P1-element of P. murcianus, the …

An enigmatic marine reptile, Hispaniasaurus cranioelongatus (gen. et sp. nov.) with nothosauroid affinities from the Ladinian of the Iberian Range (Spain)

An incomplete skull of a marine reptile with an atypical elongation of the postorbital region is described. The find comes from the Muschelkalk facies (Cañete Formation) of the Villora section (Iberian Range, Cuenca Province, Spain), characterised by a shallow marine (intertidal) environment and dated as Ladinian in age. The small skull has a rectangular shape, lacking, as preserved, upper temporal openings and a parietal foramen. The upper temporal openings might be secondarily closed. However, the absence of a parietal foramen and squamosals in the preserved part and the incompleteness of the pterygoids make a posteriorly postponed location of the upper temporal openings also conceivable.…

Discussion about the stratigraphic range of "Pseudofurnishius murcianus" van den Boogaard (Conodonta) in the Iberian Peninsula, from the Calasparra section (Murcia, Spain)

The biostratigraphy of Calasparra Section is well-estabished with an ammonoid biozonation and ranges from Lower to Upper Ladinian. The continuous presence of Pseudofurnishius murcianus van den Boogaard, a characteristic conodont species of the Sephardic realm, along the section makes it one of the most important sections in the Iberian Peninsula for the study of the species. The first apparition of P. murcianus in the section corresponds with the first of Eoprotrachyceras curionii taxon, which is the principal marker for the base of the Ladinian stage in the GSSP of the Anisian-Ladinian boundary, and the age of the youngest conodonts, based on ammonoids (Epigonus Zone) is Lower Ladinian (up…

Las unidades dolomias de Landete (d. L.), areniscas, margas y yesos del Mas (a.m.y.M.) y dolomias y calizas de Canete (d.c.C.) (Anisiense-parte inferior del Camiense, Triasico mediosuperior) de base a techo respectivamente, constituyen la Facies Muscbelkalk al SE. de la Rama Castel1ana de la Cordil1era Iberica. Este trabajo enfoca el estudio paleontologico y de los medios sedimentarios de las dos unidades carbonatadas (d.L. y d.c.C.). Para ello, se han utilizado 10 columnas estratigraficas a lo largo de todo el area de estudio en las cuales se han diferenciado 9 asociaciones de facies constituidas cada una por una secuencia caracteristica de menos de 2 m. de espesor. Se ha escogido una seri…

Permian-Triassic Rifting Stage

International audience; The Permian-Triassic rifting represents the first of the two Mesozoic rifting stages recorded in the Iberian Peninsula. Its first phases of development started during the Early Permian, and were linked to the beginning of the break-up of Pangea, the large, unique and rheologically unstable supercontinent that mainly resulted from the collision of Gondwana and Laurussia. This chapter analyzes this first rifting stage in Iberia in two separate phases, an initial or tectonic phase, and a later mature phase. This analysis focuses on the main Permian-Triassic basins of the Iberian Peninsula: the Pyrenean, Iberian, Catalan, Ebro and Betic basins, as well as the basins loca…

Taxonomy and evolution of the Triassic conodont Pseudofurnishius

Pseudofurnishius is a late Anisian (Pelsonian)—early Carnian (Cordevolian) conodont genus of gondolellid stock, characteristic for the Sephardic Province and restricted to the “Southern Tethys” region of the northern margin of Gondwana. Its most commonly found species, Pseudofurnishius murcianus, appears at the base of the Ladinian (Fassanian). The Ladinian material of Spain reveals its ontogeny characterised by initial lateral protrusions from the carina that may develop first mono-platform and later bi-platform units, finally evolving into elaborated multi-denticulated forms. The late Anisian—early Carnian phylogenesis of Pseudofurnishius priscus → P. shagami → P. murcianus is proposed. A…

Parainoceramyan. gen. forParainoceramusCox, 1954 (exVoronetz, 1936)partim(Bivalvia, Jurassic)

Several Jurassic pterioid bivalve species have been referred to Parainoceramus Cox by different authors, yet this has proved inadequate because the meaning of such genus has been compounded by nomenclatural and idiomatic problems, as well as misinterpretations. Hence, the new genus Parainoceramya is here proposed to accommodate several species previously referred to Parainoceramus, with Crenatula ventricosa J. de C. Sowerby as its type. Permian species originally assigned to Parainoceramus, including the type species, are referred to the genus Kolymia Likharev. All species attributed to Parainoceramus s.l. are reviewed and the new genus is compared with related genera. As here understood, t…

First record of Anisian deposits in the Betic External Zone of southern Spain and its paleogeographical implications

In the External Zones of the Betic Cordillera (S Spain), upper Muschelkalk (Ladinian) facies have been known for decades; however, so far there is no stratigraphic record of Anisian deposits. In the present study, new biostratigraphic data from a carbonate succession in the easternmost Subbetic domain reveal a Pelsonian-Illyrian (Anisian) age. The nautiloids Germanonautilus salinarius and Germanonautilus saharonicus are documented for the first time in the Iberian Peninsula, and together with the brachiopod Tetractinella trigonella and the bivalves Neoschizodus orbicularis and Myophoria vulgaris they represent marker fossils of Anisian deposits previously described from many other basins, b…

Study of Pinna nobilis growth from inner record: How biased are posterior adductor muscle scars estimates?

abstract Article history:Received 14 June 2011Received in revised form 19 July 2011Accepted 20 July 2011Available online 17 August 2011Keywords:BivalviaEndangered speciesMediterraneanSclerochronologySpain Previous studies have shown that the external growth records of the posterior adductor muscle scar (PAMS)ofthe bivalve Pinna nobilisareincomplete and donot produce accurate ageestimations. We havedeveloped anew methodology to study age and growth using the inner record of the PAMS, which avoids the necessity ofcostly in situ shell measurements or isotopic studies. Using the inner record we identified the positions ofPAMS previously obscured by nacre and estimated the number of missing recor…

Triassic lingulide brachiopods from the Iberian Range (Spain)

Abstract During the Middle Triassic marine transgression in Spain, several lingulide populations were fossilized in the Iberian Range (western part of Sephardic Province) and the recorded specimens have been described previously under several specific names. The paleontological aspects of the Jalance (Valencia province) section have been studied for the first time. Its exceptionally large population was fossilized in situ as flat-lying valves and can be interpreted as an autochthonous association related to a very shallow marine environment. The lingulide specimens belong to the genus Lingularia Biernat & Emig , 1993 , but the species name remains under debate, probably Lingularia smirnovae…

Seven superimposed lithostratigraphic units have been distinguished in the Upper Trias of Los Pastores (Algeciras). The four lower units (1 to 4) show clayey-sandy-evaporitic Keuper facies. Pollen associations obtained from dark pelitic levels, and bivalves sampled from carbonate intercalations within these four lower units allow to date them as Carnian. These lower units can be correlated with the K1 to K3 units of the Keuper of the Subbetic and of other regions of the Iberian Peninsula. Concerning the three higher units, the unit 6 is pelitic-carbonatic and evaporitic and it also bears Carnian pollen associations. The units 5 and 7, however, are carbonatic and show clearly marine facies a…

Coping between crises: Early Triassic–early Jurassic bivalve diversity dynamics

The Triassic is bounded by two of the most severe biotic crises, but nevertheless this time was, for bivalves, both a recovery and a diversification period, and a moment to fully exploit some of their evolutionary novelties. Just how and when this was achieved is analyzed in this paper, which covers Induan to Sinemurian bivalve diversity, based on a newly compiled database. Taxonomic diversity and ecospace dynamics are examined separately. Diversity and evolutionary rates were assessed, extinction selectivity was tested using a resampling algorithm, and cohort analysis was used to study extinction patterns. During the Early Triassic most bivalve genera were survivors from the Permian and th…

Comments on: A review of the evolution, biostratigraphy, provincialism and diversity of Middle and early Late Triassic conodonts

The duplivincular ligament of recent Pinna Nobilis L., 1758: further evidence for pterineid ancestry of the Pinnoidea

A correct interpretation of ligament ontogeny and structure is essential for establishing phylogenetic relationships among higher taxa in the bivalve superorder Pteriomorphia. Recent research on pteriomorphian ligaments has focused on understanding ligament morphospace (Thomas et al., 2000; Ubukata, 2003) and evolutionary pathways. In this regard, studies of the transition from larval to post-larval and adult ligaments (Malchus, 2004) have been especially fruitful. Members of the pteriomorphian superfamily Pinnoidea live with their tapered anterior end buried to varying degrees in sediment. The fan shell Pinna may be buried up to one third of its length (Templado, 2004) (Fig. 1), and Atrina…