Osteology and taxonomy of the arthrodires from the Kellwasser facies (Frasne, Upper Devonian) of southern Morocco and Bad Wildungen, Germany, with an analysis of the palaeoenvironment including the microvertebrates
Zusammenfassung der Projektergebnisse
Comprehensive presentation of the most important scientific progress and, occasionally, their applications Perfectly preserved placoderms from the Frasnian Kellwasser facies of SE-Morocco were excavated and are described for the first time. The entire material comes from one horizon in the Upper Frasnian conodont Zone 13 and occurs in both basin and platform sediments over an area of more than 12.000 km2. Each specimen and locality is documented by biostratigraphical, sedimentological and geographical data. Among the excavated specimens is the best preserved Enseosteus known so far. For comparison the type material of Frasnian placoderms from Bad Wildungen was reinvestigated. One new placoderm genus and four new species from Morocco were identified. Additionally seven taxa are described for the first time from Morocco. The new palaeobiogeographic data of the placoderms from Morocco supports the hypothesis that Euramerica and Gondwana were separated by only a narrow ocean during the Late Devonian. The results of the DFG project "Kellwasser arthrodires" represent a contribution to the International Geological Correlation Programme 491: "Middle Palaeozoic vertebrate biogeography, palaeogeography and climate", which is supported by the IUGS and the UNESCO. With an area of about 12.000 km2 including pelagic ridge and basinal deposits, the vertebrate bearing horizon is much more widespread than expected. Quality and quantity of the fossil fishes is far beyond our expectations. A grave yard of more than 100 placoderm remains was discovered at the transition from platform to basin sediments. This unique "Lagerstätte" yielded new statistically valid information on the taphonomy of placoderms and the depositional environment and new taxa for Morocco.
Projektbezogene Publikationen (Auswahl)
- Rücklin, M. (2005): Frasnian placoderms from Laurussia and their unknown relatives in northern Gondwana. - IGCP 491 meeting: Devonian vertebrates of the continental margins, Yerevan Armenia, May 22-27, 2005. Ichthyolith Issues, Special publication 8: 23, Yerevan, Armenia.
- Rücklin, M. (2005): Frasnian placoderms from southern Laurussia and northern Gondwana and their palaeobiogeographical implication. - Kaupia, Darmstädter Beiträge zur Naturgeschichte, Current research in vertebrate palaeontology, EAVP 18r to 23th July 2005.14: 97, Darmstadt.
- Korn, D., Belka, Z., Fröhlich, S., Rücklin, M. and Wendt, J. (2004): The youngest African clymeniids (Ammonoidea, Late Devonian) -failed survivors of the Hangenberg Event. Letheia, Vol. 37, pp. 307-315, Oslo.
- Meyer-Berthaud, B., Rücklin, M., Soria, A., Belka Z. & Lardeux H. (2004): Frasnian plants from the Dra Valley, southern Anti-Atlas, Morocco. Geological Magazine, 141 (6), pp. 675- 686.
- Rücklin, M. (2004): Neue Verlebratenfundstellen aus dem Frasne Marokkos. 31. Treffen des Arbeitskreises Wirbeltierpaläontologie der Paläontologischen Gesellschaft. Museum für Naturkunde Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. Berlin-Spandau, BGR.
- Rücklin, M. (2004): New vertebrate localities from the Frasnian of Morocco. European Workshop on Vertebrate Palaeontology of the EAVP. Brno, Tschek Republic.
- Rücklin, M. (2004): Panzerfische aus der Wüste Marokkos. GMIT Geowissenschaftliche Mitteilungen Nr. 17 (September 2004), pp. 26-27.
- Rücklin, M. (2006): Panzerfische aus der Wüste Marokkos. -Arbeitskreis deutscher Geowissenschaftler Würzburg. - Abstract.
- Rücklin, M. (2006): Upper Devonian placoderms from Morocco: taxonomy, phytogeny and taphonomy. - Hantkeniana, Contributions of the Department of Palaeontology, Eötvös University, 4 Annual meeting of the European Association of Vertebrate Palaeontologists 10 -15 July 2006. 5: 104, Budapest. - Abstract.
