Pub Date : 2025-10-08DOI: 10.1016/j.cretres.2025.106249
Yuta Tsukiji , Soki Hattori , Yoichi Azuma
A small theropod track was discovered in the Lower Cretaceous Kitadani Formation at the Kitadani Dinosaur Quarry in Fukui, Japan. Its distinctive didactyl morphology suggests that the trackmaker was a deinonychosaurian theropod. The track measures 8.0 cm in length and 4.7 cm in width, with a divarication angle of 20° between digits III and IV. These features are consistent with those of the ichnogenus Velociraptorichnus. The track exhibits a centrally positioned metatarsophalangeal pad impression along its longitudinal axis, a feature also observed in other ichnotaxa interpreted as having been made by arctometatarsalian theropods. Given that the arctometatarsalian condition is restricted to troodontids within Deinonychosauria, the trackmaker is inferred to be a troodontid. This specimen represents the first record of a deinonychosaurian track from Japan and provides new ichnological evidence for the presence of deinonychosaurian theropods in the Kitadani Formation. Furthermore, it reinforces the previous hypotheses suggesting a close relationship between the dinosaur ichnofauna of the Kitadani Formation and other dinosaur ichnofaunas of the Lower Cretaceous in East Asia.
{"title":"First didactyl theropod track from the Lower Cretaceous Kitadani Formation, Tetori Group, Fukui, Japan","authors":"Yuta Tsukiji , Soki Hattori , Yoichi Azuma","doi":"10.1016/j.cretres.2025.106249","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cretres.2025.106249","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A small theropod track was discovered in the Lower Cretaceous Kitadani Formation at the Kitadani Dinosaur Quarry in Fukui, Japan. Its distinctive didactyl morphology suggests that the trackmaker was a deinonychosaurian theropod. The track measures 8.0 cm in length and 4.7 cm in width, with a divarication angle of 20° between digits III and IV. These features are consistent with those of the ichnogenus <em>Velociraptorichnus</em>. The track exhibits a centrally positioned metatarsophalangeal pad impression along its longitudinal axis, a feature also observed in other ichnotaxa interpreted as having been made by arctometatarsalian theropods. Given that the arctometatarsalian condition is restricted to troodontids within Deinonychosauria, the trackmaker is inferred to be a troodontid. This specimen represents the first record of a deinonychosaurian track from Japan and provides new ichnological evidence for the presence of deinonychosaurian theropods in the Kitadani Formation. Furthermore, it reinforces the previous hypotheses suggesting a close relationship between the dinosaur ichnofauna of the Kitadani Formation and other dinosaur ichnofaunas of the Lower Cretaceous in East Asia.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55207,"journal":{"name":"Cretaceous Research","volume":"179 ","pages":"Article 106249"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-10-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145418133","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-09-30DOI: 10.1016/j.cretres.2025.106242
Silvia Regina Gobbo, Reinaldo J. Bertini
This study investigates the origin and intercontinental dispersal routes of non-marine ostracods during the Campanian–Maastrichtian, with emphasis on the biogeographic history of the subfamily Talicyprideinae and related genera. Fossil distribution data from the literature were analysed, key species were taxonomically revised, and the results were integrated with palaeogeographic reconstructions to infer dispersal pathways. The findings indicate that Talicyprideinae originated in north-eastern Brazil and dispersed along two main routes: one through Africa and Eurasia, and another through South America to India via Antarctica. Genera such as Harbinia, Vecticypris, Zonocypris and Virgatocypris spread from northern Africa into Europe, southern South America, and North America (via Beringia). The Antarctic route explains ostracod occurrences in south-eastern Brazil, Argentina and India. The revised diagnosis of four Talicyprideinae species confirms their presence in South America. Dispersal mechanisms—wind, water and animal-mediated—were evaluated for their role in these patterns. A complex network of Campanian–Maastrichtian dispersal routes is highlighted, including the Kerguelen Plateau, Ninetyeast Ridge, Seychelles–Laxmi Ridge, Apulian Microplate, Beringia, and the Caribbean region, revealing global connectivity among ostracod faunas.
{"title":"Global dispersal patterns of non-marine ostracods in the Late Cretaceous (Campanian–Maastrichtian)","authors":"Silvia Regina Gobbo, Reinaldo J. Bertini","doi":"10.1016/j.cretres.2025.106242","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cretres.2025.106242","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study investigates the origin and intercontinental dispersal routes of non-marine ostracods during the Campanian–Maastrichtian, with emphasis on the biogeographic history of the subfamily Talicyprideinae and related genera. Fossil distribution data from the literature were analysed, key species were taxonomically revised, and the results were integrated with palaeogeographic reconstructions to infer dispersal pathways. The findings indicate that Talicyprideinae originated in north-eastern Brazil and dispersed along two main routes: one through Africa and Eurasia, and another through South America to India via Antarctica. Genera such as <em>Harbinia</em>, <em>Vecticypris</em>, <em>Zonocypris</em> and <em>Virgatocypris</em> spread from northern Africa into Europe, southern South America, and North America (via Beringia). The Antarctic route explains ostracod occurrences in south-eastern Brazil, Argentina and India. The revised diagnosis of four Talicyprideinae species confirms their presence in South America. Dispersal mechanisms—wind, water and animal-mediated—were evaluated for their role in these patterns. A complex network of Campanian–Maastrichtian dispersal routes is highlighted, including the Kerguelen Plateau, Ninetyeast Ridge, Seychelles–Laxmi Ridge, Apulian Microplate, Beringia, and the Caribbean region, revealing global connectivity among ostracod faunas.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55207,"journal":{"name":"Cretaceous Research","volume":"179 ","pages":"Article 106242"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145322957","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-09-26DOI: 10.1016/j.cretres.2025.106244
Jiandong Huang , Xuri Wang , Andrea Cau , Lei Mao , Yichuan Liu , Yang Wang
A new euornithine bird, Kunpengornis anhuimusei gen. et sp. nov., is described based on a nearly complete skeleton from the Lower Cretaceous (Aptian) Jehol Biota in western Liaoning, China. The new taxon is characterized by possessing the unique combination of reduced maxillary ramus of premaxilla shorter than half the buccal margin of premaxilla, coracoid having a trapezoidal procoracoid process not expanded craniocaudally at its medial margin, sternum with blunt craniolateral process, drop-shaped distal end of lateral trabecula and reduced intermediate trabecula not enclosing a caudal fenestra, pubis lacking ossified distal symphysis and with gradually expanding distal end, resulting twice longer craniocaudally than at mid-shaft, but lacking an abrupt distinction between shaft and distal foot. The macerated fish bones preserved in the abdominal cavity provides direct evidence that Kunpengornis was piscivorous. Despite overall similarity with some yanornithids and other piscivorous euornithines, the phylogenetic analysis places Kunpengornis as sister taxon of Piscivoravis and closer to the "ornithuromorph-gansuid" clade than Yanornithidae, a result which supports the hypothesis that a piscivorous "Yanornis-like" bauplan was a grade along the evolutionary sequence leading to the precursors of the modern avians. The acquisition of the fish-eating ecology and the exploitation of the aquatic environments represented key innovations for the successful radiation of the euornithine birds.
根据辽宁西部下白垩世（Aptian）热河生物群的一具近乎完整的骨架，描述了一种新的真鸟目鸟类——Kunpengornis anhuimusei gen. et sp. nov.。该新分类群的特点是具有以下特征的独特组合：前上颌缩支短于前上颌颊缘的一半，喙突内侧缘有一个不向颅侧扩张的梯状前喙突，胸骨颅外侧突钝，外侧小梁远端呈滴水状，中间小梁缩小，不包围尾侧孔，耻骨缺乏骨化的远端联合，远端逐渐扩大。结果两倍长于颅侧比在中轴，但缺乏轴和远端足之间的突然区分。保存在腹腔里的浸泡过的鱼骨为昆鸟是食鱼动物提供了直接证据。尽管总体上与一些燕鸟目和其他鱼食性新鸟目相似，但系统发育分析将Kunpengornis列为鱼鸟目的姐妹分类群，并且比燕鸟科更接近于“鸟鸟形态-gansuid”分支，这一结果支持了一种“类似燕鸟目”的鱼食性鸟计划是进化序列中导致现代鸟类祖先的一个等级的假设。食鱼生态的获取和水生环境的开发是新鸟目鸟类成功辐射的关键创新。
{"title":"A new euornithine from the Lower Cretaceous (Aptian) of China reveals the first radiation of fish-eating birds","authors":"Jiandong Huang , Xuri Wang , Andrea Cau , Lei Mao , Yichuan Liu , Yang Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.cretres.2025.106244","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cretres.2025.106244","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A new euornithine bird, <em>Kunpengornis anhuimusei</em> gen. et sp. nov., is described based on a nearly complete skeleton from the Lower Cretaceous (Aptian) Jehol Biota in western Liaoning, China. The new taxon is characterized by possessing the unique combination of reduced maxillary ramus of premaxilla shorter than half the buccal margin of premaxilla, coracoid having a trapezoidal procoracoid process not expanded craniocaudally at its medial margin, sternum with blunt craniolateral process, drop-shaped distal end of lateral trabecula and reduced intermediate trabecula not enclosing a caudal fenestra, pubis lacking ossified distal symphysis and with gradually expanding distal end, resulting twice longer craniocaudally than at mid-shaft, but lacking an abrupt distinction between shaft and distal foot. The macerated fish bones preserved in the abdominal cavity provides direct evidence that <em>Kunpengornis</em> was piscivorous. Despite overall similarity with some yanornithids and other piscivorous euornithines, the phylogenetic analysis places <em>Kunpengornis</em> as sister taxon of <em>Piscivoravis</em> and closer to the \"ornithuromorph-gansuid\" clade than Yanornithidae, a result which supports the hypothesis that a piscivorous \"<em>Yanornis</em>-like\" <em>bauplan</em> was a grade along the evolutionary sequence leading to the precursors of the modern avians. The acquisition of the fish-eating ecology and the exploitation of the aquatic environments represented key innovations for the successful radiation of the euornithine birds.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55207,"journal":{"name":"Cretaceous Research","volume":"179 ","pages":"Article 106244"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-09-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145270468","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-09-25DOI: 10.1016/j.cretres.2025.106247
Xiao Tan , Yuhui Feng , Fei Liang , Yunfeng Li , Chunlin Sun , Ge Sun
The Jianchang Basin of western Liaoning, NE China is one of the important Mesozoic non-marine sedimentary basins in China. The Lower Cretaceous Binggou Formation is well exposed in this basin yielding abundant coal and fossils. Lately research on the invertebrate and plant fossils from this formation indicates this biota chronologically corresponding to the famous Fuxin biota. The present work uncovers a palynoflora in the Formation composed of 153 species of 59 genera which are represented by the assemblage of Cicatricosisporites-Osmundacidites-Concentrisporites. The assemblage is dominated by gymnospermous pollen and is evidenced of the upper Lower Cretaceous by the characters of its composition and the occurrence of such age-diagnostic elements as Cicatricosisporites, Appendicisporites, Erlianpollis and Jiaohepollis. New U–Pb zircon dating made by the authors from the middle of the coal seam of the formation, indicates a 106.5 ± 1.9 Ma age, and confirms the Binggou Formation and palynoflora belonging to the Albian of the Lower Cretaceous, for the first time. The paleoecological and paleoenvironmental characteristics based on the palynoflora are also reconstructed by using the Sporopollen EcoGroup (SEG) model and the Plant Ecological Model (Eco-plant model). It suggests that the flora flourished in an environment characterized by the coexistence of both highland and lowland river systems. During the period when this flora existed, humidity levels increased slightly, and the environment remained stable, showing no evidence of large-scale climatic disturbances.
{"title":"Lower Cretaceous palynoflora from the Binggou Formation of Jianchang Basin, western Liaoning, NE China and its U–Pb zircon age","authors":"Xiao Tan , Yuhui Feng , Fei Liang , Yunfeng Li , Chunlin Sun , Ge Sun","doi":"10.1016/j.cretres.2025.106247","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cretres.2025.106247","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Jianchang Basin of western Liaoning, NE China is one of the important Mesozoic non-marine sedimentary basins in China. The Lower Cretaceous Binggou Formation is well exposed in this basin yielding abundant coal and fossils. Lately research on the invertebrate and plant fossils from this formation indicates this biota chronologically corresponding to the famous Fuxin biota. The present work uncovers a palynoflora in the Formation composed of 153 species of 59 genera which are represented by the assemblage of <em>Cicatricosisporites-Osmundacidites-Concentrisporites</em>. The assemblage is dominated by gymnospermous pollen and is evidenced of the upper Lower Cretaceous by the characters of its composition and the occurrence of such age-diagnostic elements as <em>Cicatricosisporite</em>s, <em>Appendicisporites</em>, <em>Erlianpollis</em> and <em>Jiaohepollis</em>. New U–Pb zircon dating made by the authors from the middle of the coal seam of the formation, indicates a 106.5 ± 1.9 Ma age, and confirms the Binggou Formation and palynoflora belonging to the Albian of the Lower Cretaceous, for the first time. The paleoecological and paleoenvironmental characteristics based on the palynoflora are also reconstructed by using the Sporopollen EcoGroup (SEG) model and the Plant Ecological Model (Eco-plant model). It suggests that the flora flourished in an environment characterized by the coexistence of both highland and lowland river systems. During the period when this flora existed, humidity levels increased slightly, and the environment remained stable, showing no evidence of large-scale climatic disturbances.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55207,"journal":{"name":"Cretaceous Research","volume":"179 ","pages":"Article 106247"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-09-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145270467","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-09-24DOI: 10.1016/j.cretres.2025.106243
Vladimir N. Makarkin , Arnold H. Staniczek
Rhachisymphrasis raehlei gen. et sp. nov. (Neuroptera: Mantispidae: Symphrasinae) is described from mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber. The genus is remarkable for possessing many character states which do not occur in other Symphrasinae: the profemur is slender; the protibia is very short; the lanceolate process of the probasitarsus arises from its tip and is relatively thin; the mesotibia is strongly expanded; and the forewing CuP is shallowly forked. The protarsus of Rhachisymphrasis gen. nov. is rather similar to that of Rhachiberothidae. However, it is unclear whether Rhachiberothidae is phylogenetically closer to Mantispidae or Berothidae. The most plausible hypothesis is that Rhachiberothidae constitute an ancient branch of Mantispoidea leading to Mantispidae (including Symphrasinae), but retaining many character states of Berothidae. The symphrasine affinity of SinomesomantispaJepson et al., 2013 from the Lower Cretaceous of China is confirmed.
rachisymphrasis raehlei gen. et sp. 11 .（神经翅目：螳螂科：螳螂科）来自中白垩世克钦琥珀。该属的显著特点是具有许多在其他合孢科中所没有的特征状态：柱头纤细；时间很短；近跖骨的披针形突起起于其尖端，相对较薄；中胫肌强烈扩张；前杯呈浅分叉。石竹属的前跗关节与石竹科的前跗关节非常相似。然而，目前尚不清楚在系统发育上Rhachiberothidae是否更接近Mantispidae或Berothidae。最合理的假设是，尾蛛科构成了螳螂科的一个古老分支，导致了螳螂科（包括合蛛科），但保留了许多蛛科的特征状态。中国下白垩统Sinomesomantispa Jepson et al.， 2013证实了共phrasine亲和力。
{"title":"A remarkable new genus of Symphrasinae (Neuroptera: Mantispidae) from mid-Cretaceous amber of Myanmar, and the problem of the phylogenetic affinities of Rhachiberothidae","authors":"Vladimir N. Makarkin , Arnold H. Staniczek","doi":"10.1016/j.cretres.2025.106243","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cretres.2025.106243","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Rhachisymphrasis raehlei</em> gen. et sp. nov. (Neuroptera: Mantispidae: Symphrasinae) is described from mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber. The genus is remarkable for possessing many character states which do not occur in other Symphrasinae: the profemur is slender; the protibia is very short; the lanceolate process of the probasitarsus arises from its tip and is relatively thin; the mesotibia is strongly expanded; and the forewing CuP is shallowly forked. The protarsus of <em>Rhachisymphrasis</em> gen. nov. is rather similar to that of Rhachiberothidae. However, it is unclear whether Rhachiberothidae is phylogenetically closer to Mantispidae or Berothidae. The most plausible hypothesis is that Rhachiberothidae constitute an ancient branch of Mantispoidea leading to Mantispidae (including Symphrasinae), but retaining many character states of Berothidae. The symphrasine affinity of <em>Sinomesomantispa</em> <span><span>Jepson et al., 2013</span></span> from the Lower Cretaceous of China is confirmed.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55207,"journal":{"name":"Cretaceous Research","volume":"179 ","pages":"Article 106243"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-09-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145242356","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-09-20DOI: 10.1016/j.cretres.2025.106246
Pham Thi Nga , Taro Higuchi , Kentaro Oe , Nguyen Quoc Dinh , Rajat Mazumder , Tohru Ohta
Severe aridification has been recognized in low-latitude areas of Southeast Asia during the mid-Cretaceous; however, previous studies mainly focused on continental interior basins. Here, we investigate Cretaceous continental sediments from northern Vietnam, located in the Southeast Asian continental margin, where a precise study has not been conducted. The geochemical and mineralogical characteristics of mudstones collected from the Ban Hang and Yen Chau formations revealed fluctuations in climate conditions in northern Vietnam, including a slight humidification from the Early to mid-Cretaceous and aridification in the Late Cretaceous. Northern Vietnam is considered to have experienced a temperate semi-arid climate in the Early Cretaceous but shifted to a hot and sub-humid environment in the mid-Cretaceous and then returned to arid conditions in the late Period. The results indicate that the coastal area of Southeast Asia was more humid than the inland due to its proximity to the proto-Pacific Ocean. We also detected an increase in humidity in the coastal area during the mid-Cretaceous, contrasting with the inland regions where extreme aridification progressed. This contrasting paleoclimate regime was probably established by the isolation of coastal and inland areas by the tectonic re-configuration of the Southeast Asian continent. During the Cretaceous, closure of the Meso-Tethys Ocean and collisional tectonics generated a coastal mountain range, which caused the orogenic rain-shadow effects, i.e., increased precipitation in the coastal area and intensified desertification in the inland area. The present contribution indicates that the Cretaceous paleoclimate conditions in Southeast Asia were primarily constrained by the regional geographical background rather than the global climate system.
{"title":"Paleoclimate variation during the Cretaceous revealed by geochemical and mineralogical analyses from continental sediments in northern Vietnam","authors":"Pham Thi Nga , Taro Higuchi , Kentaro Oe , Nguyen Quoc Dinh , Rajat Mazumder , Tohru Ohta","doi":"10.1016/j.cretres.2025.106246","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cretres.2025.106246","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Severe aridification has been recognized in low-latitude areas of Southeast Asia during the mid-Cretaceous; however, previous studies mainly focused on continental interior basins. Here, we investigate Cretaceous continental sediments from northern Vietnam, located in the Southeast Asian continental margin, where a precise study has not been conducted. The geochemical and mineralogical characteristics of mudstones collected from the Ban Hang and Yen Chau formations revealed fluctuations in climate conditions in northern Vietnam, including a slight humidification from the Early to mid-Cretaceous and aridification in the Late Cretaceous. Northern Vietnam is considered to have experienced a temperate semi-arid climate in the Early Cretaceous but shifted to a hot and sub-humid environment in the mid-Cretaceous and then returned to arid conditions in the late Period. The results indicate that the coastal area of Southeast Asia was more humid than the inland due to its proximity to the proto-Pacific Ocean. We also detected an increase in humidity in the coastal area during the mid-Cretaceous, contrasting with the inland regions where extreme aridification progressed. This contrasting paleoclimate regime was probably established by the isolation of coastal and inland areas by the tectonic re-configuration of the Southeast Asian continent. During the Cretaceous, closure of the Meso-Tethys Ocean and collisional tectonics generated a coastal mountain range, which caused the orogenic rain-shadow effects, i.e., increased precipitation in the coastal area and intensified desertification in the inland area. The present contribution indicates that the Cretaceous paleoclimate conditions in Southeast Asia were primarily constrained by the regional geographical background rather than the global climate system.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55207,"journal":{"name":"Cretaceous Research","volume":"179 ","pages":"Article 106246"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-09-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145242355","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-09-20DOI: 10.1016/j.cretres.2025.106245
Gabriel M. Bueno , Renato J.P. Machado , Diego Almeida-Silva , Guilherme C. Ribeiro
The Crato Formation (Lower Cretaceous, Brazil) preserves a highly diverse fossil insect fauna, including 10 genera of Araripeneurinae (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae), whose taxonomy has long been hampered by limited access to type specimens and ambiguous original descriptions. Here, we revisit the taxonomic status of three genera—Cratopteryx Martins-Neto & Vulcano, Caririneura Martins-Neto & Vulcano, and Paracaririneura Martins-Neto & Vulcano—by integrating traditional morphological examination and redescriptions of holotypes with geometric morphometric analysis of forewing shape. Our results provide updated and objective diagnoses for these genera, clarify their distinctiveness based on robust morphometric separation in morphospace, and support the designation of a neotype for Cratopteryx nemopteroides Martins-Neto. We demonstrate the utility of geometric morphometrics as a complementary tool for fossil insect taxonomy, providing support for the validity of the studied genera. This revision, by restoring access and providing redescriptions of previously inaccessible holotypes, restores taxonomic stability and lays a foundation for future systematic and evolutionary studies on fossil Myrmeleontidae from the Crato Formation.
{"title":"Revisiting the taxonomic status of three Araripeneurinae (Neuroptera, Myrmeleontidae) genera from the lower Cretaceous Crato formation using geometric morphometrics as a complementary tool","authors":"Gabriel M. Bueno , Renato J.P. Machado , Diego Almeida-Silva , Guilherme C. Ribeiro","doi":"10.1016/j.cretres.2025.106245","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cretres.2025.106245","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Crato Formation (Lower Cretaceous, Brazil) preserves a highly diverse fossil insect fauna, including 10 genera of Araripeneurinae (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae), whose taxonomy has long been hampered by limited access to type specimens and ambiguous original descriptions. Here, we revisit the taxonomic status of three genera—<em>Cratopteryx</em> Martins-Neto & Vulcano, <em>Caririneura</em> Martins-Neto & Vulcano, and <em>Paracaririneura</em> Martins-Neto & Vulcano—by integrating traditional morphological examination and redescriptions of holotypes with geometric morphometric analysis of forewing shape. Our results provide updated and objective diagnoses for these genera, clarify their distinctiveness based on robust morphometric separation in morphospace, and support the designation of a neotype for <em>Cratopteryx nemopteroides</em> Martins-Neto. We demonstrate the utility of geometric morphometrics as a complementary tool for fossil insect taxonomy, providing support for the validity of the studied genera. This revision, by restoring access and providing redescriptions of previously inaccessible holotypes, restores taxonomic stability and lays a foundation for future systematic and evolutionary studies on fossil Myrmeleontidae from the Crato Formation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55207,"journal":{"name":"Cretaceous Research","volume":"179 ","pages":"Article 106245"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-09-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145270466","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-09-18DOI: 10.1016/j.cretres.2025.106214
Francesco Miniati , Ian Jarvis , Johannes Monkenbusch , Elisabetta Erba , Clemens V. Ullmann , Nicolas Thibault
This study presents a revised calcareous nannofossil biostratigraphy and a new high-resolution carbonate carbon isotope record (δ13Ccarb) for the Seaford Head section in southern England, a key reference section for the Upper Cretaceous of NW Europe. A new sedimentary log for the uppermost Turonian – lower middle Coniacian section is drawn and combined with previously published logs for the upper Coniacian to lower Campanian. The compiled isotopic record incorporates 713 new sample data along with recently published δ13Ccarb values from the section, and the calcareous nannofossil biostratigraphy is supported by the detailed analysis of 68 samples, using both semi-quantitative and quantitative abundance data. The local confidence in the record of biohorizons in the section and their supra-regional reliability are addressed. These include the highest and lowest occurrences of index species, but we additionally critically assess the stratigraphic use of highest and lowest consistent occurrences and the Base and Top of taxon acme levels. Three commonly used zonal and two subzonal markers are shown to be unreliable but 10 secondary events show high reliability for correlation. Carbon isotope stratigraphy, supported by macrofossil and microfossil biostratigraphy, allows for precise correlations to other European sections like Trunch, eastern England, and Salzgitter-Salder and Lägerdorf, northern Germany. Our integrated stratigraphic approach thus allows for a more accurate assessment of biozonation schemes and chemostratigraphy. In particular, this study provides a valuable resource for the refined stratigraphic expression of Coniacian, Santonian and Campanian stage boundaries and large-scale correlation of southern England to Global Stratotype Sections and Points (GSSPs).
{"title":"Upper Cretaceous (upper Turonian – lower Campanian) calcareous nannofossils and carbon isotopes from Seaford Head (southern England): Critical appraisal of biozones and correlation to GSSPs","authors":"Francesco Miniati , Ian Jarvis , Johannes Monkenbusch , Elisabetta Erba , Clemens V. Ullmann , Nicolas Thibault","doi":"10.1016/j.cretres.2025.106214","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cretres.2025.106214","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study presents a revised calcareous nannofossil biostratigraphy and a new high-resolution carbonate carbon isotope record (δ<sup>13</sup>C<sub>carb</sub>) for the Seaford Head section in southern England, a key reference section for the Upper Cretaceous of NW Europe. A new sedimentary log for the uppermost Turonian – lower middle Coniacian section is drawn and combined with previously published logs for the upper Coniacian to lower Campanian. The compiled isotopic record incorporates 713 new sample data along with recently published δ<sup>13</sup>C<sub>car</sub><sub>b</sub> values from the section, and the calcareous nannofossil biostratigraphy is supported by the detailed analysis of 68 samples, using both semi-quantitative and quantitative abundance data. The local confidence in the record of biohorizons in the section and their supra-regional reliability are addressed. These include the highest and lowest occurrences of index species, but we additionally critically assess the stratigraphic use of highest and lowest consistent occurrences and the Base and Top of taxon acme levels. Three commonly used zonal and two subzonal markers are shown to be unreliable but 10 secondary events show high reliability for correlation. Carbon isotope stratigraphy, supported by macrofossil and microfossil biostratigraphy, allows for precise correlations to other European sections like Trunch, eastern England, and Salzgitter-Salder and Lägerdorf, northern Germany. Our integrated stratigraphic approach thus allows for a more accurate assessment of biozonation schemes and chemostratigraphy. In particular, this study provides a valuable resource for the refined stratigraphic expression of Coniacian, Santonian and Campanian stage boundaries and large-scale correlation of southern England to Global Stratotype Sections and Points (GSSPs).</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55207,"journal":{"name":"Cretaceous Research","volume":"178 ","pages":"Article 106214"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145528445","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-09-17DOI: 10.1016/j.cretres.2025.106241
Husamaldeen Zubi , Brian F. Platt , Muneer Abdalla , Jennifer Gifford , Belkasim Khameiss
The Tuscaloosa Group (Grp), the basal unit of Upper Cretaceous strata in the northern Gulf of Mexico (GoM), formed during the late Cenomanian transgression across the southeastern United States. Despite its significance, comprehensive sequence stratigraphic analyses of the Tuscaloosa Grp within the south-central Mississippi Embayment (MSE) are limited. This study integrates core data, wireline logs, and field observations to characterize its depositional evolution and sequence stratigraphic architecture, delineating stratigraphic surfaces, systems tracts, and depositional sequences, and examining controlling factors. Four third-order sequences were identified from four sequence boundaries, two transgressive surfaces, and three maximum flooding surfaces. Sequence 1 (S1) includes a lowstand systems tract (LST), transgressive systems tract (TST), and highstand systems tract (HST); Sequence 2 (S2) has a TST and HST; Sequence 3 (S3) contains a LST, TST, and HST; and Sequence 4 (S4) includes a LST and TST. S1 comprises fluvial and incised valley deposits (LST), transitioned to deltaic TST during rising sea levels, and culminated in barrier island and shelf HST. S2 features distal shelf TST deposits followed by a prograding deltaic HST. S3 records a full cycle: fluvial LST, retrograding deltaic TST, and progradational deltaic HST. S4 is less developed, with fluvial LST and localized retrograding deltaic TST deposits. The Tuscaloosa's evolution was driven by accommodation space changes and sediment supply. Subsidence of the MSE in the Late Cretaceous may have increased accommodation and facilitated TST formation in the Upper Tuscaloosa. The Appalachian Highlands supplied most sediments, with the Ouachita Highlands as a secondary source.
{"title":"Depositional system transitions and sequence stratigraphic evolution of the Tuscaloosa Group in the Mississippi Embayment, USA: Accommodation space and sediment supply controls","authors":"Husamaldeen Zubi , Brian F. Platt , Muneer Abdalla , Jennifer Gifford , Belkasim Khameiss","doi":"10.1016/j.cretres.2025.106241","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cretres.2025.106241","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Tuscaloosa Group (Grp), the basal unit of Upper Cretaceous strata in the northern Gulf of Mexico (GoM), formed during the late Cenomanian transgression across the southeastern United States. Despite its significance, comprehensive sequence stratigraphic analyses of the Tuscaloosa Grp within the south-central Mississippi Embayment (MSE) are limited. This study integrates core data, wireline logs, and field observations to characterize its depositional evolution and sequence stratigraphic architecture, delineating stratigraphic surfaces, systems tracts, and depositional sequences, and examining controlling factors. Four third-order sequences were identified from four sequence boundaries, two transgressive surfaces, and three maximum flooding surfaces. Sequence 1 (S1) includes a lowstand systems tract (LST), transgressive systems tract (TST), and highstand systems tract (HST); Sequence 2 (S2) has a TST and HST; Sequence 3 (S3) contains a LST, TST, and HST; and Sequence 4 (S4) includes a LST and TST. S1 comprises fluvial and incised valley deposits (LST), transitioned to deltaic TST during rising sea levels, and culminated in barrier island and shelf HST. S2 features distal shelf TST deposits followed by a prograding deltaic HST. S3 records a full cycle: fluvial LST, retrograding deltaic TST, and progradational deltaic HST. S4 is less developed, with fluvial LST and localized retrograding deltaic TST deposits. The Tuscaloosa's evolution was driven by accommodation space changes and sediment supply. Subsidence of the MSE in the Late Cretaceous may have increased accommodation and facilitated TST formation in the Upper Tuscaloosa. The Appalachian Highlands supplied most sediments, with the Ouachita Highlands as a secondary source.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55207,"journal":{"name":"Cretaceous Research","volume":"178 ","pages":"Article 106241"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-09-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145221744","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-09-17DOI: 10.1016/j.cretres.2025.106239
Abdallah Rabea , Omar Mohamed , Ahmed Mansour , Ramadan S. Mohamed , Ahmed Ali
During the Campanian-Maastrichtian, long-term cooling drove eustatic sea-level fall, promoting carbonate platform deposition at mid-to-high paleolatitudes. Here, 85 rock samples were collected from the Campanian-Maastrichtian uppermost Qusseir, Duwi, and lowermost Dakhla formations at three sections in the El-Sebaiya area of the Nile Valley (Egypt). A comprehensive approach, including palynological, whole rock geochemistry, and total organic carbon (TOC) analyses, was performed. Four palynofacies assemblages (PFA) were identified in the three sections. PFA-A shows high abundances of amorphous organic matter (AOM), suggesting deposition in a shallow marine environment, whereas PFA-B exhibits moderate abundances of phytoclasts and AOM, indicative of deposition in fluvio-deltaic to marginal shallow marine conditions. PFA-C is dominated by phytoclasts, mainly of opaque equidimensional particles, characterizing a fluvio-deltaic environment, while PFA-D is characterized by moderate levels of AOM and dinoflagellate cysts (dinocysts) with low phytoclasts, pointing to a shallow marine shelf environment. Dinocysts are dominated by peridinioid forms combined with the common distribution of phosphorite belts, reflecting that the southern Tethys was controlled by upwelling-driven elevated productivity settings under varying redox conditions. Data further allowed the reconstruction of three third-order transgressive-regressive sequences. The transgressive systems tract (TST) sediments are characterized by an increase in AOM, coincided with elevated carbonate content, Mn, and Mn/Al ratios, with maxima corresponding to the maximum flooding surface (MFS) within most sequences. Conversely, the regressive systems tract (RST) sediments show an increase in phytoclasts and elevated SiO2, Zr, Zr/Al, Ti, Ti/Al, and Sr/Ca ratios, with their highest values corresponding to the maximum regressive surface (MRS).
{"title":"Paleoenvironmental evolution and sequence stratigraphic reconstruction during the Late Cretaceous in southern Egypt: Implications for palynological and geochemical proxy data","authors":"Abdallah Rabea , Omar Mohamed , Ahmed Mansour , Ramadan S. Mohamed , Ahmed Ali","doi":"10.1016/j.cretres.2025.106239","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cretres.2025.106239","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>During the Campanian-Maastrichtian, long-term cooling drove eustatic sea-level fall, promoting carbonate platform deposition at mid-to-high paleolatitudes. Here, 85 rock samples were collected from the Campanian-Maastrichtian uppermost Qusseir, Duwi, and lowermost Dakhla formations at three sections in the El-Sebaiya area of the Nile Valley (Egypt). A comprehensive approach, including palynological, whole rock geochemistry, and total organic carbon (TOC) analyses, was performed. Four palynofacies assemblages (PFA) were identified in the three sections. PFA-A shows high abundances of amorphous organic matter (AOM), suggesting deposition in a shallow marine environment, whereas PFA-B exhibits moderate abundances of phytoclasts and AOM, indicative of deposition in fluvio-deltaic to marginal shallow marine conditions. PFA-C is dominated by phytoclasts, mainly of opaque equidimensional particles, characterizing a fluvio-deltaic environment, while PFA-D is characterized by moderate levels of AOM and dinoflagellate cysts (dinocysts) with low phytoclasts, pointing to a shallow marine shelf environment. Dinocysts are dominated by peridinioid forms combined with the common distribution of phosphorite belts, reflecting that the southern Tethys was controlled by upwelling-driven elevated productivity settings under varying redox conditions. Data further allowed the reconstruction of three third-order transgressive-regressive sequences. The transgressive systems tract (TST) sediments are characterized by an increase in AOM, coincided with elevated carbonate content, Mn, and Mn/Al ratios, with maxima corresponding to the maximum flooding surface (MFS) within most sequences. Conversely, the regressive systems tract (RST) sediments show an increase in phytoclasts and elevated SiO<sub>2</sub>, Zr, Zr/Al, Ti, Ti/Al, and Sr/Ca ratios, with their highest values corresponding to the maximum regressive surface (MRS).</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55207,"journal":{"name":"Cretaceous Research","volume":"178 ","pages":"Article 106239"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-09-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145159476","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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