Au Paleontology


Conodont
Siluro-devonian Conodonts from the Camelford Limestone, Wellington, New South Wales, Australia

Author: John R. Farrell1
Source: Palaeontology, July 2004, vol. 47, no. 4, pp. 937-982(46)
Publisher: Blackwell Publishing
Abstract:
Conodont data have been utilized to identify the Silurian/Devonian boundary within the Camelford Limestone near Wellington, NSW. Conodont faunas are documented from the eosteinhornensis Zone to early delta Zone with one new species of Walliserodus (W. multistriatus) and two new species of Ozarkodina (O. brocki and O. camelfordensis) described. An apparatus reconstruction of Belodella anomalis is also presented.
Keywords: Conodonts; Silurian; Devonian; Wellington; New South Wales; Australia

Document Type: Research article
DOI: 10.1111/j.0031-0239.2004.00394.x
Affiliations: 1: School of Education, Macquarie University, New South Wales 2109, Australia. Email:, Email: john.farrell@mq.edu.au

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Coprolites
Early Triassic coprolites from Australia and their palaeobiological significance

Author: CAROLINE NORTHWOOD1
Source: Palaeontology, January 2005, vol. 48, no. 1, pp. 49-68(20)
Publisher: Blackwell Publishing
Abstract:
Coprolites from the Arcadia Formation, Queensland, Australia, were studied in conjunction with the vertebrate fossil assemblages from two localities to maximize our understanding of the palaeoecology of these Early Triassic deposits. Criteria used by other researchers to identify the producers of coprolites were found to be of little value in the Arcadia Formation specimens. Using a combination of shape, biostratigraphic distribution, size and included remains some of the coprolites are attributed to basal archosauromorphs and fish whereas others could not be identified. Perhaps the most important attribute of the Arcadia coprolites is that they preserved rare organisms such as cyanobacteria, insects and other arthropods, and a diversity of fish. Estimates of the number of actinopterygians and dipnoans preserved in coprolites significantly increased relative abundance estimates based on skeletal elements alone. Although coprolites are an important source of palaeobiological information, this information is limited by our poor understanding of the taphonomic processes involved in the fossilization of faecal matter and by the near impossibility of assigning coprolites to specific producers.
Keywords: coprolites; Early Triassic; Arcadia Formation; palaeoeco
logy; taphonomy
Document Type: Research article
DOI: 10.1111/j.1475-4983.2004.00432.x
Affiliations: 1: †Department of Zoology, School of Life Sciences, La Trobe University, Victoria 3086, Australia;, Email: c.northwood@latrobe.edu.au

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Eurypterida
A New Eurypterid (Chelicerata: Eurypterida) from the Upper Devonian Gogo Formation of Western Australia, With A Review of the Rhenopteridae

Authors: O. Erik Tetlie1; Simon J. Braddy2; Piers D. Butler3; Derek E. G. Briggs4
Source: Palaeontology, July 2004, vol. 47, no. 4, pp. 801-809(9)
Publisher: Blackwell Publishing
Abstract:
A new eurypterid, Rhenopterus waterstoni sp. nov., is described from the Gogo Formation (Frasnian, Upper Devonian) of Western Australia. This species is distinguished from related forms by the tuberculation of the anteriormost tergite and crenulated posterior margins of the carapace and opisthosomal segments. It is the only eurypterid specimen known from the Gogo Formation, the most complete eurypterid from Australia, and also the youngest representative of Rhenopterus in the fossil record. Structures retrieved from between the prosomal-opisthosomal juncture comprise polygonal tubes 30?40 m in diameter, which are interpreted as sarcomeral sheaths of muscular tissue. Rhenopterus is reviewed: R. latus Stormer, 1936 is synonymized with R. diensti Stormer, 1936 as it is here recognized as a female sexual dimorph; R. maccarthyi (Kjellesvig-Waering, 1934) is an orthocone nautiloid.
Keywords: Eurypterida; Rhenopterus; Rhenopteridae; Gogo; Devonian; Western Australia; taphonomy
Document Type: Research article
DOI: 10.1111/j.0031-0239.2004.00390.x
Affiliations: 1: Department of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, Wills Memorial Building, Queen's Road, Bristol BS8 1RJ, UK. Email:, Email: o.e.tetlie@bristol.ac.uk 2: Department of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, Wills Memorial Building, Queen's Road, Bristol BS8 1RJ, UK. Email:, Email: s.j.braddy@bristol.ac.uk 3: Department of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, Wills Memorial Building, Queen's Road, Bristol BS8 1RJ, UK, 4: Department of Geology and Geophysics, Yale University, PO Box 208109, New Haven, CT 06520-8109, USA. Email:, Email: derek.briggs@yale.edu

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Polyplacophora
Lower Devonian Polyplacophora from New South Wales, Australia
Authors: Richard D. Hoare1; John R. Farrell2

Source: Palaeontology, November 2004, vol. 47, no. 6, pp. 1495-1506(12)
Publisher: Blackwell Publishing
Abstract:
Silicified polyplacophorans are common in the Lower Devonian Garra Formation in New South Wales. Four taxa occur within the lower 237 m of the formation at 14 horizons associated with an abundant and diverse fauna. Chelodes calceoloides Etheridge ranges through the section. New taxa are Chelodes cordatus sp. nov., Acutichiton depressolatus sp. nov., and Jugochiton patulus gen. and sp. nov. A single plate of an indeterminate genus occurs in the lower portion of the Camelford Limestone.
Keywords: Polyplacophora; Lower Devonian; New South Wales
Document Type: Research article
DOI: 10.1111/j.0031-0239.2004.00415.x
Affiliations: 1: Bowling Green State University, Ohio, USA 2: School of Education, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia

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