Nino Mariotti

Dinosaur Tracks as Paleogeographic Constraints: New Scenarios for the Cretaceous Geography of the Periadriatic Region

A really unexpected finding of sauropod and theropod footprints in southern Latium raises to four the number of the trampled levels recognized in central and southern Italy. After the recent findings in Latest Jurassic and Early, mid and Late Cretaceous carbonate platform deposits of the Periadriatic region, dinosaur footprints seem to provide very important paleogeographic constraints for reconstructing the geodynamic history of the Mediterranean area. The presence of a varied ichnoassociation makes acceptance of the current paleogeographic models concerning the relative and absolute position of the Laziale-Abruzzese-Campano and of Apulian-Dinaric domains during the Late Cretaceous more and more problematic. Dinosaur footprints, combined with other paleontological data, demonstrate that these areas were never completely pulled apart by deep seaways, while frequent or continuous links between them, and to southern and northern mainlands, probably persisted. These data also allowed us to improve our understanding of the timing of the Mesozoic plate motion in this segment of the Western Tethys.

Lacertoid Footprints of the Upper Permian Arenaria di Val Gardena Formation (Northern Italy)

Lacertoid footprints are the largest component of the Upper Permian Arenaria di Val Gardena Formation ichnofauna that contains hundreds of specimens mostly referred to the ichnogenus Rhynchosauroides Maidwell 1911. In this paper, we analyzed unpublished material and re-examined the Rhynchosauroides footprints of that ichnofauna, in particular the figured specimens. Analysis of Rhynchosauroides and its type ichnospecies R. rectipes Maidwell 1911 was first necessary. This preliminary investigation highlighted several problems, including ichnospecies named on the basis of poorly preserved material and in some cases significantly different from the type ichnospecies. The study allowed for recognition of three ichnotaxa referred to Rhynchosauroides: Rhynchosauroides pallinii Conti et al., 1977, Rhynchosauroides isp.1 and Rhynchosauroides isp.2 and Ganasauripus ladinus igen. et isp. nov. Other material previously referred to Rhynchosauroides is herein regarded as unclassifiable, in the light of present ichnological knowledge and procedures.

Systematics and taphonomy of an Early Kimmeridgian belemnite fauna from the Mediterranean Tethys (Monte Nerone, Central Apennines, Italy) ☆

Abstract About three hundred belemnite rostra were collected from lower Kimmeridgian beds of a structural high sequence cropping out at Mt. Nerone (Central Apennines, Pesaro Province, Italy). The belemnite fauna is composed mainly of new species. Nine species were recognised, ascribed to five genera, that include Hibolithes semisulcatus MŰNSTER, 1830; H. pignattii nov. sp.; Acutibelus sp. cf. acuariformis RIEGRAF, 1981; Belemnopsis neronensis nov. sp., Duvalia matteuccii nov. sp., D. nicosiai nov. sp., D. pallinii nov. sp., D. raymondi nov. sp. and Rhopaloteuthis massimoi nov. sp.; moreover a single specimen is treated in open nomenclature as Belemnopseidae incertae sedis. The stratigraphic and palaeobiogeographic significance of the new fauna is discussed. The taphonomy of the belemnite-rich level is described, with reference to borings found on the belemnite rostra.

Belemnites from the Upper Pliensbachian and the Toarcian (Lower Jurassic) of Tournadous (Causses, France).

Jurassic belemnites represent promising proxies especially for palaeoecological and also palaeobiogeographical reconstructions. However, basic knowledge on taxonomic composition, biostratigraphy and diversity of Early Jurassic belemnites is still dramatically low, especially for France. The present study provides new data on belemnites from the southern part of the Northwest European Province. More than 700 specimens have been collected along the Tournadous section in the Causses Basin (Southern France); they represent ten genera and 30 species belonging to Hastitidae, Megateuthididae, Passaloteuthididae, and Salpingoteuthididae. Furthermore, numerous ammonites have been collected, allowing to establish a standard chronostratigraphical scheme of the studied section and thus to assign, for the first time, a precise chronostratigraphical distribution to the Early Jurassic belemnites of Southern France. The analysis of belemnite diversity and its variations along the section compared to the well-known fauna of the northern part of the Northwest European province (Germany and England) open interesting prospective for belemnites palaeobiogeography.

MIDDLE JURASSIC - EARLY CRETACEOUS INTEGRATED BIOSTRATIGRAPHY (AMMONITES, CALCAREOUS NANNOFOSSILS AND CALPIONELLIDS) OF THE CONTRADA DIESI SECTION (SOUTH-WESTERN SICILY, ITALY)

Facies and biostratigraphic analyses of the Contrada Diesi succession, cropping out along the northern slope of Mt. Magaggiaro (Sciacca, SW Sicily), provided new data on the Middle Jurassic-Early Cretaceous pelagic sedimentation in the Saccense domain. The richness in ammonites allowed the identification of Bathonian-Kimmeridgian Biozones and Subzones, while the Tithonian-Valanginian interval was defined mainly by calpionellids and calcareous nannofossils. Facies and microbiofacies analyses of the Jurassic-Cretaceous pelagic sediments of the area, together with ammonite, calpionellid and calcareous nannofossil integrated biostratigraphy, were very effective tools for comparison of biostratigraphic events. Many gaps in sedimentation were recognized, the most important spanning the middle and late Berriasian and part of the early Berriasian. The Contrada Diesi succession provides new litho-biostratigraphic data on the Saccense Domain. It suggests a high degree of internal variability tied to the irregular paleotopography of the carbonate platform substrate (Inici Fm.), derived from Early Jurassic tectonics. Gaps in sedimentation in the Contrada Diesi sections indicate that the environment of the Saccense Domain was characterized by a variable rate of sedimentation and energy changes.

Systematics and evolutionary implications of Early Jurassic belemnites from the Peri-Mediterranean Tethys

The systematic study of new belemnite assemblages from the Central Apennines and western Sicily revealed several new taxa for Italy. The specimens originate from Lower Jurassic sediments (Sinemurian–Toarcian), and their exact stratigraphic occurrence can be established by accompanying ammonite assemblages. The systematic analysis allows six genera of the suborder Belemnitina to be recognised (Subhastites, Passaloteuthis, Pseudohastites, Bairstowius, Cuspiteuthis, Megateuthis). The coeval occurrence of heterogeneous canaliculate belemnites (with alveolar grooves) was unexpected; their partially incomplete preservation does not allow assigning them safely to any existing genus, with the exception of a well-preserved specimen of Pachybelemnopsis sp. (with phragmocone, protoconch, and siphuncle). This represents the earliest known record of a belemnopseine belemnite. The Italian canaliculate belemnites are tentatively compared with canaliculate belemnites from the European Peri-Tethys, Japan, and New Zealand. A direct comparison is, however, hampered by the incomplete preservation of most of the herein reported specimens. The records of canaliculate belemnites in the Early Jurassic of Italy show remarkably heterogeneous rostrum morphologies, indicating an earlier diversification in belemnites than previously assumed.KurzfassungDie Untersuchungen zur Systematik neuer Belemnitenfunde aus dem zentralen Apennin und dem westlichen Sizilien erbrachten mehrere neue Taxa für Italien. Die untersuchten Exemplare entstammen Ablagerungen des Unteren Juras (Sinemurium–Toarcium), ihre genaue stratigraphische Position kann anhand begleitender Ammonitenfaunen festgestellt werden. Anhand der systematischen Analyse werden sechs Gattungen der Unterordnung Belemnitina nachgewiesen (Subhastites, Passaloteuthis, Pseudohastites, Bairstowius, Cuspiteuthis, Megateuthis). Das zeitgleiche Auftreten kanalikulater Belemniten mit Alveolarfurchen ist überraschend; ihre größtenteils unvollständige Erhaltung erlaubt es jedoch nicht, sie sicher einer bekannten Gattung zuzuordnen, mit Ausnahme eines gut erhaltenen Exemplars von Pachybelemnopsis sp. (mit Phragmokon, Protoconch und Sipho). Dieser Fund stellt den derzeit ältesten Nachweis der Unterordnung Belemnopseina dar. Die kanalikulaten Belemniten aus Italien werden mit Funden aus Ost-Asien, Neuseeland und einigen wenig bekannten Funden der Europäischen Peri-Tethys verglichen. Ein weiterführender Vergleich wird jedoch dadurch erschwert, dass die genaue Position der Alveolarfurche (ventral oder dorsal) bei den meisten hier beschriebenen Stücken nicht nachvollzogen werden kann. Die Funde kanalikulater Belemniten im Unteren Jura Italiens zeichnen sich insgesamt durch eine hohe Heterogenität bei der Rostrum-Morphologie und der Position der Alveolarfurchen aus, und zeugen von einer höheren Diversität der frühen Belemniten als in vorangehenden Studien angenommen.

Lower Jurassic (Pliensbachian-Toarcian) belemnites from Fresney-le-Puceux (Calvados, France): taxonomy, chronostratigraphy and diversity

ABSTRACT The present paper deals with the systematic description of the belemnite assemblages from the Lower Jurassic, collected at the Roche Blain quarry, Fresney-le-Puceux. In spite of the reduced thickness of the succession at Fresney-le-Puceux, 13 successive ammonite chronozones could be documented in this rather unique outcrop situation in mainland Europe. Twelve genera and 26 species of belemnites belonging to the Passaloteuthididae, Hastitidae, Megateuthididae, Salpingoteuthididae, and family incertae sedis are described and illustrated herein. The stratigraphical range of the belemnites is correlated with the standard ammonite zonation, using the chronozone concept: the described specimens range from the lower Pliensbachian (Davoei Chronozone) to the uppermost Toarcian (Aalensis Chronozone) while ammonites indicate the Aalenian (Murchisonae Chronozone) to be present too, but these beds delivered no identifiable belemnites so far. The belemnite diversity from Normandy is compared to data from coeval outcrops in Western and Central Europe.

The Xiphoteuthididae Bather, 1892 (Aulacocerida, Coleoidea)

Problems in the classification of the Xiphoteuthididae have been recently addressed (Mariotti and Pignatti, 1992, 1994, 1996; Pignatti and Mariotti, 1996), but a critical revision is still lacking, owing mainly to their incomplete fossil record. The following outline of a classification summarizes diagnostic characters, taxonomic relationships, and geological occurrences of the genera currently included in the family Xiphoteuthididae: Atractites Gumbel, 1861, Breviatractites Mariotti and Pignatti, 1992, Claviatractites Mariotti and Pignatti, 1996, Crassiatractites Mariotti and Pignatti, 1992, Delphinoteuthis Mariotti and Pignatti, 1994, Metabelemnites Flower, 1944, Choanoteuthis Fischer, 1951, and Calliconites Gemmellaro, 1904. The taxonomic status of Choanoteuthis and the supragen- eric attribution of Calliconites remain uncertain.

Marine sedimentation in theValanginian-Hauterivian of Northern Mozambique, with a description of Lower Cretaceous belemnites

Abstract A belemnite fauna was obtained from outcrops about 15 km South-West of Pemba and at Nanlia (Mozambique). The outcrops belong to a sequence ranging from Lower Cretaceous to Quaternary. The following taxa are classified: Hibolites duperroni, H. cf, duperroni, H. aff. duperroni, H. fontoinonti, H. sp., Duvalia guillantona and D. cf. silesiaca . This fauna in characteristic of the Valanginian (probably Upper Valanginian) — Hauterivian, and corresponds very well with coeval belemnite faunas of Madagascar.