Nubecularia-coralline algal-serpulid-microbial bioherms of the Paratethys Sea-Distribution and paleoecological significance (upper Serravallian, upper Sarmatian, Middle Miocene).

Nubecularia bioherms represent unique bioconstructions that are restricted to the upper Serravallian of the Paratethys and have been reported since the 19th century. They occur in the Central Paratethys in the late Sarmatian and the Eastern Paratethys in the Bessarabian both regional stages of the respective Paratethyan areas. In this study, several locations in the Vienna and Styrian basins of the Central Paratethys were studied out of which four localities were documented in detail (Wolfsthal, Maustrenk, St. Margarethen-Zollhaus, Vienna-Ruzickagasse) to reconstruct their sedimentary setting, their internal composition, and their indications of environmental parameters. The detailed studies included logging of outcrop sections, petrographic, facies and biotic analyses of polished slabs and thin sections and also cathodoluminescence analyses. These concluded that these bioconstructions are not only composed of the foraminifer Nubecularia but represent a complex mixture and interrelationships of Nubecularia, serpulids and microbial carbonate. Four boundstone types can be differentiated: Nubecularia boundstone, Nubecularia-coralline algal boundstone, stromatolitic/thrombolitic boundstone and serpulid-nubeculariid-microbial boundstone. The first 3 types are characteristic of specific localities; the fourth type occurs in all studied locations and represents the terminal association on top of the three other types. The three basal boundstones are predominantly of columnar growth form irrespective of dominance of Nubecularia, coralline algae or microbial carbonate, and the terminal boundstone is widely irregularly organized. The general depositional environment is characterized by cross-bedded oolitic grainstones with abundant quartz grains, miliolid foraminifers and mollusks. Intercalated are microbial carbonates mostly stromatolites but also thrombolites. This indicates a general high water energy environment interrupted by more calm periods when the microbial carbonate was built. The 3 basal types of bioconstructions are interpreted to reflect decreasing food supply and/or oxygenation from Nubecularia over Nubecularia-coralline algal to stromatolitic/thrombolitic boundstone. The serpulid-nubeculariid-microbial boundstone reflects an internal succession with a decrease of the same parameters. Water depth is considered very shallow ranging from 0 to a few meters, and salinity was normal marine to hypersaline. The reconstructed paleoenvironment with dominating oolite shoals and seagrass meadows was not restricted to the Central Paratethys but extended over the entire Paratethys and represented the largest oolite facies area of the entire Cenozoic!

Many roads to success: alternative routes to building an economic shell in land snails.

Land snails exhibit an extraordinary variety of shell shapes. The way shells are constructed underlies biological and mechanical constraints that vary across gastropod clades. Here, we quantify shell geometry of the two largest groups, Stylommatophora and Cyclophoroidea, to assess the potential causes for variation in shell shape and its relative frequency. Based on micro-computed tomography scans, we estimate material efficiency through 2D and 3D generalizations of the isoperimetric ratio, quantifying the ratios between area and perimeter of whorl cross-sections (2D) and shell volume and surface (3D), respectively. We find that stylommatophorans optimize material usage through whorl overlap, which may have promoted the diversification of flat-shelled species. Cyclophoroids are bound to a circular cross-section because of their operculum; flat shells are comparatively rare. Both groups show similar solutions for tall shells, where local geometry has a smaller effect because of the double overlap between previous and current whorls. Our results suggest that material efficiency is a driving factor in the selection of shell geometry. Essentially, the evolutionary success of Stylommatophora likely roots in their higher flexibility to produce an economic shell.

A revision and nomenclator of the Cainozoic mudwhelks (Mollusca: Caenogastropoda: Batillariidae, Potamididae) of the Paratethys Sea (Europe, Asia).

We present an in-depth revision of the Batillariidae and Potamididae from the Oligocene to the Pliocene of the Paratethys Sea, covering a geographic area of about 3 million km2 and a temporal frame of 23 Ma. A strong focus of this paper is laid on the consideration of rare and little known literature describing especially faunas from areas of the Eastern Paratethys Sea. The whereabouts of type material was evaluated and lectotypes are defined wherever necessary to clarify the status of most of the available names. In total, we traced 236 species-level names, which have been proposed for Paratethyan Batillariidae and Potamididae. After critical revision, only 28 of these names are accepted herein as valid species. This means that about 90% of the names found in the literature represent junior synonyms or misidentifications. Despite the tendency of several species to form convergent morphologies, the development of early teleoconch whorls allows a clear separation at the genus level. The Paratethyan Batillariidae and Potamididae are placed herein into 10 genera, of which Pustulosia nov. gen. (Batillariidae) and Theodisca nov. gen. (Potamididae) are introduced as new genera. Tiaracerithium Sacco, 1895 and Tiarapirenella Sacco, 1895 are reestablished as valid genera, which have been largely ignored or incorrectly applied in the literature. The second part of this paper comprises an annotated nomenclator of all species-level names used for Paratethyan mudwhelks. This nomenclator provides information on type material, type locality, stratigraphy and geographic distribution.

Bryoherms from the lower Sarmatian (upper Serravallian, Middle Miocene) of the Central Paratethys.

Bryozoan-serpulid-algal-thrombolite bioherms of up to 50 cm size are described from the Sarmatian (upper Middle Miocene) of the Central Paratethys. They occur on top of lower Sarmatian carbonate sediments of high-energy conditions and the individual bioherms settle on crests of ripples. The buildups are overlain and partly truncated by cross-bedded oolites of late Sarmatian age. Buildup growth starts with a Cryptosula/Hydroides (bryozoan/serpulid) pioneer community, followed by nodular Schizoporella (bryozoan) colonies overgrown by coralline algae/microbial mats and a thrombolite with calcareous algal filaments. All these constituents form a framestone fabric which is overall dominated by bryozoans labeling them as bryoherms. Inside the bioherms ecological successions of higher frequencies occur which are interpreted to reflect short-time environmental fluctuations such as nutrient availability, oxygenation (possible anoxia), salinity (possible brackish water), temperature and water level. The internal succession in individual bioherms is related to long-term environmental changes including general shallowing, increasing nutrient supply and decreasing water circulation and oxygenation. The described bioherms are most similar to modern bryostromatolites of the Coorong lagoon in S Australia and also similar to structures in the Netherlands. The widespread occurrence of bryoherms/bryostromatolites in the Central Paratethys suggests a phase of considerable eutrophication during the early Sarmatian.

The Architectonicidae and Mathildidae (Gastropoda, Heterobranchia) of the Miocene Paratethys Seavictims of the Miocene Climatic Transition.

The Architectonicidae of the Miocene of the Central Paratethys Sea comprise 18 species placed in eight genera. The coeval Mathildidae are documented by nine species, placed into three genera. We present descriptions of these species and illustrate type material wherever possible. Several species suggest relationships with Late Miocene to Holocene species of the Mediterranean Sea, although none of the species is known from modern faunas. Both families attained their maximum diversity during the early Middle Miocene (Langhian), and both families experienced a dramatic loss in species richness at the Langhian/Serravallian boundary. This Architectonicidae/Mathildidae turnover evidently coincided with the Miocene Climatic Transition, suggesting climate as the driving force. As members of both families feed on coelenterates, we assume that the climatic cooling of that phase caused a retreat of cnidarians, which is reflected in a decline in their predators. Ammotectonica nov. gen., Simplexollata nov. gen. and Pseudotuba nov. gen. are introduced as new genera. Ammotectonica gregorovae nov. sp., Simplexollata anticollata nov. sp., Nipteraxis deformatus nov. sp., Solatisonax? transversa nov. sp., Heliacus globosus nov. sp., Solatisonax tavianii nov. sp., and Pseudotorinia grasemanni nov. sp. are described as new species. Solarium (Torinia) criticum Boettger, 1907 and Discohelix quinquangularis Boettger, 1902 are treated as subjective junior synonyms of Heliacus berthae (Boettger, 1902) and Spirolaxis cornicula (Boettger, 1902).

The auger snails (Gastropoda, Conoidea, Terebridae) of the Miocene Paratethys Sea.

We present a critical review of the Miocene Terebridae of the European Central Paratethys Sea. In total, we document 23 species placed in 7 genera. We designate lectotypes for Terebra bigranulata Hoernes & Auinger, 1880 [= Fusoterebra terebrina (Bellardi & Michelotti, 1840)], Terebra (Hastula) cinereides Hoernes & Auinger, 1880 [= Hastula duboisiana (dOrbigny, 1852)], Terebra (Myurella) lapugyensis Hoernes & Auinger 1880 [= Hastula lapugyensis (Hoernes & Auinger, 1880)] and Terebra transylvanica Hoernes & Auinger, 1880. Based on conchological similarities we assume that the extant terebrine Punctoterebra Bartsch, 1923 might be a subjective junior synonym of Strioterebrum Sacco, 1890. In this case, molecular data could resolve this question, as Strioterebrum is still represented today by Strioterebrum reticulare (Sacco, 1891). Hastulopsis Oyama, 1961 and Maculauger Fedosov, Malcolm, Terryn, Gorson, Modica, Holford & Puillandre, 2020 are recorded for the first time from the European Neogene. Terebra golebiowskii nov. sp. and Oxymeris transleithana nov. sp. are introduced as new species.

Short-term paleogeographic reorganizations and climate events shaped diversification of North American freshwater gastropods over deep time.

What controls species diversity and diversification is one of the major questions in evolutionary biology and paleontology. Previous studies have addressed this issue based on various plant and animal groups, geographic regions, and time intervals. However, as most previous research focused on terrestrial or marine ecosystems, our understanding of the controls on diversification of biota (and particularly invertebrates) in freshwater environments in deep time is still limited. Here, we infer diversification rates of North American freshwater gastropods from the Late Triassic to the Pleistocene and explore potential links between shifts in speciation and extinction and major changes in paleogeography, climate, and biotic interactions. We found that variation in the speciation rate is best explained by changes in continental fragmentation, with rate shifts coinciding with major paleogeographic reorganizations in the Mesozoic, in particular the retreat of the Sundance Sea and subsequent development of the Bighorn wetland and the advance of the Western Interior Seaway. Climatic events in the Cenozoic (Middle Eocene Climate Optimum, Miocene Climate Optimum) variably coincide with shifts in speciation and extinction as well, but no significant long-term association could be detected. Similarly, no influence of diversity dependence was found across the entire time frame of ~ 214 Myr. Our results indicate that short-term climatic events and paleogeographic changes are relevant to the diversification of continental freshwater biota, while long-term trends have limited effect.

The Clavatulidae (Gastropoda, Conoidea) of the Miocene Paratethys Sea with considerations on fossil and extant Clavatulidae genera.

We present a revision of the Clavatulidae gastropods of the Neogene of the Central and Eastern Paratethys seas. In total, 111 species level names have been used in the literature for Clavatulidae of the Paratethys Sea. After revision, we document 83 species. Seventeen genus-level groups are recognized, of which eleven are formally described. Six species-groups cannot be clearly placed in a certain Clavatulidae genus. The presence of Clavatula, Perrona, Pusionella, Scaevatula and Tomellana in the Paratethyan assemblages documents a biogeographic relationship with extant Clavatulidae faunas from the tropical eastern Atlantic. No Indo-West Pacific influences were observed, as Paratethyan species previously placed in Turricula, which belongs within the Clavatulidae, do not belong within that genus. The Langhian (middle Miocene) diversity of 62 species is comparable to the number of extant species recorded from West Africa (~65 species), but displays a much higher diversity at genus level. This high biodiversity in Paratethyan assemblages suggests that the Central Paratethys was a major center of radiation for clavatulid gastropods, which is also expressed by a high endemicity of 98.8%. In contrast, the clavatulid diversity in the Eastern Paratethys was very low and stratigraphically restricted to the early Miocene Sakaraulian. Granulatocincta nov. gen., Megaclavatula nov. gen., Neoperrona nov. gen., Olegia nov. gen., Striopusionella nov. gen. are established as new genera. Clavatula sorini nov. sp., Clavatula irisae nov. sp., Tomellana dulaii nov. sp., Tomellana aueri nov. sp., Granulatocincta callim nov. sp., Granulatocincta theoderichi nov. sp., Megaclavatula grunerti nov. sp., Megaclavatula pilleri nov. sp., Neoperrona zoltanorum nov. sp., Olegia mandici nov. sp., Perrona koeberli nov. sp., Perrona loetschi nov. sp., Pusionella hofmanni nov. sp. are described as new species from the Miocene Paratethys, and Clavatula ariejansseni nov. sp., Clavatula atatuerki nov. sp. and Granulatocincta pelliscrocodili nov. sp., are described from the eastern Proto-Mediterranean Karaman Basin of Turkey. Clavatula jarzynkae nov. nom., Perrona grossi nov. nom., Perrona ilonae nov. nom. and Perrona wanzenboecki nov. nom. are introduced as new names for Clavatula auingeri Finlay, 1927 [non Hilber, 1879], Pleurotoma (Clavatula) auingeri Hilber, 1879 [non Hoernes, 1875], Clavatula vindobonensis nodosa Csepreghy-Meznerics, 1954 [non Bellardi, 1847] and Pleurotoma concinna Handmann, 1883 [non Scacchi, 1836] respectively. Clavatula kowalewskii Bauk, 2003, Clavatula letksensis Csepreghy-Meznerics, 1953, Pleurotoma aculeatum Eichwald, 1830, Pleurotoma subscalaris Handmann, 1882 and Pleurotoma (Clavatula) reginae Hoernes Auinger, 1891 are treated as junior subjective synonyms of Pleurotoma (Clavatula) antoniae Hoernes Auinger, 1891, Perrona emmae (Hoernes Auinger, 1879), Pleurotoma laevigata Eichwald, 1830, Pleurotoma schreibersi Hrnes, 1854 and Pleurotoma (Clavatula) apolloniae Hoernes Auinger, 1891 respectively.

The microstructure and the origin of the Venus from Willendorf.

The origin and key details of the making of the ~ 30,000 year old Venus from Willendorf remained a secret since its discovery for more than a hundred years. Based on new micro-computed tomography scans with a resolution of 11.5 µm, our analyses can explain the origin as well as the choice of material and particular surface features. It allowed the identification of internal structure properties and a chronological assignment of the Venus oolite to the Mesozoic. Sampling numerous oolite occurrences ranging ~ 2500 km from France to the Ukraine, we found a strikingly close match for grain size distribution near Lake Garda in the Southern Alps (Italy). This might indicate considerable mobility of Gravettian people and long-time transport of artefacts from South to North by modern human groups before the Last Glacial Maximum.

Drivers of diversification in freshwater gastropods vary over deep time.

Unravelling the drivers of species diversification through geological time is of crucial importance for our understanding of long-term evolutionary processes. Numerous studies have proposed different sets of biotic and abiotic controls of speciation and extinction rates, but typically they were inferred for a single, long geological time frame. However, whether the impact of biotic and abiotic controls on diversification changes over time is poorly understood. Here, we use a large fossil dataset, a multivariate birth-death model and a comprehensive set of biotic and abiotic predictors, including a new index to quantify tectonic complexity, to estimate the drivers of diversification for European freshwater gastropods over the past 100 Myr. The effects of these factors on origination and extinction are estimated across the entire time frame as well as within sequential time windows of 20 Myr each. Our results find support for temporal heterogeneity in the factors associated with changes in diversification rates. While the factors impacting speciation and extinction rates vary considerably over time, diversity-dependence and topography are consistently important. Our study highlights that a high level of heterogeneity in diversification rates is best captured by incorporating time-varying effects of biotic and abiotic factors.

Onset of Late Cretaceous diversification in Europe's freshwater gastropod fauna links to global climatic and biotic events.

The Mesozoic rise of the European freshwater gastropod fauna is still poorly understood. Compared to the well documented Cenozoic history, little is known about the patterns and processes underlying the early diversification preceding their extinction crisis at the K-Pg boundary. We assess what is probably a first pulse of diversification of the Cenozoic-type fauna in the Late Cretaceous along with the potential abiotic and biotic controls for shifts in species diversification. We find strong support that the increase in the speciation rate in the Santonian (~ 85 Myr ago) is linked to a global sea level rise, which caused extensive flooding of continental areas and the formation of vast brackish-water ecosystems. The following decline of the speciation rate coincides with a rise in diversity and reflects increasing interspecific competition. The peak in the speciation rate postdates the Cenomanian-Turonian Thermal Maximum, which probably limited the potential for diversification among freshwater gastropods due to ecological constraints. The peak coincides moreover with the end phase of the Cretaceous Terrestrial Revolution, which sparked the radiation of angiosperms. The expansion and diversification of flowering plants, being an important food source for freshwater gastropods today, could have formed a necessary basis for gastropod diversification.

The Columbellidae (Gastropoda, Buccinoidea) in the Miocene Paratethys Seastriking diversity of a negelected group.

We document 37 Columbellidae species, placed in 15 genera, from the middle Miocene of the Paratethys Sea, adding about 20% of new species to the previously known Columbellidae fauna of the Paratethys. This distinct increase is based on a careful revision of museum material that was collected during the 19th century. A detailed revision revealed numerous misidentifications of published material, which greatly distorted the understanding of many species in the literature. The revised fauna reveals only minimal affinities with coeval faunas from the Proto-Mediterranean Sea and suggests a palaeogeographic subdivision within the Central Paratethys between northern and southern basins. A major drop in columbellid diversity occurred at the Langhian/Serravallian boundary, coinciding with the Miocene Climatic Transition. This event led to a severe diversity decline from a high Langhian level of 32 species, which was comparable in the number of columbellid species to that of the modern Red Sea and tropical West Africa (~23 species), down to a diversity level of nine species, equalling that of the modern Mediterranean Sea. Auingeria nov. gen., Bellacolumbella nov. gen., Martaia nov. gen. and Defensina nov. gen. are introduced as new genera. Mitrella dacica nov. sp., Mitrella demaintenonae nov. sp., Mitrella elongatissima nov. sp., Mitrella viennensis nov. sp. and Zafrona sphaerocorrugata nov. sp. are described as new species. Costoanachis venzoi is proposed as replacement name for Anachis (Costoanachis) subcorrugata Venzo Pelosio, 1963 non Columbella (Anachis) subcorrugata Boettger, 1906. Lectotypes are designated for Columbella (Anachis) guembeli Hoernes Auinger, 1880, Columbella januskiewiczi Friedberg, 1938, Columbella (Mitrella) fallax Hoernes Auinger, 1880, Atilia (Macrurella) hilberi Cossmann, 1901, Columbella petersi Hilber, 1879, Columbella (Mitrella) complanata Sacco, 1890, Columbella (Mitrella) bittneri Hoernes Auinger, 1880, Columbella (Orthurella) elongata var. convexula Sacco, 1890, Columbella (Anachis) moravica Hoernes Auinger, 1880, Columbella (Mitrella) bucciniformis Hoernes Auinger, 1880, Columbella (Anachis) haueri Hoernes Auinger, 1880, Columbella (Anachis) austriaca Hoernes Auinger, 1880, Pyrene (Anachis) bellardii grussbachensis Csepreghy-Meznerics, 1969, Columbella (Anachis) dujardini Hoernes Auinger, 1880, Columbella (Anachis) zitteli Hoernes Auinger, 1880, Columbella (Nitidella) karreri Hoernes Auinger, 1880, and Columbella (Nitidella) katharinae Hoernes Auinger, 1880. Scabrellana is introduced as replacement name for the trilobite genus Scabrella Wenndorf (1990) non Scabrella Sacco, 1890.

The Mitridae (Gastropoda: Neogastropoda) of the Miocene Paratethys Sea.

The gastropod family Mitridae in the Miocene Paratethys Sea is revised. In total, 35 species in eight genera are reported. 75% of the species are so far known only from the Paratethys Sea. Biogeographic relations with the adjacent Proto-Mediterranean Sea are moderate and are mainly documented within Cancilla, but nearly absent in the other genera. A slight South-North trend in diversity is observed within the Paratethyan basins, with an outstandingly high diversity of 22 species in the Romanian Faget Basin, but only nine species in the Polish and Ukrainian parts of the Fore-Carpathian Basin. Fraudiziba nov. gen. and Wormsina nov. gen. are introduced as new genera. Twelve species are described as new: Episcomitra antibellardii nov. sp., Episcomitra leopoldiana nov. sp., Episcomitra pseudoincognita nov. sp., Episcomitra missile nov. sp., Episcomitra neubaueri nov. sp., Domiporta amoena nov. sp., Domiporta pulchra nov. sp., Domiporta turpis nov. sp., Nebularia soliphila nov. sp., Cancilla nanostriatula nov. sp., and Cancilla wagreichi nov. sp. Fraudiziba ottomanica nov. sp. is described as new species from the middle Miocene of the Karaman Basin in Turkey. Lectotypes are designated for M. austriaca Csepreghy-Meznerics, 1950, Mitra brusinai Hoernes Auinger, 1880, M. cochlearella Mayer-Eymar, 1890, M. friedbergi Cossmann, 1912, Mitra hoernesi Mayer, 1864, Mitra perangulata Peyrot, 1928, M. praenigra Mayer-Eymar, 1890, and Mitra transsylvanica Hoernes Auinger, 1880. Fraudiziba paratethyca nov. nom. is proposed as new name for Mitra austriaca Csepreghy-Meznerics 1950 [non Mayer-Eymar, 1898].

An overlooked diversity-the Costellariidae (Gastropoda: Neogastropoda) of the Miocene Paratethys Sea.

The Miocene Costellariidae of the Paratethys Sea are revised. In total, 39 species in seven genera are recorded herein, documenting an unexpected diversity of these marine gastropods. The α-diversities of up to 14 species and basin-scale γ-diversities of up to 28 coeval species reveal the Central Paratethys as a unique diversity hot-spot for Miocene Costellariidae. Palaeobiogeographic relationships with the adjacent Proto-Mediterranean Sea are low at species level, and absent for Eastern Paratethyan and north-eastern Atlantic faunas. Antithala nov. gen. and Fedosovia nov. gen. are described as new genera. Bellardithala nov. nom. is introduced as new name for Micromitra Bellardi (1888) [non Meek, 1873]. Eight species are described as new: Antithala claviformis nov. sp., Antithala filipescui nov. sp., Bellardithala kovaci nov. sp., Bellardithala baluki nov. sp., Bellardithala fedosovi nov. sp., Bellardithala dacica nov. sp., Pusia confunda nov. sp., and Vexillum transalpinum nov. sp. Lectotypes are designated for Mitra badensis Hoernes Auinger, 1880, M. brevior Friedberg, 1911, M. fuchsi Hoernes Auinger, 1880, M. intermittens Hoernes Auinger, 1880, M. januszkiewiczi Friedberg, 1928, M. lapugyensis Hoernes Auinger, 1880, M. laubei Hoernes Auinger, 1880, M. michelottii Hörnes, 1852, M. moravica Hoernes Auinger, 1880, M. neugeboreni Hoernes Auinger, 1880, M. partschi Hörnes, 1852, M. pseudorecticosta Boettger, 1906, M. sturi Hoernes Auinger, 1880, M. szobbiensis Halaváts, 1884.

The Cainozoic to present-day record of Circum-Mediterranean, NE Atlantic and North Sea Cantharidinae and Trochinae (Trochoidea, Gastropoda)-a synopsis.

Evolutionary history, diversity and (paleo)geographic distribution of Cainozoic to present-day species of the Trochidae subfamilies Cantharidinae and Trochinae are discussed based on an extensive literature survey. In total, 393 species-level taxa, assigned to 24 genera and subgenera, are listed from the NE Atlantic, the E Atlantic, the North Sea, the (Proto)-Mediterranean Sea, the Central Paratethys Sea and the Eastern Paratethys Sea. Short diagnosis and subjective and objective junior synonyms for genus-level taxa are given. Stratigraphic ranges and geographic distribution are listed for species-level taxa.                The European fossil record suggests a first major radiation during the middle Eocene and a second diversity pulse during the Miocene, when most extant genera were already present. At the species level, however, the present-day fauna is geologically very young, originating during the Pleistocene and Holocene. Overall, no convincing correlation of evolution and diversity of European Cantharidinae and Trochinae with major geodynamic events (e.g. Tethys Closure) can be observed. An exception is the somewhat overlooked spectacular radiation of Cantharidinae following the hydrological isolation of the Paratethys Sea during the late Miocene. The critical evaluation of the fossil record provides anchor points to test molecular phylogenies. A major discrepancy between both approaches appears only for Jujubinus, which suggests that Paleocene species have to be excluded from the genus.                Gibbuliculus nov. gen. is introduced as new genus for a group of Oligocene to Pleistocene species, placed so far in "Colliculus" sensu auctores non Monterosato, 1888. Anceps siminescui nov. nom, Gibbuliculus saccoi nov. nom, Gibbula tavanii nov. nom., Gibbula s.l. lovellreevei nov. nom. and Gibbula s.l. steiningeri nov. nom. are proposed as new names for the preoccupied Trochus semistriatus Siminescu Barbu, 1940, Gibbula protumida Sacco, 1896, Gibbula minima Tavani, 1939, Trochus (Gibbula) reevei Harmer, 1923 and Trochus amedei bicincta Schaffer, 1912.

Turritellidae (Gastropoda) of the Miocene Paratethys Sea with considerations about turritellid genera.

We present a critical evaluation of the taxonomy, stratigraphy and biogeography of the turritellid gastropods of the Miocene Paratethys Sea. 159 species-level names and 6 infrasubspecific names have been used for Paratethyan Turritellidae since 1848. Of these, only 35 species are accepted herein as valid species, with some uncertainties due to poor preservation or limited access to type material. Maximum diversities occurred during the early middle Miocene (Langhian, Badenian) coinciding with the Miocene Climatic Optimum. Whilst early Miocene turritellid assemblages are characterized by large to very large species of Peyrotia, Turritella and Allmonia, middle Miocene assemblages are predominated by medium-sized species of Archimediella, Helminthia, Oligodia and Ptychidia. The taxonomic composition of these faunas, with representatives of Archimediella, Helminthia, Mesalia and Vermicularia suggests a biogeographic affiliation with Atlantic and especially West African faunas.                Turritellinella new gen. is established as new genus for the eastern Atlantic-Mediterranean Turritella tricarinata/communis complex. Viennella is described as new genus with Turritella incisaeformis Csepreghy-Meznerics 1956 as type species. Allmonia new gen. is introduced as new genus for European Cenozoic Protominae previously placed in Protoma. For the first time, inner lirae are documented as conchological features of Turritellidae.                Six species are described as new, three within the Turritellinae: Archimediella carpathica new sp., Ptychidia erynella new sp. and Viennella ignorata new sp., and three within the Pareorinae: Mesalia sovisi new sp., Mesalia stryriaca new sp. and Mesalia bohnhavasae new sp.. Ptychidia austrorotundata new nom. is proposed as new name Turritella turris rotundata Schaffer 1912, non Turritella rotundata Grzybowski 1899. We designate lectotypes for Turritella gradata Menke in Hörnes, 1855, Haustator striatellatus Sacco, 1895, Allmonia carniolica (Stache, 1858) and Allmonia alterniplicata (Sacco, 1895). Neotypes are designated for Archimediella abundans (Handmann, 1882), Archimediella hoernesi (Rolle, 1856), Ptychidia partschi (Rolle, 1856), Ptychidia? ernesti (Handmann, 1882). Rhabdosis Townes, 1970 (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae) is a junior homonym of Rhabdosis Handmann 1882 (Gastropoda, Turritellidae) and will need a new name.

High coral reef connectivity across the Indian Ocean is revealed 6-7 Ma ago by a turbid-water scleractinian assemblage from Tanzania (Eastern Africa).

The present centre of coral diversity in the Western Indian Ocean is defined by the northern Mozambique Channel with an extension northward to Mafia Island in Tanzania (Eastern Africa). The geological and evolutionary history of this hotspot of marine biodiversity remains so far completely obscure, because Cenozoic fossil reef communities of this area are not well known. This study presents a new fossil scleractinian fauna from the Mikindani Formation in southern Tanzania. It comprises 16 symbiotic coral taxa of which nine could be identified to the species and five to the genus level. Coral habitat consisted of low-relief biostromes that developed in shallow water at the front of the Rovuma Delta under conditions of variable sediment input. The biostromes are dated to be Messinian based on associated calcareous nannoplankton and planktic foraminifers. The studied coral assemblage shows close affinities with the Recent Western Indian Ocean biogeographic province and Central Indo-West Pacific biogeographic region as well as with the Miocene of Indonesia. Faunistic relations with the Oligocene-early Miocene of Somalia and Iran do not exist. The patterns of species distribution document a major palaeobiogeographic change in the Indian Ocean that correlates with the onset of the Miocene Indian Ocean Equatorial Jet during the middle Miocene. The clear Indonesian affinity of the Messinian coral fauna from southern Tanzania implies that this westerly oceanic surface current provided high biogeographic connectivity across the Indian Ocean during the late Miocene. Today, the coastal waters of Indonesia are located in the Coral Triangle. Diversification of this global epicentre of marine biodiversity started in the early Miocene and it was established already during the middle Miocene. Our results indicate that the East African hotspot of coral biodiversity originated as an offshoot of the Coral Triangle in the middle to late Miocene.

Automatic determination of 3D orientations of fossilized oyster shells from a densely packed Miocene shell bed.

Shell beds represent a useful source of information on various physical processes that cause the depositional condition. We present an automated method to calculate the 3D orientations of a large number of elongate and platy objects (fossilized oyster shells) on a sedimentary bedding plane, developed to support the interpretation of possible depositional patterns, imbrications, or impact of local faults. The study focusses on more than 1900 fossil oyster shells exposed in a densely packed Miocene shell bed. 3D data were acquired by terrestrial laser scanning on an area of 459 m2 with a resolution of 1 mm. Bivalve shells were manually defined as 3D-point clouds of a digital surface model and stored in an ArcGIS database. An individual shell coordinate system (ISCS) was virtually embedded into each shell and its orientation was determined relative to the coordinate system of the entire, tectonically tilted shell bed. Orientation is described by the rotation angles roll, pitch, and yaw in a Cartesian coordinate system. This method allows an efficient measurement and analysis of the orientation of thousands of specimens and is a major advantage compared to the traditional 2D approach, which measures only the azimuth (yaw) angles. The resulting data can variously be utilized for taphonomic analyses and the reconstruction of prevailing hydrodynamic regimes and depositional environments. For the first time, the influence of possible post-sedimentary vertical displacements can be quantified with high accuracy. Here, the effect of nearby fault lines-present in the reef-was tested on strongly tilted oyster shells, but it was found out that the fault lines did not have a statistically significant effect on the large tilt angles. Aside from the high reproducibility, a further advantage of the method is its non-destructive nature, which is especially suitable for geoparks and protected sites such as the studied shell bed.

Early Miocene reef- and mudflat-associated gastropods from Makran (SE-Iran).

A new gastropod fauna of Burdigalian (early Miocene) age is described from the Iranian part of Makran. The fauna comprises 19 species and represents three distinct assemblages from turbid water coral reef, shallow subtidal soft-bottom and mangrove-fringed mudflat environments in the northern Indian Ocean. Especially the reef-associated assemblage comprises largely new species. This is explained by the rare occurrence of reefs along the northern margin of the Miocene Indian Ocean and the low number of scientific studies dealing with the region. In terms of paleobiogeography, the fauna corresponds well to coeval faunas from the Pakistani Balochistan and Sindh provinces and the Indian Kathiawar, Kutch and Kerala provinces. During the early Miocene, these constituted a discrete biogeographic unit, the Western Indian Province, which documents the near complete biogeographic isolation from the Proto-Mediterranean Sea. Some mudflat taxa might represent examples of vicariance following the Tethys closure. The fauna also displays little connection with coeval faunas from Indonesia, documenting a strong provincialism within the Indo-West Pacific Region during early Miocene times. Neritopsis gedrosiana sp. nov., Calliostoma irerense sp. nov., Calliostoma mohtatae sp. nov. and Trivellona makranica sp. nov. are described as new species.

Comprehensive analysis and reinterpretation of Cenozoic mesofossils reveals ancient origin of the snapping claw of alpheid shrimps.

Alpheid snapping shrimps (Decapoda: Caridea: Alpheidae) constitute one of the model groups for inferences aimed at understanding the evolution of complex structural, behavioural, and ecological traits among benthic marine invertebrates. Despite being a super-diverse taxon with a broad geographical distribution, the alpheid fossil record is still poorly known. However, data presented herein show that the strongly calcified fingertips of alpheid snapping claws are not uncommon in the fossil record and should be considered a novel type of mesofossil. The Cenozoic remains analysed here represent a compelling structural match with extant species of Alpheus. Based on the presence of several distinct snapping claw-fingertip morphotypes, the major radiation of Alpheus lineages is estimated to have occurred as early as 18 mya. In addition, the oldest fossil record of alpheids in general can now be confirmed for the Late Oligocene (27-28 mya), thus providing a novel minimum age for the entire group as well as the first reliable calibration point for deep phylogenetic inferences.