Bollettino SPI Vol. 57 (3)
Published in December 2018
Index
- Carnevale G. & Bannikov A.F. (2018)
A sailfin velifer (Lampridiformes, Veliferidae) fish from the Eocene of Monte Bolca, Italy
pp. 175-186
doi:10.4435/BSPI.2018.11
A new sailfin veliferid fish, †Wettonius angeloi n. gen. n. sp., is described based on a single specimen from the Eocene locality of Monte Bolca in northern Italy. †Wettonius angeloi n. gen. n. sp. differs from the known Veliferidae by having a relatively short lower jaw, mandibular joint anterior to the orbit, reduced number of abdominal vertebrae, much advanced anal-fin insertion, with eight (vs six in other veliferids) anal-fin pterygiophores preceding the second haemal spine, first anal-fin ray considerably elongate, and pelvic fin with eight rays. Within the Veliferidae, †Wettonius n. gen. shares a number of morphological features with Velifer. However, despite these similarities it is not possible to determine the phylogenetic affinities of †Wettonius n. gen. for which additional comparative information would be necessary.
- Capotondi L., Bergami C., Giglio F., Langone L. & Ravaioli M. (2018)
Benthic foraminifera distribution in the Ross Sea (Antarctica) and its relationship to oceanography
pp. 187-202
doi:10.4435/BSPI.2018.12
Modern deep-water benthic foraminiferal assemblages were studied from box cores collected in four areas of the Ross Sea, during the oceanographic cruise ANTA05 within the framework of the Italian Antarctic Research National Programme (PNRA). The investigated sites are characterised by different oceanographic settings. Samples from the Drygalski (site BC 33) and Lewis Basins (site BC 22) contain exclusively agglutinants taxa with high abundance of Miliammina arenacea (Chapman, 1916), Trochammina gr., Portatrochammina gr., Lagenammina difflugiformis (Brady, 1879), Recurvoides contortus Earland, 1934 and Reophax gr. On the other hand, samples from the Joides Basin (site BC 01) and from the Pennell Trough (site BC 38) are characterised by a higher species richness and by the presence of calcareous species (Astrononion echolsi Kennett, 1967, Nonionella bradii [Chapman, 1916] and Fursenkoina fusiformis [Williamson, 1858]). The absence of calcareous foraminifera, in the westernmost areas of the Ross Sea, may be attributed to the strong influence of the High Salinity Shelf Waters rich in CO2 and to the presence of a shallow Calcite Compensation Depth. Microfaunal content observed in the Joides Basin (site BC 01) and in the Pennell Trough (site BC 38) is associated to the intrusion of the relatively warm, salty and rich in nutrients Modified Circumpolar Deep Waters. The study highlights that foraminiferal species composition and areal distribution is strongly related to local variation in water mass characteristics and provides evidence on the relationship between Trochammina gr. and biogenic silica content at the seafloor.
- Bernor R.L., Cirilli O., Wang S.Q. & Rook L. (2018)
Equus cf. livenzovensis from Montopoli, Italy (early Pleistocene; MN16b; ca. 2.6 Ma)
pp. 203-216
doi:10.4435/BSPI.2018.13
We report here the occurrence and metric characteristics of a large species of Equus from Montopoli (Tuscany, Italy) correlated with the middle Villafranchian, 2.6 Ma (early Pleistocene). This species co-occurs with a rare “Hipparion” sp. at Montopoli. We compare the Montopoli Equus cf. livenzovensis with a large suite of extant Equus including zebras, asses and a large suite of fossil Equus using bivariate and log10 ratio analyses of anterior and posterior 1st phalanges III. Our comparisons show that Montopoli anterior and posterior 1st phalanges III are larger than in living zebras and asses and comparable in size and proportions to the early Pleistocene large Chinese species Equus eisenmannae and late Pleistocene Rancho La Brean Equus occidentale. Equus livenzovensis was a larger species than Equus stenonis and Equus stehlini. Equus cf. livenzovensis is not represented as far as we know by skulls and dentitions in the Italian Villafranchian record.
- Mietto P., Manfrin S. & Rigo M. (2018)
Middle Triassic ammonoid fauna from the Recoaro and Tretto areas (NE Italy)
and its stratigraphic and paleobiogeographic evidence
pp. 217-250
doi:10.4435/BSPI.2018.16
Between the mid 19th and the beginning of the 20th centuries, several Austrian and German geologists such as Beyrich, Mojsisovics and Tornquist, studied the geology of the Recoaro area (NE Italy). They described important ammonoid faunas, the majority being collected from a stratigraphic unit known as the Nodosus Formation. Among these faunas are problematic species that have been the focus of long discussion both from a biostratigraphic and taxonomic point of view. Unfortunately, most of the historical material has been either destroyed or lost, and recent studies in the field provided only a few scarce specimens thus making taxonomic revision difficult. One of the unresolved issues is related to the possible occurrence of the ceratitids peculiar to the Upper Muschelkalk of the Central Europa (Germanic) Basin and the Sephardic Triassic province among the Alpine ammonoids. An unexpected discovery of an old ammonoid collection stored at the Museo Geologico e Paleontologico of Padova University (MGP-PD) permitted confirmation of the presence of a distinctive ammonoid species Alloceratites tornquisti (Philippi) within the Triassic Recoaro domain. Two other species of Alloceratites have also been found in the Val Gola section near Trento. These occurrences are significant taxonomically, biostratigraphically and in relation to Middle Triassic sequence stratigraphy.
- Giusberti L., Amadori M., Amalfitano J., Carnevale G. & Kriwet J. (2018)
Remarks on the nomenclature of the genera Ptychodus Agassiz, 1834 and Buff onites Sternberg, 1829 (Ptychodontidae, Chondrichthyes)
pp. 251-253
doi:10.4435/BSPI.2018.15
- Vlachos E. & Bacharidis N. (2018)
A trionychid turtle from the late Aquitanian (early Miocene) of Neochori (Grevena, Western Macedonia, Greece)
pp. 255-257
doi:10.4435/BSPI.2018.14
- RASSEGNA DELL’ATTIVITÀ SOCIALE
Adunanza dell’Assemblea dei Soci della Società Paleontologica Italiana – Municipio di Predazzo, Piazza Santi Filippo e Giacomo 3, Predazzo (TN) – 8 Giugno 2018.
pp. 259-262