Bollettino SPI Vol. 32 - Issues 1, 2, 3
Issue 1
Published in May 1993
Štorch P. & Serpagli E. (1993)
Lower Silurian Graptolites from Southwestern Sardinia
pp. 3-57
Forty-four graptolite taxa are recognized from Llandovery black shales of Genna Muxerru Formation from SW Sardinia. Most of the taxa are described and illustrated and only some are left in open nomenclature. One family (Normalograptidae) and three species (Neodiplograptus lanceolatus, Glyptograptus cortoghianensis, Streptograptus loydelli) are proposed as new. Six (possibly seven) graptolite biozones have been recognized enabling us to compile the first graptolite zonal scheme far SW Sardinia and to correlate this scheme with those from SE Sardinia and abroad.
Alméras Y., Ameur M. & Elmi S. (1993)
Prionorhynchia regia (Rothpletz), , Rhynchonellid Brachiopods of the Maghrebine Lias and Evolution of the genus Prionorhynchia Buckman
pp. 59-77
Since Rothpletz (1886), Prionorhynchia regia is known in the Middle Lias of the Austrian Alps of Vils. The discovery in Western Algeria (Traras Mountains, Sidi Boudjenane area) of a level yielding P. regia associated with some Protogrammoceras allows us to precise the Upper Carixian age of the species. This age is confirmed by the data derived from the Beni Snassen Mountains, in North-Eastern Morocco. These Rhynchonellids lived on an infratidal carbonate platform submited to episodic variations of the hydrodynamism. They developed during periods of hydrodynamism falls, when the sedimentation slowed down. The energy on the sea-floors was yet suffìcient to ensure effìcient water oxygenation and the renewal of organic productivity. Then, the brachiopods disappeared when the paleoenvironment passed from the distal external platform to an hemipelagic basin indicating more open-sea conditions [biopelmicrites with ammonites and crowded with “fìlaments” (thin shell-bivalves of the Steinmannia group) and sponge-spicules. The morphological study of P. regia, the study of the internal characters of its shells, completed with these of P. quinqueplicata (Zieten), get better our knowledges of the genus Prionorhynchia. Then, it is possible to precise and to discuss the list of the species referred to this genus, which allows to reconstruct the evolution of Prionorhynchia in the Tethyan Lias.
Masini F. & Rook L. (1993)
Hystrix primigenia (Mammalia, Rodentia) from the Late Messinian of the Monticino gypsum quarry (Faenza, Italy)
pp. 79-87
The porcupine remains from the late Messinian deposits of the Monticino gypsum quarry (Brisighella, Faenza) are referred to Hystrix primigenia. These finds are the first reported occurrence of the species in Italy. The paleobiogeography of the genus is shortly revised.
Vachard D., Martini R., Zaninetti L. & Zambetakis-Lekkas A. (1993)
Remarks on Early and Late Permian carbonate microfossils (Foraminifera, Algae) from the Beletsi Range (Attica, Greece)
pp. 89-112
Permian beds from Mount Beletsi are revised. Precisions are given about the Dorashamian microfauna with Palaeofusulina, Colaniella and Paraglobivalvulinoides. Important taxonomical contribution are devoted to the Sakmarian data. The following taxa are described: Boultonia willsi, Quasifusulina cayeuxi, Dutkevitchia complicata, Robustoschwagerina nucleolata, Paraschwagerina inflata, Pseudofusulina plicatissima, Pseudofusulina aff. retusa.
Both Sakmarian and Dorashamian assemblages indicate many common characteristics with Middle and Eastem Paleotethys and demonstrate the permian uniformity of the Tethyan realm from Greece to China or Japan.
Pasini G., Colalongo M.L., Curzi P.V. & Taviani M. (1993)
Paleoecological core analysis of late Quaternary environments in the Dosso Gallignani area (Central-Southern Adriatic Sea)
pp. 113-130
Paleoecological analysis by means of micro- (forams and ostracods) and macrobenthic invertebrates of 10 gravity cores collected from Dosso Gallignani (Central-Southern Adriatic Sea) and C14 datings allow the reconstruction of late Quaternary history of this site. During the last glacial low stand (ca. 18 ka BP) the topmost part of Dosso Gallignani (presently at ca. 112 m water depth) emerged. Sediment deposited before this relative sealevel fall (during isotopic stage 3) represents infra-circalittoral environments and contains abundant “boreal” guests (including in situ Mya truncata and Arctica islandica). An older low stand (tentatively assigned to isotopic stage 4) is testified by freshwater and brackish ostracod and mollusk faunas. Some of our cores reached clinoform sedimentary units whose age, although Pleistocene, cannot be assessed with precision at present. Therefore, the Quaternary sequence cored at Dosso Gallignani encompasses a quasi-complete glacial-postglacial cycle, which is only rarely the case on Mediterranean continental shelves.
Dalla Vecchia F.M. & Ligabue G. (1993)
On the presence of a giant pterosaur in the Lower Cretaceous (Aptian) of Chapada do Araripe (northeastern Brazil)
pp. 131-136
The distal end of a pterodactyloid wing phalanx from the lower Cretaceous of Chapada do Araripe (NE Brazil) is described here. It belongs to the largest pterosaur from this locality described to date. The length of the phalanx and the wing span of this pterosaur are estimated by comparison with known wing skeletons of other large pterodactyloids. The wing span is calculated to range from about 8.2 to about 9.3 m. This is the first report of a giant pterosaur from the lower Cretaceous.
Magnatti M. & Blasetti A. (1993)
Recovery and restoration of the fossil vertebrate material from Collecurti (Macerata, Central Italy)
pp. 137-140
Recovery and restoration of fossil vertebrate material from Collecurti, Colfiorito basin (Umbria-Marche Apennine) were carried out using both consolidated and experimental methodologies. Special attention was paid to use thoroughly reversible materials and non-destructive techniques, in order to permit any possible future operation on the specimens. For this reason no internal metal supports and no epoxy resins or other non-reversible substances were used which might prevent the use of new materials or of innovatory methodologies.
Issue 2
Published in September 1993
- Sgarrella F. & Moncharmont Zei M. (1993)
Benthic Foraminifera of the Gulf of Naples (Italy): systematics and autoecology
pp. 145-264
Benthic foraminifera from 224 bottom samples collected between 5 and 805 m depth in the Gulf of Naples (Italy) have been studied. The quantitative analyses resulted in the identification of 356 species, most of which are illustrated. The purpose of the present paper is to bring together the systematics and the distribution of the thanatocoenoses. To define a more controlled autoecology of each species, we compared and integrated our data with those from other Mediterranean areas. The data set allowed us to identify the following groups of species: a) species characterizing discrete assemblages, which allowed the definition of the first bathymetric zonation in the Gulf of Naples; b) species dominant in areas characterized by peculiar chemico-physical conditions; c) species, poorly represented, but of bathymetric importance; and d) species occurring, within the Mediterranean Basin, only in the Gulf of Naples. In addition a new species, Quinqueloculina neapolitana, is described and illustrated.
- Oloriz F., Sarti C. & Tavera J.M. (1993)
Simospiticeras (Ammonitina): a rare but typical Upper Tithonian ammonite in the Mediterranean Tethys
pp. 265-275
In the present paper we refer the ammonite genus Simospiticeras in Italy for the first time. The epigenized shell is preserved in the studied material from Monte Nerone (Marche) thus providing a precise analysis of the sculpture and therefore a better understanding of this genus. A comparative study and the illustration of all the known specimens of Simospiticeras is made together with paleoecological and paleobiogeographic considerations. The analysis of the microfacies in both the Spanish and the Italian specimens allows us to refer Simospiticeras to a precise interval within the lower Upper Tithonian, the A1 Zone and the A1-A2 Zone boundary respectively.
- Aiello G., Barra D., Abate S. & Bonaduce G. (1993)
The genus Parakrithe van den Bold, 1958 (Ostracoda) in the Pliocene – Early Pleistocene of Sicily
pp. 277-285
The systematics and stratigraphical distribution of the genus Parakrithe van den Bold, 1958 has been studied in the Monte S. Nicola Section (Agrigento, Sicily). The section embraces che Pliocene from the top part of the M Pl 3 to the first part of the Early Pleistocene. Eleven species have been identifled, 8 of which are proposed as new, namely P. acuta n. sp., P. erecta n. sp., P. iuliani n. sp., P. lamellosa n. sp., P. oertliana n. sp., P. rotundata n. sp., P. semilunaris n. sp. and P. sicana n. sp. All the species are illustrated and the new ones described, illustrated and compared with the previously known ones.
Issue 3
Published in December 1993
- Kříž J. & Serpagli E. (1993)
Upper Silurian and lowermost Devonian Bivalvia of Bohemian type from South-Western Sardinia
pp. 289-347
Sixty-nine species of Bivalvia already known from the Prague Basin (Bohemia), seven new species and three new subspecies are described from the tectonically disturbed Silurian and lowermost Devonian sections of South-Western Sardinia. Twelve Bivalvia dominated communities known also from Bohemia and closely related to the cephalopod limestone biofacies and micritic limestone facies were recognized and practically used for correlation and reconstruction of the original Silurian and lowermost Devonian sequences. A tentative correlation between the Bivalvia communities and the conodont-graptolite biozones is proposed. Analysis of the Sardinian Bivalvia dominated communities shows that the development of the Prague Basin in Bohemia was very similar during the Silurian and lowermost Devonian.
- Abate S., Barra D., Aiello G. & Bonaduce G. (1993)
The genus Krithe Brady, Crosskey & Robertson, 1874 (Crustacea: Ostracoda) in the Pliocene – Early Pleistocene of the M. San Nicola Section (Gela, Sicily)
pp. 349-366
The genus Krithe has been studied in the section of Monte S. Nicola (Sicily) represented by the top few meters of the Trubi and the overlying Monte Narbone Formations. The section represents the Pliocene from M Pl 3 up to the Early Pleistocene. Thirteen species of Krithe have been identified, 7 of which are described as new. The description and illustrations of the new species, the illustration and additional remarks on the previously known ones, and the distribution in the section of all the species is given.
- Arias C.F. (1993)
Upper Domerian and Lower Toarcian Ostracoda from the Umbria-Marche Basin, Central Italy
pp. 367-383
Twenty·one ostracod species from the Upper Domerian-Lower Toarcian of Umbria-Marche Basin (Centra ltaly) are described. Their stratigraphical ranges and distribution throughout NW Europe are reviewed. The ostracod assemblages include bairdiids, healdiids and “vallate” healdiids, polycopids, small cytheraceans and cypridaceans. The composition of the assemblages are comparable with other contemporaneous Tethys assemblages, specially with those recorded from Southern-West Germany.
- Zaninetti L. & Martini R. (1993)
Bispiranella and Orthotrinacria (Foraminifera, Triassic), new description and attribution to the Othotrinacriidae (Milioliporacea)
pp. 385-392
Recent studies ofUpper Triassic reefal facies in the Western Tethys have led to the revision of the Triassic foraminifer genera Bispiranella Samuel et al., 1981, and Orthotrinacria Zaninetti et al., 1985, and to their attribution to the Orthotrinacriidae Zaninetti et al., 1985 (Milioliporacea), whose diagnosis is modified. The affinities of the Orthotrinacriidae with other Milioliporacea, essentially with the family Siphonoferidae Senowbari-Daryan & Zaninetti, 1986, are emphasized, and the phylogenetic relationship of the Orthotrinacriidae with other Upper Triassic reefal porcelaneous foraminifera is also discussed.
- Bellomo E. (1993)
Presence of some Boreal guests (Mollusca, Gastropoda) in the Mediterranean Lower Pleistocene of Contrada Case Alte (Villa S. Giovanni, Reggio Calabria)
pp. 393-399
A rich malacofauna with «celtic-boreal guests» has been recovered in a sandy gravel bed of a section outcropping above the cristalline basement at Contrada Case Alte (Reggio Calabria). It has been emphasized the discovery of problem about the stratigraphic significance of the Pleistocene boreal guests which have been recorded in the section. In spite of the number of data, it has been hypothesized that the sandy gravel with nordic guests is not older than the Late Emilian.
- Dalla Vecchia F.M. (1993)
Cearadactylus? ligabuei nov. sp., a new early Cretaceous (Aptian) pterosaur from Chapada do Araripe (Northeastern Brazil)
pp. 401-409
A partly preserved skull of a large pterosaur from the Santana Formation (Aptian) of the Chapada do Araripe, northeastern Brazil, is described. The skull is assigned to a new species, Cearadactylus? ligabuei nov. sp.. The new species is characterized, with respect to the other described pterosaurs from Santana Formation, by a spatulate tip of the snout with 4 very large premaxillary teeth followed by much smaller maxillary teeth, premaxillae with a sharp, gibbous dorsal margin in the middle-anterior part of the snout but without a sagittal crest, and a relatively elongate jugal plate.
- Leone F., Menghi L., Serpagli E. & Štorch P. (1993)
Late Ordovician graptolites from Sardinia: A preliminary record
pp. 411-414
A first record of a rich assemblage of late Ordovician graptolites (with illustration of some elements) from Sardinia is briefly given. The assemblage indicates a Caradocian age.