This journal publishes scientific contributions related to the palaeontological investigation. In addition, the editors are interested to include extended summaries of Ph. D. Thesis and Conferences on current palaeontological topics held at the Universidad Complutense of Madrid.
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Note on Beyrichoceras from Los Santos de Maimona (SW Spain)
Se han localizado (Joniatítidos en dosniveles distintos, dentro de lacuencacarbonífera de Los Santos de Maimona. El horizonte inferior se encuentra en la Unidad 4 y ha ¿iportado un solo ejemplar, identificado como Beyrichoceras cf. parkinsoni. El segundo horizonte corresponde a la Unidad Y y ha aportado numerosos ejemplares comprimidos y nial conservados, identificados corno Nomtvmoceras. A partir de los datos aportados por los goniatítidos. se confirma que la edad de ambas Unidades corresponde a la parte inferior del Viseense superior. Se describe y figura el ejemplar de la Unidad 4.
The Los Santos de Maimona basin is located in the Badajoz Provinee. Sierra Mcrena. 5W Spain. It is 12km long, 1 to 3km wide, aid contains very varied rock (carbonate. siliciclastie ancí volcanie). ibis basin is included in the Ossa-Morena stritctural zone. and it is beunded Uy tear faults having a NW-SE direction. It has been studied since the Iast century. The ocurre'nce of fossiliferous limestones wasfirsl reponed Uy GONZA LO ylARIN (1879). In spite of the paleontological interest inthese limestones. onlysomegeneral straíigraphicworks(NAVARRO& i..ACAZIEFIE. 1922, RUSSO DEI ~UNA HERNANDEZ-PACIIECO. 1955; LAUS. 1968) and partial & paleontt>Iogical reports (JONGMANS. 1956; ALTEVOGT, 1966) were published on the'tn unlil 1983. In thai year, the aehievement el the National Geologie Map (1: 50.000) of ¡he Sierra Morena Regicn activated studies on this area (ODRIOZOLA e/aL, 1983; QUESADA. 1983; WAGNER e/al. 1983k (jABALDON el aL, 1985). A detailled study en Ihe st raligraph y and pa Ieontology c)f th is basi n was begu n iii 1987 Uy two diñe rent groups of (he Madrid ancl Badajoz Universities. Sorne results of these studies were published duning recent years (SANCI-IEZetaL, 1988,199k PALACIOS GONZALEZ ci aL, 199(1: RODRíGUEZ & COMAS-RENGIFO, 990; VAl ENZUL! A el aL, 199<); SOI.ER-G!jON & RODRIC;UEZ, 1991, ROI)RIGUEZ el al. in press).
Descripción litroestratigráfica y aspectos sedimentológicos de las unidades
Brachiopods are locatly abundant in Los Santos de Maimona basin, where they oceur mainly in marly layers of units 1,4, and 6. The most remarkable feature of the Brachiopod -asseniblages in unU lis the abundance ofGígantoproductíds. Tlicy sbowclosc íelatioíiships with those of the Upper Viséan of central aud western Europe. Unít 3 contain sorne brachiopods with spines, bat they are very difficult t. take out of the rock, and <mly sume silicified young spccimens and microbrachiopods were coflected. Brachiopods are íess ahundant in units 4 ant] 6, but asemblages are richer. Thirty species have been idcntified in unit 6, but most of them are represented by Iess than tive specirnens. ile whole asse-mblage, composed of 44 species, shows high similarity te thebrachiopods of the Upper Viséan from western Europe, mainly of the Upper Vis¿an from Lower Silesia. Relationships are also notable to the Moscow Basin, Donetz, Fergana, North Africa and the Pyrenees.
Tetrataxidae, Palaeotextulariidae y Biseriamminidae (Foraminiferida) del Mississippiense del Área del Guadiato (Córdoba, España)
The Guadiato Area is located on Córdoba province (SW Spain), with a direction NW-SE. It is composed of Mississipian rocks (upper Viséan-Lower Serpukhovian), which are divided in three structural units: «Fresnedoso» Unit, «Sierra Castillo» Unit, and «San Antonio-La Juliana» Unit. The foraminiferal assemblages of calcareous rocks from these units have been studied. The species belonging to the families Tetrataxacea and Palaeotextulariacea are described in this contribution: Tetrataxis ex gr. angusta VISSARIONOVA, T. ex gr. conica EHRENBERG emend. MOELLER, T. ex gr. maxima SCHELLWIEN, T. ex gr. bogushi UENO & NAKAZAWA, T. ex gr. minima LEE & CHEN, T. ex gr. hemisphaerica MOROZOVA, T. obtusa MALAKHOVA, Pseudotaxis eominima (RAUSER-CHERNOUSSOVA), Valvulinella youngi (BRADY), Valvulinella sp., Consobrinella consobrina (LIPINA), C. minima (LIPINA), Palaeotextularia eximia (EICHWALD), P. longiseptata LIPINA, Koskinotextularia bradyi (MOELLER), K. cribriformis EICKHOFF, Cribrostomum lecomptei CONIL & LYS, C. exiformis (LIPINA), Koskinobigenerina prisca (LIPINA), Climacammina spp., and Biseriella ex gr. parva (CHERNYSHEVA).
Nuevos datos sobre"Decennatherium pachecoi" (CRUSAFONT,1952) (Giraffidae,Mammalia): descripción del cráneo de Matillas
Decennatherium was stablisbed by CRUSAFONT (1952), xvho placed it in thc Giraffinae subfamily, on the basis of dental and postcranial elements. CRUSAFONT (1961) in the PIVETEAU Trailé de Faleonto/ogie figured a Decennatf-zeriurn skull of Matillas locality, but it was not described. In this paper the Matillas skull has been studied. Tbe presence of two heavy, conical, forward-projecting ossicones aboye 1w orbits is characteristie of Decennatl-zeriunz skull and eoniirm the close relationship with the Sivatheíiinae subfamily. * Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, C.S.I.C., José Gutiérrez Abascal, 2, 28006-Madrid. COLEPA, nthnero4 Editorial Universidad Cornplutensc. Madrid, 1985 Jorge Morales 52
Los fósiles de Vertebrados de Somosaguas (Pozuelo, Madrid)
Two vertebrate fossil sites, situated in the Universidad Complutense Campus of Somosaguas, (Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid, Spain) have yielded about 600 identifiable rests in different preservation states, belonging to about twenty species of highly diverse sizes, from mastodons to shrews. Their study allows dating at about 14 m.y., and reconstructing an arid climate epoch in 1 Dept. Paleontología, Fac. C. Geológicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria, 28040 Madrid. 2 Dept. Paleobiología, Museo Nacional de CC. Naturales, CSIC, C/ José Gutiérrez Abas cal 2, 28006 Madrid. 69 Nieves López-Martínez, et al. Los fósiles de Vertebrados de Somosaguas the Madrid basin during middle Miocene times, occupied by subtropical woodlands and savannahs with strong floods and without permanent rivers. These fossil sites allow practical teaching of Vertebrate Palaeontology, and preparing university students in the Palaeontological Heritage study and management.
Estudio preliminar de la Microestructura de los huesos fósiles de mamíferos de Somosaguas (Mioceno Medio, Madrid)
Paleohistology of fossil mammal bones belonging to Somosaguas site is very well preserved. In this work we describe bone microestructures such us laminar bone (osteones, lamelae) and non laminar bone, till the celular level. Two kinds of alterations may affect the bone, one of them generated by saprophyt organisms during biostratinomic stages, an the other of unknown origin. This give us 1 Depto de Paleontología, Facultad CC. Geológicas, Univ. Complutense, 28040, Madrid (España). 137 Soledad Cuezva, et al. Estudio preliminar de la microestructura de los huesos fósiles... a source of new information about paleobiology and taphonomy of fossil mammals.
Reconocimiento del estadio de desarrollo en la microestructura de los huesos fósiles de mamíferos (Somosaguas y Layna)
This is a first approach to relate conservated fossil bone histology and growth stages for fossil mammals. A relationship exists between bone development and individual age for mammal bones. Comparing histological models belonging to actual mammals and human bones, it has been verified in fossil bones from Somosaguas and Layna sites some characters such as shape, size and density of osteo 1 Departamento de Paleontología, Facultad CC. Geológicas, Univ. Complutense, 28040, Madrid (España). 159 Soledad Cuezva, et al. Reconocimiento del estadio de desarrollo... nes and osteocites, kind of matrix, etc., that will allow us to develop a method to assign relative age to a fragment of fossil bone.
Marco estratigráfico y sedimentológico de los yacimientos paleontológicos miocenos de Somosaguas (Madrid, España)
Two new fossiliferous sites (Somosaguas Norte and Somosaguas Sur), dated as middle Aragonian (biozone E), are situated in the Miocene Intermediate Unit of the Madrid basin, in the Campus de Somosaguas of the Universidad Complutense de Madrid (Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid, Spain). The stratigraphic sequence more than 6 meters thick is made up by three litostratigraphic units: a lower unit (T1) formed by arkosic sands with clay matrix; an intermediate unit (T2) made by intercalations of fine-grained micaceous sandstones with climbing ripples, and brown lutites; and an upper unit (T3) formed by arkosic conglomerates with sandy matrix. These sediments represent the middle (T1 and T3) and distal (T2) facies of alluvial fans.
Estudio de los restos de Anchitherium MEYER, 1834 (Equidae; Perissodactyla) del yacimiento de Somosaguas (Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid)
In this paper the remains of Anchitherium MEYER, 1834 from the new site of Somosaguas (Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid) are studied; this new population can be asigned to Anchitherium cf. cursor SÁNCHEZ, SALESA & MORALES, 1998, previously known in the record from Madrid, in Alhambra-Túneles and Arroyo del Olivar sites. This species exhibits some highly derived cursorial adaptations, similar to those of the later equini, and its appearance in Somosaguas support the hipothesis of SÁNCHEZ et al. (1998) about the presence, in the Iberian record, of endemic species of anchiterines previously ignored.
La fauna de Carnívoros del yacimiento aragoniense de Somosaguas (Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid)
In this paper, the remains of carnivoran mammals from Somosaguas site (Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid) are studied. Up to now three genus has been registred: Hemicyon, Amphicyon and Pseudaelurus. A fourth form, representad by a second phalanx, has been determined as Mustelidae indet.
Rumiantes (Mammalia, Artiodactyla) del yacimiento de Somosaguas (Aragoniense medio, Madrid, España)
In the years 1998 and 1999 two field excavation campaigns have been made at the site of Somosaguas (middle Aragonian; biozone E), two different fossil sites called Somosaguas Norte and Somosaguas Sur. Some ruminant remains have been recovered, and identified as belonging to the families Moschidae, Cervidae and Bovidae and to the genus Micromeryx, and Tethytragus, respectively. The cervid remains unindentified (Cervidae indet.).
Análisis tafonómico de los yacimientos de Somosaguas (Mioceno medio, Madrid)
The taphonomy of two overlain vertebrate fossil sites from the Madrid Miocene basin is analysed. The bone sample from Somosaguas North shows an unusual mixed preservation states in fossil mammal assemblages, with: 1) some delicate bones with intact surfaces; 2) thousands of bone fragments, most of them preserving histological microstructures and remains of invasive microfilaments; 3) some abraded, rounded elements; 4) decayed bones forming a dusty mass; and 5) bones partially o totally replaced by a secondary mineral substance. Most long bones show a preferred orientation in N-S direction. These diverse elements are concentrated in a debris-flow type of sediment, formed by a process of mass-transport with a mixed assemblage of heterogeneous fossil remains and gravel-sized pebbles floating on a dense, viscous sediment. The spatial coincidence with the older fossil site Somosaguas South, similar to Somosaguas North but with smaller sizes and less erosion effects, may be due to the neighbouring of an ancient water pond in the Miocene arid landscape of Madrid. The high proportion of juvenile bones suggests a seasonal mortality during drought periods.
La naturaleza del registro fósil y el análisis de las extinciones
The fossil record is incomplete, biassed and it shows stratigraphical disorder. However, these features of the fossil record do not reduce the usefulness of the pa 1 Depto. y UEI de Paleontología, Facultad de Ciencias Geológicas (UCM) e Instituto de Geología Económica (UCM-CSIC), 28040-Madrid, sixto@eucmax.sim.ucm.es. 267 Sixto R. Fernández-López La naturaleza del registro fósil y el análisis de las extinciones laeontological data to identify and to interpret the successive extinction events. The information of the fossil record is the only one about the extinct taxa and their chronological order. The validity of the palaeontological data with respect to the available information in the fossil record, as well as the incompleteness and the bias of the fossil record with respect to the original palaeobiological information, are testable using independent criteria. The continuity of the fossil record, as well as the continuity of the stratigraphical record, are of operative nature and testable. The lack of evidence of one or several species in the fossil record, and the consequent reduction of taxonomic diversity, can be a result from processes of separate categories: sampling, differential preservation, stratigraphical gaps or palaeobiological changes. The fossil record contains the most relevant information to formulate testable hypothesis referring extinction events occurred during the history of the Earth.
Nuevos mamíferos del Eoceno Inferior de Silveirinha (Baixo Mondego, Portugal)
Se describen tres nuevas especies de micromamíferos del Eoceno Inferior de Silveirinha. Arcius zbyszewskii n. sp. (?Dermoptera) tiene relaciones de parentesco de difícil interpretación con las restantes especies del género. En relación a la especie más próxima, A. rougieri de Palette, la forma portuguesa posee algunos caracteres plesiomórficos (como el tamaño menor) y otros apomórficos. Siendo ambas primitivas, falta por esclarecer cual es su parentesco y, en particular, si habrían pertenecido o no al mismo linaje y, en caso afirmativo, cual sería la especie más ancestral. Donrussellia lusitanica n. sp. (Primates) es una especie muy primitiva que posee algunos caracteres apomórficos en relación a D. provincialis de Rians. Meldimys cardosoi n. sp. (Rodentia) es una especie también muy primitiva cuyos caracteres sugieren la existencia de un linaje Meldimys cardosoi - M. louisi.
Nota necrológica Remmert Daams (1947-1999)
Publicaciones científicas Remmert Daams (1947-1999)
Sedimentación de plataforma interna-externa con desarrollo de montículos en el Viseense del sector central de la Sierra de la Estrella (Carbonífero, Córdoba)
Late Viséan calcareous rocks containing buildups occur in the Sierra de la Estrella, Guadiato Valley. Bioclastic, breccioid and biohermal limestones as well as sandstones 1 Depto y UEI de Paleontología, Facultad de Ciencias Geológicas e Instituto de Geología Económica (CSIC-UCM). Ciudad Universitaria. 28040 Madrid. 2 Depto de Estratigrafía y UEI de Correlaciones Estratigráficas y Paleogeografía, Facul tad de Ciencias Geológicas e Instituto de Geología Económica (CSIC-UCM). Ciudad Universitaria. 28040 Madrid. 9 M. Rodríguez, et al. Sedimentación de plataforma interna-externa con desarrollo... and conglomerates occur. Lithofacies analysis allow to identify 7 types, with 9 characteristic microfacies: 1.­Micropeloidal mudstone-wackestone with stromatactoid cavities and fenestral fabrics, 2.­Algal-bioclastic wackestone-packstone, 3.1.­Pseudopeloidal packstone, 3.2.­Packstone with algae, pseudopeloids and lithoclast, 4.1.­Bryozoal-crinoidal packstone, 4.2.­Packstone with algae and sponge spiculae, 5.­Packstone-rudstone with lithoclasts, 6.­Cortoid-lithoclasts grainstone, 7.­Hybrid sandstones. Sediments are attributed to a inner to outer carbonate ramp with sporadic terrigenous influence. Some microbial mounds developed in such environment.