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Koun, A. J. 1960a. Ecological notes on Conus (Mollusca: Gastropoda) in the Trincomalee region of Ceylon.
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THEELE, J. 1910. Mollusca: B. Polyplacophora, Gastropoda marina, Bivalvia. In: SCHULTZE, L. Zoologische
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ANNALS OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN MUSEUM
ANNALE VAN DIE SUID-AFRIKAANSE MUSEUM
Volume 89 Band
June 1982 Junie
Part 5 Deel
LOWER CRETACEOUS
(MIDDLE ALBIAN)
AMMONITES FROM
DOMBE GRANDE, ANGOLA
By
MICHAEL R. COOPER
Cape Town Kaapstad
The ANNALS OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN MUSEUM
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LOWER CRETACEOUS (MIDDLE ALBIAN) AMMONITES FROM
DOMBE GRANDE, ANGOLA
By
MICHAEL R. COOPER
National Museum, Bulawayo
(With 31 figures)
[MS accepted 3 March 1982]
ABSTRACT
Two stratigraphically separated Middle Albian faunules, dominated by Douvilleiceras and
Oxytropidoceras respectively, are described from the environs of Dombe Grande. The wide
range of continuous variation within these assemblages has an important bearing on the
taxonomy of these forms. The phylogeny of the Mojsisovicziinae is discussed, and the following
new taxa are created: Mortoniceratoides gen. nov., Oxytropidoceras (Mirapelia) subgen. nov.
and O. (Benavidesites) subgen. nov. Middle Albian biostratigraphy outside the Boreal Realm is
discussed.
CONTENTS
PAGE
IntroductionS-c50 eee 265
Repionaligcolopyean- asses 267
SyStematics fee auc eet oe 270
Accvottheitaunatare nn rae eee 309
SUMMARY seein ee ea ae 312
Acknowledgements ............. 312
IReLeLenCeSey Henn cei Si)
INTRODUCTION
Choffat (in Choffat & De Loriol 1888) was the first to record ammonites
from the lower part of the Albian succession of Angola, describing and figuring
an ‘Acanthoceras’ mamillare (Schlotheim) (= Douvilleiceras mammillatum
aequinodum (Quenstedt)) (Choffat & De Loriol 1888: 71, pl. 3 (fig. 1)) from
the Dombe Grande area. The specimen was said to have come from the
‘Couches a Pholadomya pleuromyaeformis’, but as these beds are almost
certainly of Aptian age (Howarth 1965; Cooper 1976) this is an error. Howarth
(1965) described a small collection of Douvilleiceras made in 1930-1 by Alexan-
dre Borges from the Dombe Grande region, and recorded the species D.
mammillatum var. ?aequinodum (Quenstedt) and D. orbignyi Hyatt, thereby
suggesting the presence of upper Lower Albian (D. mammillatum Zone) strata.
Cooper (1976) described the bio- and lithostratigraphy of the region. The
present collections come from the immediate vicinity of Dombe Grande
265
Ann. S. Afr. Mus. 89 (5), 1982: 265-314, 31 figs.
ANNALS OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN MUSEUM
266
“speol judsoidas soul] UdyoOIg ‘polaquinu santRso] Sunosjyoo yyM ‘dew Ayypeoo7T “[ “34
of
> ay
Ni . PpUDAD aquog
LOWER CRETACEOUS AMMONITES FROM ANGOLA 267
(Fig. 1), and well above the beds containing Pholadomya pleuromyaeformis
Choffat.
Prefixes to catalogue numbers refer to material in the following
institutions:
BMNH British Museum (Natural History), London
NHMP Natural History Museum, Paris
OUM Oxford University Museum, Oxford
SAM South African Museum, Cape Town
USNMNH_ USS. National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Insti-
tution, Washington
Measurements are in millimetres, with dimensions, as a percentage of the
diameter, in parentheses.
REGIONAL GEOLOGY
The late Mesozoic succession in the Cuanza basin has been named the
Cuanza Group (Cooper 1976). At Dombe Grande in the extreme south of the
basin (12°54’S 13°13’E), the base of the Cuanza sequence is formed by the
Dombe Formation, a unit of coarse clastics and lagoonal deposits with inter-
bedded evaporites. The disconformably overlying transgressive deposits of the
‘Formacao com Pholadomya’ (Neto 1960, 1961) attain a thickness of about
100 m and comprise a basal member of oolitic limestones, calcarenites and
siltstones capped by calcareous siltstones rich in Pholadomya pleuromyaeformis
and other bivalves (Fig. 2C-F). Also present at this level are the echinoids
Salenia dombeensis De Loriol and Pygurus africanus De Loriol, and the
molluscs Neithea shawi Pervinquiere, Retusa malheiroi (Choffat), Panopea
gurgitis (Brongniart), Lithophaga praelonga (d’Orbigny), Nerita malheiroi
Choffat, ‘“Natica’ feioi Choffat, Actaeonella (Trochactaeon) cordeiroi (Choffat),
Actaeon lenzi Choffat, Ampullina (Pseudamaura) bulbiformis (J. Sowerby),
Pinna robinaldina dOrbigny, Cylindrites? delgadoi Choffat, and Tylostoma
peschueli Choffat.
Marine regression is reflected in the succeeding ‘Formagao com Nerinea’
(Fig. 1, locality 2), a lithologically highly variable unit spanning some 400 m
and comprising red and yellow lagoonal clastics yielding fossil wood, the
gastropods Nerinea capelloi Choffat (Fig. 3G-—H) and Cerithium monteiroi
Choffat, and an indeterminate ammonite (fide Neto 1961).
The ‘Formacao com Nerinea’ are overlain, perhaps disconformably, by
limestones and marls at the base of the Cuio Formation, the lower beds of
which have yielded the faunas described herein. The two assemblages, which
were picked up mainly as surface scree, are stratigraphically separated at
locality 4 (Fig. 1), with the Oxytropidoceras fauna occurring to the north-east
and thus from the younger beds. Upward the sequence becomes increasingly
unfossiliferous, and calcarenites and grits (Fig. 1, locality 1) span much of the
268 ANNALS OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN MUSEUM
Fig. 2. A-B. Puzosia bistricta (White), SAM-—PCA2649, x 1. C—F. Undetermined bivalves
from the ‘Couches a Pholadomya’, Reinecke Collection, South African Museum, X 1,5.
LOWER CRETACEOUS AMMONITES FROM ANGOLA
Fig. 3. A-B. Oxytropidoceras (Mirapelia) buarquianum (White), SAM-—PCAS5445, an individ-
ual transitional to douglasi morphotypes. C-D. Puzosia bistricta (White), SAM-PCA3474.
E. Inoceramus gr. anglicus Woods, SAM-PCA3443, from the Douvilleiceras assemblage.
F. Birostrina? cf. coptensis (Casey), SAM-PCA2664, from the Oxytropidoceras assemblage.
G-H. Nerinea capelloi Choffat. G. SAM-PCAS5S448, x 1,5. H. SAM-PCA5450, x 1,5. All
X 1 unless otherwise stated.
270 ANNALS OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN MUSEUM
remainder of the Middle Albian. These sediments are interpreted as reflecting
marine regression. The Cuio Formation attains a thickness of some 200 m and
is succeeded by bioclastic and oolitic limestones and calcarenites (Fig. 1,
localities 3, 6) yielding a low Upper Albian fauna including Prohysteroceras
wordiei Spath and Mortoniceras spp. This unit is to be correlated with the
Catumbela Member of the Cabo Ledo Formation to the north, reflecting the
early late Albian (Hysteroceras orbignyi Zone) transgression.
SYSTEMATICS
Subclass AMMONOIDEA Zittel, 1884
Family Douvilleiceratidae Parona & Bonarelli, 1897
Discussion
Since the lineage Procheloniceras — Cheloniceras — Eodouvilleiceras >
Douvilleiceras represents a single phyletic lineage, the subfamily Chelonicerati-
nae should be included in the synonymy of the nominate subfamily.
Subfamily Douvilleiceratinae Parona & Bonarelli, 1897
Genus Douvilleiceras de Grossouvre, 1894
Type species Ammonites mammillatus Schlotheim, 1813; subsequent designa-
tion of I.C.Z.N., Opinion 422, 1956
Discussion
Casey (1962: 260) has given a detailed diagnosis and discussion of this
genus, to which little may be added.
The genus Trinitoceras was erected (Scott 1940: 1016) for very large
douvilleiceratids in which the *. . . douvilleiceratid sculpture is evident up to or
beyond a diameter of 200 mm. Costae are multituberculate as in Douvilleiceras,
but the umbilical tubercles are greatly exaggerated in size, forming large bullae
on the umbilical margin at the ends of alternate costae. On later whorls costae
lose all trace of tuberculation but retain, irregularly, their alternate primary and
secondary arrangement. On the latest whorls shown, the ribs are nearly equal,
except that the occasional secondary (marked only by the fact that it does not
reach the umbilicus) is intercalated between the primaries. The whorl section,
degree of evolution, and the umbilical area do not differ greatly from like
features of well-known species of Douvilleiceras.’
It is clear from the above description that the genus Trinitoceras is based
upon the gigantic shells that accompany virtually all Douvilleiceras populations;
thus D. leightonense Casey, D. cheloniceratiforme Tavani, D. restitutum Ander-
son, and D. charshangense Mirzoyev are all typical Trinitoceras. However, the
fact that Trinitoceras and Douvilleiceras everywhere occur together as well as
the fact that they are indistinguishable in their early ontogenetic stages and
LOWER CRETACEOUS AMMONITES FROM ANGOLA Di
attain maturity at vastly different diameters, suggests to the writer that the
differences are those between sexual dimorphs. Trinitoceras is here considered
to be based upon Douvilleiceras macroconchs, and Casey (1962) is followed in
regarding it a synonym of Douvilleiceras.
Up to now almost fifty trivial names have been applied to Douvilleiceras;
these include D. mammillatum (Schlotheim) and its varieties paucicostatum
Parona & Bonarelli, praecox Casey, baylei Spath and aequinodum (Quenstedt),
D. inaequinodum (Quenstedt), D. pseudinaequinodum Collignon, D. orbignyi
Hyatt, D. clementinum (d’Orbigny), D. solitae (d’Orbigny), D. tarapacaense
Etayo-Serna, D. abozaglio Etayo-Serna, D. ivernoisi (Coquand), D. spiniferum
(Whiteaves), D. rex (Scott), D. reesidei (Scott), D. grandense (Scott),
D. adkinsi (Scott), D? dunlapi (Scott), D. quitmanense Scott, D. spathi Scott,
D. cuchillense Scott, D. muralense Stoyanow, D. aurarium Anderson, D. res-
titutum Anderson, D. offarcinatum (White), D. euzebioi (Maury), D. ser-
gipense Beurlen, D. multinodosum Hubach, D. benonae Besairie, D. spinosum
Tavani, D. albiense (Tavani), D. variabile Tavani, D. cheloniceratiforme Ta-
vani, D. scabrosum Casey, D. alternans Casey, D. pustulosum Casey, D. leigh-
tonense Casey and its variety pringlei Casey, D. magnodosum Casey,
D. subleightonense Mirzoyev, and D. charshangense Mirzoyev.
The extreme range of morphological variation exhibited by most assem-
blages is emphasized by the splitting of the British collections into fourteen taxa
(Casey 1962), those from Texas into eleven species (Scott 1940), and the
Somali collections into eight species (Tavani 1942, 1949), and this seems to
suggest genetic polymorphism. Thus Casey (1962: 263) has noted that all the
mostly endemic species of Douvilleiceras recorded from southern England ‘. . .
come from a limited range of strata and they constitute a closely interconnected
plexus that in former days would have been interpreted (perhaps correctly) as
one very large, highly variable species’. Unfortunately Casey’s revision, coming
at a time when it was the practice to base species on very narrowly defined
limits, suffers from oversplitting, since recent studies of ammonite populations
(Kennedy & Cobban 1976) suggests that such variation is not extraordinary. In
addition, Mirzoyev (1967: 54) has also commented that ‘... all species of
Douvilleiceras are closely interrelated and could have been treated as a single
very extensive and varied species; but investigators concerned with this group
of ammonites have made efforts to discover differences, based entirely on the
frequency, degree of development and modifications of the conch sculpture in
the course of its development’.
Casey (1962), in his revision of the British species of Douvilleiceras, laid
much emphasis on the width of the ventral sulcus, number of notches per rib,
and the ontogenetic stage at which ornament change occurred as taxonomic
criteria. However, many writers have noted that the number of notches
increases with diameter, while Collignon (1963), Mirzoyev (1967), and
McLearn (1972) have all reported specimens with different numbers of notches
on opposing flanks. Consequently, this criterion is considered to be of very
Dif?) ANNALS OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN MUSEUM
limited taxonomic significance, if at all. Both the width of the ventral sulcus and
the ontogenetic stage at which morphological changes occur are relative charac-
ters that are unlikely to stand up to population analysis, especially when it is
considered that many of the taxa so defined are contemporaneous, occurring
together in the same bed. As such, the writer believes Douvilleiceras to display
genetic polymorphism and thus high intraspecific variability.
Stratigraphically Douvilleiceras ranges from the top of the Leymeriella
tardefurcata Zone (Leymeriella regularis Subzone) into the lower part of the
Middle Albian (Lyelliceras lyelli Subzone of the Hoplites dentatus Zone).
During this period it attained a cosmopolitan distribution and is currently
reported from North America (British Columbia, California, Arizona, Texas,
New Mexico), South America (Peru, Columbia, Brazil), Africa (Gabon,
Angola, Zululand, Mozambique, Somalia), Madagascar, Asia (eastern Carpa-
thians, northern Caucasus, western and central Kopet Dag, Bol’shoy Balkhan,
Tuarkyr, Mangyshlak, Badkhiz Islands, southern Gissar Range, Afghanistan),
Europe (southern England, France, Switzerland, ?Germany, Poland, Bulga-
ria), and Japan.
Douvilleiceras mammillatum aequinodum (Quenstedt, 1849)
Figs 4A-B, 6C-G, 7D, G-I, 8A-B, 9A-C, E, 10C—D, F-H, 12A-B, 17A
Ammonites monile aequinodus Quenstedt, 1849: 137, pl. 10 (fig. 2).
? Ammonites offarcinatus White, 1887: 219, pl. 23 (fig. 4 only).
Acanthoceras mammillare (Schlotheim) Choffat (in Choffat & De Loriol), 1888: 71, pl. 3
(fig. 1).
Douvilleiceras monile var. aequinodum (Quenstedt) Breistroffer, 1947: 65.
? Douvilleiceras cheloniceratiforme Tavani, 1949: 38, pl. 8 (fig. 6).
? Douvilleiceras monile (J. Sowerby) Benavides-Caceres, 1956: 442, pl. 43 (figs 1-4).
? Douvilleiceras restitutum Anderson, 1938: 175, pl. 54 (fig. 2).
Douvilleiceras mammillatum var. aequinodum (Quenstedt) Casey, 1962: 271, pl. 40 (fig. 5),
pl. 41 (figs 5-7), pl. 42 (fig. 10), figs 94a-c, 95a—b, 102d, 103a—b. Howarth, 1965: 343, pl. 1
(figs 1-4).
? Douvilleiceras albense Spath, Collignon, 1963: 112, pl. 284 (fig. 1243).
Douvilleiceras sp. B, Beurlen, 1970: 460, pl. 4 (figs 3-4), figs 16-17.
? Douvilleiceras spinifer'um (Whiteaves) McLearn, 1972: 62, pl. 28 (fig. 1 only).
Douvilleiceras cf. mammillatum (Schlotheim) Young, 1974: 184, pl. 4 (figs 1, 3, 6).
Material
Fifty-seven specimens, SAM-—PCA2639, 3409, 3417, 3427, 3429-3431,
3434, 3439-3440, 3442, 3456, 3459-3460, 3462-3464, 3467, 3469, 3471-3473,
3476-3480, 3482, 3484-3487, 3490-3491, 3493-3494, 3499, 3501, 3503,
3509-3511, 3516-3518, 3520, 3522-3523, 3526-3527, 3529-3530, 3532, 3534,
and 3536, all preserved as limestone steinkerns.
Description
This taxon is the most abundant component of the Douvilleiceras fauna,
although many of the specimens are fragmentary and most are more or less
eroded, having been picked up as surface scree. This erosion gives a number of
LOWER CRETACEOUS AMMONITES FROM ANGOLA 273
Fig. 4. A-B. Douvilleiceras mammillatum aequinodum (Quenstedt), SAM—PCA3434. C-D, F.
Douvilleiceras inaequinodum (Quenstedt). C-D. SAM-PCA3435, a juvenile showing very fine
intercalated ribs. F. SAM-PCAS5451, a badly eroded fragment showing three intercalated ribs
between main ribs. E. Nerinea capelloi Choffat, SAM-PCA5449, x 1,5. G. Douvilleiceras
variabile Tavani, SAM-PCA3448. All x 1 unless otherwise stated.
274 ANNALS OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN MUSEUM
Fig. 5. A-B. Oxytropidoceras (Oxytropidoceras) roissyanum (d’Orbigny). The original of
D’Orbigny’s (1841) protograph, NHMP. C—D. Douvilleiceras mammillatum mammillatum
(Schlotheim). The neotype, BM—C12491. Both x 1. Photos: W. J: Kennedy.
LOWER CRETACEOUS AMMONITES FROM ANGOLA LYS
specimens the appearance of having had very much narrower ribs than, in fact,
they probably had.
The shell is moderately evolute (umbilicus 32,5-39% of the diameter),
with rather inflated whorls, and a subreniform depressed whorl section. In all
the better preserved material the ventral sulcus is, or appears to have been,
rather narrow. The number of notches to each rib varies with ontogeny, with
about 5 at 30 mm diameter increasing to 8-9 at about 60 mm diameter. Up to
about 40 mm diameter the ribs tend to be simple, distant and rursiradiate,
commonly with 10-14 ribs per half whorl. However, several of the more
densicostate juveniles have 16 ribs per half whorl. Beyond this diameter
intercalation and bifurcation becomes increasingly common, generally with
16-20 rather uniform ribs per half whorl. One individual, SAM-PCA3417,
retains simple ribbing to 62 mm diameter, whereas SAM—PCA3431 has very
fine, nontuberculate intercalatories between main ribs at about 40 mm di-
ameter, only to loose them with further growth. The tuberculation of this
subspecies is very reduced, typically with the lateral tubercle subdued and
bullate. In SAM—PCA3472, however, main ribs bear a prominent lateral
tubercle and, up to 35 mm diameter, alternate with fine nontuberculate interca-
latories. Beyond this diameter all the ribbing becomes uniform and the lateral
tubercule is much reduced and bullate. In SAM—PCA3435, the early whorls are
strongly tuberculate and distantly ribbed but, at 47 mm diameter, there is a
sudden and dramatic reversion to normal aequinodum-type ornament. SAM—
PCA3430 connects typical aequinodum-type morphologies to the large macro-
conch fragments (SAM-—PCA3408, 3410-3411, 3414, 3425, 3433, 3465, 3483,
3500) in the collection.
Measurements
No D H W W/H U
SAM-PCA3427 Ws 29 34 29569)
SAM-PCA3429 83 35 45 LS) PAY (EPA)
SAM-PCA3431 ? 82, 3i/ LENG ?
SAM-PCA3434 70 26 32 DS (8s)
SAM-—PCA3527 51 19 Dil Petit 18 (35,3)
Discussion
Quenstedt (1849) described two species of Douvilleiceras, D. aequinodum
and D. inaequinodum. Since the latter species is typically lower Middle Albian
(Casey 1962), it may be reasonable to assume this is also the level of D. aequi-
nodum. Such a supposition tends to be supported by their coexistence in the
eodentatus Nodule Bed (Bed e of Destombes et al. 1977) (Fig. 12A—D, G-H) at
Bully, Pays de Bray, France, and also in Angola. Since the Angolan D. mam-
millatum material is dominated by aequinodum morphotypes, with no
undoubted individuals of D. mammillatum s.s. (Fig. 5C-D), it seems reason-
able to assume that a genuine shift in population structure has occurred when
276 ANNALS OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN MUSEUM
Fig. 6. A. Douvilleiceras inaequinodum (Quenstedt), SAM—PCA3535, a juvenile. B. Oxytro-
pidoceras (Mirapelia) buarquianum (White), SAM-PCA3765, a typical juvenile. C-G. Dou-
villeiceras mammillatum aequinodum (Quenstedt). C. SAM—PCA3427. D-E. SAM-—PCA2639.
F-G. SAM-PCA3431. All x 1.
LOWER CRETACEOUS AMMONITES FROM ANGOLA
Fig. 7. A-C. Douvilleiceras inaequinodum (Quenstedt). A. SAM-PCA3466. B-C. SAM-—
PCA3437, a typical example. D, G-I. Douvilleiceras mammillatum aequinodum (Quenstedt).
D. SAM-PCA3479. G. SAM-PCA3481. H-I. SAM-PCA3527, a typical juvenile with fine,
distant, simple ribs. E-F. Douvilleiceras variabile Tavani, SAM—PCA3496. All x 1.
278 ANNALS OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN MUSEUM
compared with the typical mammillatum Zone assemblages of D. mammillatum
(cf. Casey 1962). It is for this reason, and because D. aequinodum can arguably
be regarded as typically Middle Albian, that the writer has used Quenstedt’s
name at subspecific level. As noted by Casey (1962) aequinodum morphotypes
are also abundant in the mammillatum Zone of England, but at this level
coexist with, and are connected by transitions to, D. mammillatum s.s.,
D. mammillatum var. praecox Casey, and D. monile (J. Sowerby). Since there
is, in the writer’s opinion, but a single biological taxon involved in the latter
list, the various nominal forms are merely morphotypes within a single poly-
typic species. Disregarding the nomenclatural problems, it is clear that the
Angolan population of D. mammillatum is substantially different from that at
Copt Point, Folkestone, and thus warrants subspecific distinction.
Both Douvilleiceras restitutum Anderson and D. cheloniceratiforme are
based upon macroconchs whose inner whorls suggest they may belong here.
Similarly, the hypotype of D. spiniferum (Whiteaves) figured by McLearn
(1972, pl. 28 (fig. 1)) also shows few features to distinguish it from typical
aequinodum morphotypes. In addition, one of White’s (1887, pl. 23 (fig. 4))
syntypes of D. offarcinatum shows a rib density that suggests possible reference
to Quenstedt’s taxon.
Douvilleiceras variabile Tavani, 1949
Figs 4G; 7E-F; 8C_D) 9G, 11C_—De ISAn IS, 22
Ammonites mammillaris Schlotheim, d’Orbigny, 1841: 249, pl. 72 (fig. 5 only).
Douvilleiceras variabile Tavani, 1949: 37, pl. 10 (figs 1-2).
? Douvilleiceras pseudinaequinodum Collignon, 1963: 120, pl. 288 (fig. 1249).
Douvilleiceras monile (J. Sowerby) Collignon, 1963: 118, pl. 287 (fig. 1248).
Douvilleiceras aff. baylei Spath, Collignon, 1963: 118, pl. 287 (fig. 1247).
Douvilleiceras subleightonense Mirzoyev, 1967: 59, pl. 8 (figs 1-3).
? Douvilleiceras sp. B, McLearn, 1972: 67, pl. 13 (fig. 1), pl. 16 (fig. 1).
Material
Four specimens, SAM—PCA3422, 3447-3448 and 3496, all preserved as
internal moulds.
Description
In shell form, this species is very similar to the last but with substantially
different ornament. In the Angolan material, ornament comprises well-
developed main ribs ornamented with a distinct umbilical tubercle, a pro-
nounced mid-lateral tubercle and bullate ventral tubercles that weaken beyond
about 45 mm diameter and are lost at about 60 mm diameter. At about this
stage a small tubercle also appears between the umbilical and mid-lateral
tubercle, and the ventral tubercles bear three notches. There are, therefore,
eight notches per rib. Between these long ribs are invariably one, sometimes
two intercalatories that do not connect with the umbilicus and lack mid-lateral
tubercles. These ribs tend to be somewhat finer than the main ribs and give rise
to the typical ‘variable’ ornament of this species.
LOWER CRETACEOUS AMMONITES FROM ANGOLA 279
Fig. 8. A-B. Douvilleiceras mammillatum aequinodum (Quenstedt), SAM-PCA
3429. C-D. Douvilleiceras variabile Tavani, SAM-PCA3447. Note the alternating
long and short ribs and prominent lateral tubercle typical of this species. Both x 1.
280 ANNALS OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN MUSEUM
Fig. 9. Whorl sections of Douvilleiceras. A-C, E. Douvilleiceras mammillatum aequinodum
(Quenstedt). A. SAM-PCA3417. B. SAM-—PCA3433. C. SAM-PCA3479. E. SAM-PCA
3431. D, F, H. Douvilleiceras inaequinodum (Quenstedt). D. SAM—PCA3535. F. SAM-—
PCA3437. H. SAM-PCA 3466. G. Douvilleiceras variabile Tavani, SAM-PCA3496. All x 1.
LOWER CRETACEOUS AMMONITES FROM ANGOLA 281
Measurements
No D H W W/H U
SAM-PCA3496 51 19 22 1,16 19 (37)
Discussion
Douvilleiceras variabile Tavani seems to be based upon the inner whorls of
a macroconch, showing the irregular ornament of the early growth stages, with
1-2 weak ribs between main ribs, and the more regular ornament of the
macroconch on the adoral half of the last whorl. Tavani’s (1949) species is
undoubtedly very close to D. mammillatum (Schlotheim), and D’Orbigny’s
(1841, pl. 72 (fig. 5)) Ammonites mammillaris seems to be a typical example of
this species. Indeed, even in the present collection, several individuals seem to
combine the characters of D. variabile and D. mammillatum aequinodum
(Fig. 15E). This tends to suggest that D. variabile is merely another morpho-
type within a polytypic D. mammillatum. While this is the writer’s belief,
opposition to the gross ‘lumping’ that such synonymies would involve from one
of the referee’s of this paper has led to the adoption of a somewhat more
cautious approach. Douvilleiceras variabile is here maintained as a distinct
species because the writer does not believe in sympatric subspecies.
Douvilleiceras subleightonense Mirzoyev is a gigantic macroconch attaining
some 600 mm diameter, whose inner whorls show the irregular ribbing typical
of this species, and it may reasonably be included here. The Douvilleiceras sp.
B of McLearn (1972, pl. 13 (fig. 1), pl. 26 (fig. 1)) is another macroconch that
may belong here. Yet another macroconch whose inner whorls are reminiscent
of this species is D. pseudinaequinodum Collignon. Douvilleiceras ivernoisi
(Coquand) (Pictet & Renevier, 1854, pl. 2 (fig. 1)) is somewhat similar to
D. variabile, but lacks the pronounced lateral tubercle.
Douvilleiceras inaequinodum (Quenstedt, 1849)
Figs 4C-D, F, 6A, 7A-C, 9D, F, H, 10E, 11A, 12C-D, G-H
Ammonites mammillaris Schlotheim, d’Orbigny, 1841: 249, pl. 73 (figs 1-3 only).
Ammonites monile inaequinodus Quenstedt, 1849: 138, pl. 10 (fig. 1).
Douvilleiceras inaequinodum (Quenstedt) Parona & Bonarelli, 1897: 95, pl. 4 (fig. 6), pl. 13
(fig. 6). Collignon, 1950: 46, fig. 2; 1963: 114, pl. 285 (fig. 1245). Casey, 1962: 282,
fig. 95c.
Douvilleiceras orbignyi Hyatt, 1903: 110. Casey, 1962: 279, pl. 40 (figs 6-8), pl. 42
(figs. 12-13). Howarth, 1965: 345, pl. 1 (fig. 5).
Douvilleiceras mammillatum var. baylei Spath, 1923: 70, pl. 5 (fig. 4).
Douvilleiceras aff. inaequinodum (Quenstedt) Spath, 1923: 73, pl. 4 (fig. 5).
? Douvilleiceras cf. inaequinodum (Quenstedt) Scott, 1937: 35, pl. 6 (figs 3-4), fig. 1.
Douvilleiceras alternans Casey, 1962: 282, pl. 42 (fig. 1), fig. 1021.
? Douvilleiceras magnodosum Casey, 1962: 284, pl. 42 (fig. 4), fig. 102k.
? Douvilleiceras charshangense Mirzoyev, 1967: 54, pl. 7 (figs 1-5).
? Douvilleiceras sp. A, McLear, 1972: 67, pl. 12 (fig. 1).
Douvilleiceras cf. orbignyi Hyatt, Young, 1974: 188, pl. 5 (figs 9-10).
282 ANNALS OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN MUSEUM
Fig. 10 A-B. Oxytropidoceras (Mirapelia) buarquianum (White), SAM-—PCA2656, a douglasi
morphotype which very closely approaches O. mirapelianum (d’Orbigny), x 0,75. C—-D, F-H.
Douvilleiceras mammillatum aequinodum (Quenstedt). C. SAM-—PCA3494. D. SAM-PCA
3503. F. SAM-PCA3527. G. SAM-PCA3499. H. SAM-PCA3518. E. Douvilleiceras inae-
quinodum (Quenstedt), SAM—PCA3504. All x 1 unless otherwise stated.
LOWER CRETACEOUS AMMONITES FROM ANGOLA
“<
hy
GGL OIE ee,
sD
~ i
tas iaaaicr |
~tameatapes 3
a ini }
Fig. 11. A. Douvilleiceras inaequinodum (Quenstedt), SAM-PCA3458, a specimen showing
the increased number of intercalatories in maturity. B. Oxytropidoceras (Mirapelia) sergipense
(White). Front view of SAM—-PCA5444. C-D. Douvilleiceras variabile Tavani, SAM-PCA3422.
E. Plagiostoma sp., SAM-PCA5490, from the Oxytropidoceras assemblage. All x 1.
284 ANNALS OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN MUSEUM
Material
Eighteen specimens, SAM—PCA3435-3438, 3444, 3451, 3453, 3456-3458,
3466, 3492, 3495, 3498, 3504, 3512, 3525, and 3535, all preserved as limestone
steinkerns.
Description
This is a rather common species in the Angolan fauna. The shell is generally
moderately evolute, inflated, with a subreniform, depressed whorl section. The
umbilicus is rather wide, with steep umbilical walls and well-rounded shoulders.
Ornament comprises sparse, distant, slightly rursiradiate ribs, which are
narrower than the interspaces and alternate weak and strong. The strong main ~
ribs are ornamented with small umbilical tubercles, a prominent lateral tubercle,
and exaggerated ventral bulges, each with three spiral notches. In juveniles, only
two spiral notches are present on the ventral bulges. With ontogeny, a small
tubercle appears between the umbilical and mid-lateral tubercle and another
between the latter and the ventrolateral bulges. Thus, there may be up to eight
crenulations per rib in adults. The fine intercalated ribs, usually one and rarely
two, between main ribs generally lack discernible ornament (on the weathered
internal moulds), but in some individuals develop a small but distinct mid-lateral
tubercle. In the early growth stages (Figs 4C-D, 12G—H) the intercalated ribs
may be absent or so fine that there is difficulty in distinguishing this species from
D. mammillatum s.s. There are probably about 7-8 main ribs per half whorl. The
ventral sulcus is moderately broad and rather deep.
Discussion
Casey (1962) considered D. inaequinodum to be a typical Middle Albian
species, distinguished from the earlier D. orbignyi Hyatt and D. alternans
Casey in having two, not one, fine intercalatories between main ribs. However,
material from the /sohoplites eodentatus nodule bed at Bully, Pays de Bray,
France (Fig. 12C—D), shows that at least some individuals of D. inaequinodum
have but a single fine intercalated rib between main ribs. In view of this, and
because Casey (1962) has noted transitions between D. alternans and D. orbig-
nyi, the latter two species are included in the synonymy of D. inaequinodum.
Until the population structures of the mammillatum Zone assemblages are
better known, it is perhaps prudent to retain orbignyi as a subspecies for these
forms, as D. inaequinodum orbignyi Hyatt.
Family Anisoceratidae Hyatt, 1900
Genus Protanisoceras Spath, 1923
Type species Hamites raulinianus d’Orbigny, 1842; by original designation
Protanisoceras sp.
Fig. 13B
Material
A single fragment, SAM-—PCA3461, preserved as a limestone steinkern
from the Douvilleiceras assemblage.
LOWER CRETACEOUS AMMONITES FROM ANGOLA 285
Fig. 12. Douvilleiceras spp. from the I. eodentatus Nodule Bed, Bully, Pays de Bray, France
(Bed e of Destombes et al. 1977). A-B. Douvilleiceras mammillatum aequinodum (Quen-
stedt), OUM-KZ976. C-D, G-—-H. Douvilleiceras inaequinodum (Quenstedt). C-D.
OUM-KZ982. G-H. OUM-KZ981. E-F. Douvilleiceras mammillatum mammillatum
(Schlotheim), OUM-KZ979. All x 1.
286 ANNALS OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN MUSEUM
Fig. 13. A. Douvilleiceras variabile Tavani, SAM-PCA3472. B. Protanisoceras sp., SAM-
PCA3461. C—D. Venezoliceras acostae (d’Orbigny), syntypes. in the D’Orbigny Collection,
NHMP. E-F. Mortoniceratoides rigidus (Spath), the holotype, BM—C34879. All x 1.
LOWER CRETACEOUS AMMONITES FROM ANGOLA 287
Fig. 14. A-C. Puzosia bistricta (White), the lectotype, designated herein, USNMNH 12102,
from Porto dos Barcos, Mariom, Sergipe, Brazil. D-E. Oxytropidoceras (Mirapelia) mirapelia-
num (d’Orbigny), NHMP-5758, in the D’Orbigny Collection, from Clar, France. F-G.
Oxytropidoceras (Oxytropidoceras) carbonarium (Gabb), the holotype of O. cantianum Spath,
BM-C12501, from the D. cristatum Zone at Folkestone.
288 ANNALS OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN MUSEUM
Fig. 15. A-B. Oxytropidoceras (Mirapelia) buarquianum (White), the lectotype, designated
herein (after White 1887). C-—D. Puzosia bistricta (White), copy of White’s (1887) original
illustration. E. Douvilleiceras cf. variabile Tavani, SAM—PCA3435. Note the abrupt change
from a variabile to an aequinodum-type ornament. All x 1.
LOWER CRETACEOUS AMMONITES FROM ANGOLA 289
Description
The short curved fragment gives the impression of having had a com-
pressed, elliptical whorl section. Ornament comprises rather broad, low, rursi-
radiate ribs, wider than the interspaces, each bearing a distinct ventrolateral
tubercle. There are about three ribs in a distance equal to the whorl height.
Discussion
The available specimen is too fragmentary to warrant comparison with the
many described species of Protanisoceras, but does provide the first record of
this genus from Angola.
Family Desmoceratidae Zittel, 1895
Subfamily Puzosiinae Spath, 1922
Genus Puzosia Bayle, 1878
Type species Ammonites mayoriana d’Orbigny, 1842
(= replacement name for A. planulatus J. de C. Sowerby
non Schlotheim 1820 nec Schuebler 1830);
by subsequent designation
Puzosia bistricta (White, 1887)
Figs 2A-B, 3C-D, 14A-C, 15C-D, 16, 17B-C, 18C-D, 19A-B
Ammonites bistrictus White, 1887: 216, pl. 23 (figs 5-8).
Ammonites hopkinsi Forbes, White, 1887: 213, pl. 21 (figs 1-3), pl. 22 (fig. 5).
Puzosia welwitschia Choffat (in Choffat & de Loriol), 1888: 68, pl. 2 (fig. 4).
Puzosia garajauana Maury, 1930: 289; 1936: 234, pl. 20 (figs 1-3). Beurlen, 1970: 446, pl. 1
(figs 1-3), figs 1-2.
Puzosia rosarica Maury, 1936: 236, pl. 26 (figs 2-3). Beurlen, 1970: 446, pl. 1 (figs 4-5),
figs 3-6.
Material
Thirty specimens, SAM—PCA2623, 2625-2626, 2636, 2638, 2649, 2652,
2660-2661, 3412, 3415-3416, 3419-3421, 3424, 3426, 3429, 3432, 3434, 3449,
3452, 3474-3475, 3635, 3749, 3751, 3753, 3757, all preserved as limestone
steinkerns and mostly from the beds with Douvilleiceras.
Description
Shell moderately large, compressed, with a moderately narrow umbilicus
(21-27 % of the diameter). The umbilical walls are steep, with evenly rounded
shoulders, and the flanks slightly convex, almost flat. Maximum width is just
below mid-flank and the whorl section (Fig. 16) is elliptical. There are generally
about 7-8 straight, prorsiradiate constrictions per whorl, which flex forward just
before crossing the venter. Characteristically, the whorls show an increase in
inflation immediately after a constriction. The constrictions are broad and
shallow, typically with a peculiar wedge-shaped rib intercalated across the
290 ANNALS OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN MUSEUM
Fig. 16. Whorl sections of Puzosia bistricta (White). A. SAM-—PCA2626.
B. SAM-PCA3412. Both x 1.
venter in the middle growth stages. Because of the nature of preservation, the
true characters of the ribbing are difficult to assess. They first appear on the
outer parts of the flanks at about 60-80 mm diameter, and coarsen and become
more prominent across the venter with age. On SAM-—PCA2623 there are
twenty fine ribs between successive constrictions whereas on SAM—PCA2649
there are only seven.
Discussion
Puzosia welwitschia Choffat is clearly conspecific with the Ammonites
hopkinsi figured by White (1887), which was later renamed Puzosia garajauana
by Maury (1930). They almost certainly merely represent the middle and adult
growth stages, respectively, of P. bistricta (White) (Fig. 14A—-C). Puzosia
rosarica Maury occurs with P. bistricta and is based upon juvenile material
which probably does not warrant specific separation. There are few species of
Puzosia with which this highly distinctive Middle Albian species may be
confused.
Family Brancoceratidae Spath, 1933
Subfamily Mojsisovicziinae Hyatt, 1903
Genus Oxytropidoceras Stieler, 1920
Type species Ammonites roissyanus d’Orbigny, 1841;
by original designation
Discussion
The most comprehensive treatment of this genus is that of Young (1966).
He included Androiavites Collignon (1936) in the synonymy of Adkinsites and
provided the following emended diagnosis of Manuaniceras: ‘Ammonites with
LOWER CRETACEOUS AMMONITES FROM ANGOLA 291
few whorls, which are much higher than wide; there are many flat ribs at some
stage in the ontogeny, and ribs may be single or bifurcating at one or more
positions at the umbilicus or on the flank’ (p. 95).
Unfortunately, however, flat-topped ribs are not a feature of Manuaniceras
manuanense (Spath) (Fig. 31B) and hence cannot be used in the formulation of
a diagnosis of this taxon. As Young (1966) rightly pointed out, Manuaniceras is
a direct descendant of the Oxytropidoceras roissyanum group, which mainly
differs in showing rib bifurcation at various levels on the flank. The differences
are slight and the writer finds little use for the genus/subgenus Manuaniceras
which is here included in the synonymy of Oxytropidoceras s.s.
As noted by Young (1966), and is clear both from the stratigraphic record
and described species of Oxytropidoceras, the history of this taxon is one of
parallel evolution between two species groups. The O. mirapelianum
(d’Orbigny) (Fig. 14D-E herein) plexus comprises O. mirapelianum
(d’Orbigny), O.evansi (Spath), O. douglasi Knetchel, O. buarquianum
(White), O. sergipense (White), O. packardi Anderson, O. boulei Collignon,
O. paucituberculatum (Collignon), and O. colcanapi Collignon. These are all
coarsely ribbed species without bifurcation or intercalation of the simple ribs.
To this group the writer would assign the strongly derived species of O. salasi
Young, O. stenzeli Young, and O. pandalense Young in which the adult whorls
become densicostate, with occasional bifurcation and intercalation, and thus
homoeomorph ‘Manuaniceras’. The other species group is that of O. roissya-
num (d’Orbigny) in which the ribs are fine, with frequent bifurcation at or
above the umbilical edge, and which includes all the described ‘Manuaniceras’
species of Young (1966). Since these two plexi appear almost simultaneously at
the base of the Middle Albian (Owen 1971) and evolved in parallel until their
final extinction in the early late Albian, the writer believes they merit sub-
generic distinction. The writer proposes, therefore, the new subgenus
Oxytropidoceras (Mirapelia) to include all those coarse-ribbed species assigned
to the mirapelianum plexus above, with Ammonites mirapelianus d’Orbigny as
type species. Oxytropidoceras (Mirapelia) sergipense (White) provides the root-
stock from which the typical coarse-ribbed species of Venezoliceras (of which
Tarfayites Collignon (1966) is a synonym), such as V. venezolanum (Stieler),
V. acostae (d’Orbigny) (Fig. 13C-D), V. heueri Young, V. obscurum Young,
V. texanum Young, V? chihuahuaense (Bose), V. kiowanum (Twenhofel), V.
umsinenense (Van Hoepen), V. bituberculatum (Collignon), V. madagasca-
riense (Collignon), V. robustum (Renz) and V. clavicostatum (Renz), are
derived. However, as noted by Young (1966) and Renz (1968), there is a
second group of Venezoliceras, typified by Venezoliceras harrisoni
Benavides-Caceres, in which the early and middle growth stages show dense,
bifurcating, nontuberculate ribbing, with a flank tubercle developed only at
relatively large diameters. This group, which also includes V. acutocarinatum
(Shumard), V. multicostatum (Renz), V. intermedium (Renz), and V. karsteni
(Stieler), seems to have its ancestry in ‘Manuaniceras’ and, as such, its similar-
292 ANNALS OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN MUSEUM
Fig. 17. A. Douvilleiceras mammillatum aequinodum (Quenstedt), SAM—PCA3423, a macro-
conch fragment, X 0,67. B-C. Puzosia bistricta (White), SAM—PCA5447, x 1.
LOWER CRETACEOUS AMMONITES FROM ANGOLA 293
Fig. 18. A-B. Oxytropidoceras (Mirapelia) sergipense (White), SAM-—PCAS5444. C-D. Puzo-
sia bistricta (White), SAM—PCA3420. Both x 1.
294 ANNALS OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN MUSEUM
Fig. 19. A-B. Puzosia bistricta (White), a specimen in the South African Museum. C-E.
Oxytropidoceras (Mirapelia) buarquianum (White). C. SAM—PCAS5446, a douglasi morpho-
type. D-E. SAM-PCA3603, a salasi morphotype. All x 1.
LOWER CRETACEOUS AMMONITES FROM ANGOLA 295
ity to the V. acostae group is due to convergence. Consequently, the writer
proposes the new subgenus Oxytropidoceras (Benavidesites), with type species
Venezoliceras harrisoni Benavides-Caceres (1956: 460, pl. 53 (fig. 6)), for this
homoeomorphic development.
The origins of Adkinsites are obscure; Young (1966) would derive this
taxon from Dipoloceras, but this view is unacceptable to the writer. They could
represent derivatives of the more densely ribbed O. (Mirapelia) species or of
paucicostate Oxytropidoceras s.s., or of both. This taxon is not present in the
Angolan material and hence the writer defers judgement. Because of its
obscure, and perhaps polyphyletic origins, Young (1966) is followed in treating
Adkinsites as a genus, of which Androiavites Collignon (1936) is a synonym.
Fig. 20. Mojsisoviczia cf. ventanillensis (Gabb). A reconstruction based upon
BM-C78865, from the Middle Albian of Zululand. x 1.
296 ANNALS OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN MUSEUM
Mortoniceras (Pervinquieria) rigidum Spath (1933: 413, figs 142, 144f)
(Fig. 13E-F herein) is recorded from Bed VIII (=D. cristatum Zone) at
Folkestone and is, as such, the earliest described species of Mortoniceras. It
differs from the latter genus, however, in having rather fine, distant ribs with a
steep adoral surface and a sloping adapical surface, lacking any sign of a
mid-lateral tubercle, and in lacking the doubling of the ventrolateral tubercle so
typical of Mortoniceras. Indeed, the characters of ornament ally M. rigidum
with the Mojsisovicziinae and it seems likely that M. rigidum is closely allied to,
and perhaps descended from Adkinsites. Since the origins of Mortoniceras are
generally thought to lie in Dipoloceras (Wright in Arkell et al. 1957), the
similarities are due to convergence. It is proposed, therefore, to make M. rigi-
dum Spath the type species for the new genus Mortoniceratoides. It differs from
Adkinsites in having a subquadrate whorl section, low ventral keel, and with a
symmetrically bifid first lateral saddle.
As discussed by Kennedy & Cooper (1977), Mojsisoviczia and Falloticeras
are closely allied and, on the basis of the available evidence, Falloticeras may
reasonably be considered a neotonous offshoot of Mojsisoviczia. From their
first appearance (Fig. 20), the ribs of Mojsisoviczia are coarse and simple and
the origins of this taxon seem to lie in O. (Mirapelia) sergipense (White) or a
closely allied form.
Dipoloceras is believed by Spath (1931) to have descended from Oxytropi-
doceras, and is included in the Mojsisovicziinae by Wright (in Arkell et al.
1957). However, the inflated whorls, low ventral keel and strong spiral
ornament suggest a closer relationship with the Mortoniceratinae, to which
subfamily Dipoloceras is here referred. The suggested phylogeny within the
Mojsisovicziinae, as here interpreted, is shown as Figure 21.
Oxytropidoceras (Mirapelia) buarquianum (White, 1887)
Figs 3A-B, 6B, 10A-B, 15A-B, 19C-E, 22D-E, 23A-D, F-G, 24-25, 27
Ammonites buarquianus White, 1887: 222, pl. 24 (figs 3-4 only), pl. 25 (figs 7-8).
Schloenbachia cf. roissyana (d’Orbigny) Douvillé, 1906: 147, pl. 4 (fig. 3).
Schloenbachia aff. belknapi (Marcou) Douvillé, 1906: 148, pl. 2 (fig. 4).
Schloenbachia cf. belknapi Bose (non Marcou) Douglas, 1921: 269, pl. 17 (figs 1-2).
Schloenbachia cf. chihuahuaensis Bése, Douglas, 1921: 269, pl. 17 (fig. 3).
Oxytropidoceras buarquianum (White) Maury, 1936, pl. 19 (figs 2-3), pl. 25 (figs 5-6). Oliveira
& Leonardos, 1943, pl. 27 (fig. 7). Young, 1966: 89, pl. 38 (figs 1-3). Beurlen, 1970: 464,
pl. 5 (figs 1-2), fig. 18.
? Oxytropidoceras colcanapi Collignon, 1936: 182, pl. 18 (fig. 7), fig. 12k.
? Oxytropidoceras sp.juv., Spath, 1930: 61, pl. 9 (fig. 18).
Oxytropidoceras packardi Anderson, 1938: 198, pl. 50 (fig. 1).
Oxytropidoceras douglasi Knetchel, 1947: 106, pl. 24 (figs 1-4), pl. 25 (figs 1-2), pl. 26, pl. 27
(figs 2-3), pl. 28 (fig. 1). Young, 1966: 88, pl. 10 (figs 1, 5), pl. 36 (figs 3-4), pl. 37
(figs 4-5).
? Oxytropidoceras involutum Beurlen, 1952: 162, fig. 3.
? Oxytropidoceras (Manuaniceras) involutum Beurlen, 1970: 465, pl. 5 (fig. 4).
Oxytropidoceras sp. A, Beurlen, 1970: 464, pl. 5 (fig. 3).
LOWER CRETACEOUS AMMONITES FROM ANGOLA 297
Laraiceras
Venezoliceras
O. (Mirapelia)
Mortoniceratoides
Adkinsites
O. (Oxytropidoceras)
O. (Benavidesites)
Falloticeras
Mojsisoviczia
Fig. 21. A suggested phylogeny of the Mojsisovicziinae.
Material
Forty-five specimens, including SAM-—PCA2617-2618, 2621-2622,
2627-2630, 2632, 2637, 2640-2645, 2648, 2651, 2654, 2659, 2663, 2665-2667,
2669, 2673-2674, 2676, 2678, 2693, 3603-3604, 3755, 3762 and 3765, all pre-
served as limestone steinkerns.
Description
The Angolan population is polytypic, with morphotypes agreeing exactly
with O. buarquianum (White), O. packardi Anderson, O. douglasi Knetchel,
O. salasi Young, and two specimens very closely approaching O. mirapelianum
(d’Orbigny). The relationship between these morphotypes is shown in Figure
26. Because of this wide range of intraspecific variation, no single description
will fully cover all morphotypes and hence they are described separately.
Two specimens, SAM—PCA2656-2657, very closely approach O. mirapelia-
num (d’Orbigny) and, with a typological approach, would be referred to that
species. The Angolan examples (Fig. 10A—B) are, however, insensibly con-
298 ANNALS OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN MUSEUM
Fig. 22. A. Douvilleiceras variabile Tavani, D’Orbigny’s (1841, pl. 72 (fig. 5)) protograph,
x 0,5. B-C. Mojsisoviczia delaruei (d’Orbigny), NHMP-5761, one of D’Orbigny’s syntypes
from Clar, France. D-E. Oxytropidoceras (Mirapelia) buarquianum (White), SAM-—PCA2641,
a rather densely ribbed douglasi morphotype, thus transitional to salasi variants. All x 1 unless
otherwise stated.
LOWER CRETACEOUS AMMONITES FROM ANGOLA 299
Fig. 23. A-D, F-G. Whorl sections of Oxytropidoceras (Mirapelia) buarquianum (White).
A. SAM-PCA2656, a douglasi morphotype. B. SAM-PCA2644, a douglasi morphotype.
C. SAM-PCA3603, a salasi morphotype. D. SAM-PCA2693, a typical buarquianum morpho-
type. F. SAM-PCA2622, a douglasi morphotype. G. SAM-PCA2641, a douglasi morpho-
type. E, H. Whorl sections of O. (M.) sergipense (White). E. SAM-PCA5444. H. A
unnumbered specimen in the South African Museum. All x 1.
300 ANNALS OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN MUSEUM
Fig. 24. Oxytropidoceras (Mirapelia) buarquianum (White), SAM-—PCA3418, a douglasi mor-
photype, X 1.
LOWER CRETACEOUS AMMONITES FROM ANGOLA 301
Fig. 25. Oxytropidoceras (Mirapelia) buarquianum (White). A-B. SAM-PCA2693, the typical
variant. C. SAM-PCA2674, a douglasi morphotype. D. SAM—PCA2665, a rather eroded,
finely ribbed variant. All x 1.
302 ANNALS OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN MUSEUM
salasi buarquianum
3 (7%) 3 (7%)
2 (4%) 6 (13%)
douglasi
29 (64%)
2 (4%)
sergipense mirapelianum
Fig. 26. Interrelationships between the Oxytropidoceras (Mirapelia)
buarquianum morphotypes and closely allied species. Figures given
are the number of morphotypes in the present collection followed,
in parentheses, by the percentage which they constitute.
nected to O. douglasi morphotypes and differ from D’Orbigny’s (1841) species
(Fig. 14D-E) in being slightly less inflated and in having the ribs somewhat
thicker at the umbilical margin.
The O. douglasi morphotypes are the most abundant in the present
collection and show the following features: shell compressed, evolute (umbili-
cus 24-28 % of the diameter), with a compressed, lanceolate whorl section and
a prominent, sharp, high, siphonal keel. The umbilicus is rather wide and
shallow, with fairly steep umbilical walls and evenly rounded shoulders at
moderate diameters. The umbilical walls become increasingly inclined with
growth and, in maturity, the umbilical shoulder is gently rounded and indis-
tinct. At this stage, the outer whorl covers about 15 per cent of the ribbing of
the preceding whorl. Maximum width is slightly below mid-flank in most
individuals. Ornament comprises simple, generally flexuous ribs, which arise at
the umbilical seam but only become prominent on the flanks. All ribs are
slightly prorsiradiate, steepest adorally and convex adapically, and broaden
towards the ventrolateral shoulders where they swell but do not form tubercles.
LOWER CRETACEOUS AMMONITES FROM ANGOLA 303
Fig. 27. Oxytropidoceras (Mirapelia) buarquianum (White). The
suture line, somewhat simplified by erosion, of SAM-PCA2693, a
douglasi morphotype. Approx. X 2.
There are 13—20 ribs per half whorl. A somewhat eroded suture-line is shown as
Figure 27.
O. buarquianum morphotypes are insensibly connected to O. douglasi
morphotypes (Fig. 3A—B). Typically (Fig. 25A-B), this morphotype is strongly
compressed, with 22-32 broad, low, weak ribs per whorl, and an indistinct
umbilical wall. It is perhaps worth noting that it is a ‘law’ of polytypic
ammonite species that the compressed variants are weakly ornamented, and
that strength of ornament increases with inflation.
Two examples, SAM-—PCA 3603-3604, show the rather dense, straight ribs
of O. salasi Young, becoming projected near the venter (Fig. 19D-E), and are
connected by intermediates to O. douglasi. These O. salasi variants show a low
umbilical wall, broad convex flanks and a lanceolate whorl section, and were
clearly rather evolute. Although the siphonal keel is not preserved, it certainly
stood well above the venter. The dense, narrow, simple ribs are distinctly
prorsiradiate and only very slightly flexuous, with at least twenty-two ribs per
half whorl. The ribs swell slightly at the ventrolateral shoulders and curve
strongly forward to meet the siphonal keel.
Discussion
The Angolan material shows an insensible transition between O. buarquia-
num (White) and O. douglasi Knetchel and they are synonyms. It is unfortun-
ate that White’s (1887) species has priority because the O. douglasi morpho-
types predominate. There is little to separate O. packardi Anderson from the
O. douglasi morphotypes and it should also fall into synonymy. Several of the
Angolan morphotypes are extremely close to O. mirapelianum, which is a
broadly contemporaneous European species. However, until the population
304 ANNALS OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN MUSEUM
structure of D’Orbigny’s (1841) species is better understood, they are main-
tained as specifically distinct.
As already noted, there are O. salasi morphotypes within the Aswalen
material, which are connected by transitions to O. douglasi morphotypes, but
they constitute only 4 per cent of the present material. Because of this, and
because Young (1966) had over 300 specimens of O. salasi from the Key Valley
Marl, the Texas form is maintained as a distinct species. Occasional O. salasi
morphotypes within the Angolan population merely indicate that O. salasi is
descended from an O. buarquianum ancestor by a major change in population
structure. Oxytropidoceras stenzeli Young (1966: 93, pl. 22 (fig. 1), pl. 26
(fig. 1), pl. 34 (fig. 1), pl. 35 (fig. 4), figs 7h, 18c) is a Middle to low Upper
Albian species that may not bear separation from O. salasi.
Collignon (1936) recorded O. mirapelianum, O. colcanapi Collignon, O.
boulei Collignon, and O. bravoense Collignon (non Bose) from the same level
and locality (Berambo) in the Middle Albian of Madagascar. His O. colcanapi
is certainly very close to O. buarquianum, although the true affinities of the
Madagascan material must await reassessment at the population level.
The species of Oxytropidoceras figured by Reyment (1955) from Nigeria
are all poorly preserved juveniles with the simple, flexuous ribbing of O.
(Mirapelia). Additional and better preserved material is required for a satisfac-
tory identification.
Oxytropidoceras chihuahuaense (Bose) (1910: 73, pl. 5 (figs 3-4), pl. 7
(figs 3-4), pl. 8 (figs 1-2)) was assigned by Young (1966) to Venezoliceras, but
the absence of a flank tubercle clearly places it in O. (Mirapelia). The lectotype
is the original of the specimen figured by Bose (1910, pl. 7 (figs 3-4), pl. 8
(fig. 1)), which shows rather rigid, slightly prorsiradiate single ribs that broaden
ventrally and terminate in weak ventrolateral swellings. These features are
within the range of variation of the Angolan material, but since BOése’s species
is, in Texas at least (Young 1966), dated as upper Middle Albian—lower Upper
Albian, it is maintained as distinct.
Oxytropidoceras involutum Beurlen is based upon immature material that
is very close to typical examples of this species. It is likely to prove a synonym
of O. buarquianum.
Oxytropidoceras (Mirapelia) sergipense (White, 1887)
Figs 11B, 18A-B, 23E, H, 28
Ammonites sergipensis White, 1887: 221, pl. 24 (figs 1-2).
Pervinquieria sergipensis (White) ee 1930: 294; 1936: 236, pl. 24 (figs 3-4).
? Oxytropidoceras buarquianum (White) Maury, 1936: 250, pl. 9 (fig. 1 only).
Oxytropidoceras mauryae Beurlen, 1952: 162, fig. 3.
Dipoloceras sergipense (White) Young, 1966: 20, 22, 24.
Oxytropidoceras (Venezoliceras) sergipense (White) Renz, 1968: 630.
Oxytropidoceras (Androiavites) mauryae Beurlen, 1970: 468, pl. 6 (fig. 1).
Non Mortoniceras sergipensis (White) Beurlen, 1970: 468, pl. 6 (figs 2-4), fig. 19.
LOWER CRETACEOUS AMMONITES FROM ANGOLA 305
Fig. 28. Oxytropidoceras (Mirapelia) sergipense (White). A-B. White’s (1887) origi-
nal illustration. C—D. The original of White’s illustration, herein selected as lecto-
type, in the Natural History Museum, Rio de Janeiro. Photo: P. Bengtson.
Both x 1.
306 ANNALS OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN MUSEUM
Material
Six specimens in the South African Museum, SAM-—PCA3755, 3765, and
5444, together with three unnumbered examples. All are preserved as lime-
stone steinkerns.
Description
The shell is rather inflated and moderately evolute, with the outer whorl
covering about 25 per cent of the preceding whorl. The umbilicus is moderately
wide (32-35% of the diameter) and fairly shallow, with steep umbilical walls
and evenly rounded shoulders. Intercostally the whorl section is oval, com-
pressed, whereas costally it is subquadrate (Fig. 23E, H). Ribs begin at the
umbilical seam and, across the flank, are slightly flexuous and prorsiradiate,
terminating in prominent ventrolateral tubercles that are projected forward on
the venter. There are thirty ribs on the outer whorl. The flanks are convex and
converge slightly towards the venter, with maximum width about one-third of
the way up the flanks. The keel is not preserved but must have stood high
above the venter.
Discussion
The confusion surrounding the generic status of White’s (1887) species is
evident from the synonymy. It is, indeed, very close to Venezoliceras, as noted
by Renz (1968), but lacks the development of flank tubercles. On the other
hand, it is also very similar to the more inflated Oxytropidoceras douglasi
morphotypes with which it coexists, differing only in the very pronounced
development of ventrolateral tubercles. In gross morphology and stratigraphic
position, therefore, O. (M.) sergipense is intermediate between O. (Mirapelia)
and Venezoliceras. Phylogenetically, it is perhaps worth noting that Young
(1966) assigned this species to Dipoloceras, while Spath (1932) referred such
typical O. (Mirapelia) species as O. evansi (Spath), and even O. mirapelianum
(d’Orbigny) itself, to Dipoloceras. As such, it seems likely that the origins of
Dipoloceras also lie in O. (Mirapelia) of the sergipense group.
Oxytropidoceras (Androiavites) mauryae Beurlen shows the same promi-
nent ventrolateral tubercles and simple ribbing as O. (M.) sergipense and is
here regarded as conspecific. The specimen figured by Beurlen (1970) is an
Upper Albian Mortoniceras (Angolaites) with distinct umbilical and doubled
ventrolateral tubercles.
Oxytropidoceras (Mirapelia) sergipense (White) is very close to certain
species of Mojsisoviczia (Figs 20, 22B—C), from which it is readily distinguished
by its greater compression and the absence of a lateral tubercle. In this respect
the figured but undescribed material of Mojsisoviczia aff. delaruei (d’Orbigny)
(Spath 1930: 61, pl. 9 (figs 13, 16)) closely resembles the present species, since
a lateral tubercle is not evident in the illustrations. It seems reasonable to
assume that the ancestry of Mojsisoviczia lies in O. (Mirapelia) of the
sergipense group.
pidoceras) boesei Knechtel, SAM—PCAS5452, x 1.
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Fig.
308 ANNALS OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN MUSEUM
Oxytropidoceras (Oxytropidoceras) boesei Knechtel, 1947
Figs 29-31A
Oxytropidoceras (Manuaniceras) bosei Knechtel, 1947: 109, pl. 27 (fig. 1).
? Manuaniceras uddeni Young, 1966: 95, pl. 12 (figs 1, 4-5), pl. 13 (fig. 1), pl. 16 (figs 1, 3),
figs 10b, 12b.
Material
Three specimens, SAM—PCA5452-5453 and an unnumbered example in
the South African Museum, preserved as limestone steinkerns.
Description
The Angolan material comprises several rather eroded internal moulds of
body chamber fragments that, because of scaphitoid-uncoiling of the body
chamber, appear to be more evolute (umbilicus 33% of the diameter) than the
earlier growth stages actually were. The shell is strongly compressed, with a
lanceolate whorl section (Fig. 30) and broad, convex flanks. Maximum width is
about one-third of the way up the flanks. Although the siphonal keel is not
preserved, it certainly stood well above the venter.
Ornament comprises dense, flexuous flank ribs that arise at, or close to,
the umbilical seam and pass forward across the flanks. The ribs are narrower
than the interspaces with a steep, concave, adoral surface and a sloping,
convex, adapical face. They frequently bifurcate close to the umbilical seam,
but only rarely at, or above, mid-flank. There are 8-9 ribs along the venter in a
distance equal to the whorl height. There is no sign of bullae on any part of the
flanks.
Fig. 30. Oxytropidoceras (Oxytropidoceras) boesei Knechtel. Whorl
sections. A. SAM-PCAS5452. B. SAM-PCAS5453. x 1.
LOWER CRETACEOUS AMMONITES FROM ANGOLA 309
Discussion
Oxytropidoceras (Manuaniceras) boesei Knetchel was based upon frag-
mentary material, without proper description, which shows no features to
distinguish it from the Angolan material. The Texas species, Manuaniceras
uddeni Young, which coexists with O. (M.) buarquianum, is very close to the
present material. It is said to differ in the presence of a few very weak bullae at
the umbilical shoulder, and sometimes also at the point of bifurcation or
intercalation of a rib. Since the presence of such bullae is likely to be markedly
affected by state of preservation, M. uddeni is probably a synonym of
O. boesei.
Oxytropidoceras roissyanum (d’Orbigny) (Fig. 5A-B) is difficult to com-
pare with the present species because the known material of both species
represents vastly different growth stages. So far as can be judged, O. roissya-
num is much more inflated, with stronger, more robust ribs, about as wide as
the interspaces, and does not show bifurcation above the umbilical shoulder.
Oxytropidoceras applanatus Collignon (1936: 183, pl. 16, (fig. 5)) is doubtfully
distinct from O. roissyanum.
Oxytropidoceras manuanense (Spath) (1921: 281, pl. 25 (fig. 1)) (Fig. 31B)
resembles the present species in lacking flattened ribs, but differs in that nearly
all ribs bifurcate at some level on the flanks and in the effacement of ribbing in
maturity.
Oxytropidoceras cantianum Spath (Fig. 14F—G) is an Upper Albian (Dipo-
loceras cristatum Zone) species that is based upon a juvenile showing strongly
branching ribs. It closely approaches the example figured by Young (1966, pl. 7
(figs 4, 6)) as ‘probably M. carbonarium (Gabb)’, and Owen (1971) seems to be
right in regarding it a synonym of O. carbonarium.
Oxytropidoceras aroeirium Maury (1936: 251, pl. 26, (fig. 7)) is, to judge
from the description, very close to the present species. Unfortunately, the
writer has not seen the illustrations of this species and thus further comment is
unjustified.
AGE OF THE PRESENT FAUNA
Douvilleiceras mammillatum (Schlotheim) has long been considered diag-
nostic of the uppermost biostratigraphic zone in the Lower Albian, to which it
gives its name. Thus, the rich Douvilleiceras faunas from the rest of the world
are almost invariably assigned to the zone of D. mammillatum and considered
to be of late early Albian age. Despite the fact that Douvilleiceras has long
been known to persist into the Middle Albian (Casey 1962; Owen 1971;
Destombes et al. 1977), including D. mammillatum itself (Fig. 12E-F), this has
never been a problem in the boreal realm where the incoming of Hoplites forms
an easily recognizable and diagnostic base to the Middle Albian. Outside the
hoplitinid faunal province, however, no such aid is available and the problem of
310 ANNALS OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN MUSEUM
SAM-PCAS5453.__B. Oxytropidoceras (Oxytropidoceras) man-
uanense (Spath), SAM-—2726, a paratype.
LOWER CRETACEOUS AMMONITES FROM ANGOLA Sila
the Lower—Middle Albian boundary is far more complex. These problems led
Young (1966) to suggest that Lyelliceras may date a younger level in South
America than it does in Europe. Contrary to Young’s (1966) opinion, however,
the writer feels that Lyelliceras is critical to the problem of the Lower—Middle
Albian boundary, in view of its widespread geographic distribution and com-
mon association with hoplitinids in the boreal realm.
In the Anglo-Paris basin, the type region for the Albian Stage, Owen
(1971) recognized the following subdivisions of the Middle Albian:
Anahoplites daviesi Subzone
Euhoplites lautus Z
BOP eS, AUS ONE | Euhoplites nitidus Subzone
Euhoplites meandrinus Subzone
Mojsisoviczia subdelaruei Subzone
Dimorphoplites niobe Subzone
Euhoplites loricatus Zone
| Anahoplites intermedius Subzone
Hoplites spathi Subzone
Hoplites dentatus Zone Lyelliceras lyelli Subzone
Isohoplites eodentatus Subzone
In the Anglo-Paris basin, Douvilleiceras inaequinodum (Quenstedt) does
not range above the eodentatus Subzone, while Oxytropidoceras (Mirapelia)
mirapelianum (d’Orbigny). is a constituent of the Hoplites spathi Subzone
(Owen 1971). Moreover in Peru, Benavides-Caceres (1956) records Oxytropi-
doceras ‘douglas in association with Lyelliceras lyelli (d’Orbigny). There can
also be little doubt that the Angolan Oxytropidoceras fauna is strictly contem-
poraneous with those from the Texan zone of O. salasi, and it is certainly also
represented in Brazil (White 1887; Maury 1936; Beurlen 1970). As such, the
Lyelliceras lyelli Subzone is represented in the south-central Atlantic region by
Oxytropidoceras buarquianum (White) and/or Lyelliceras lyelli (d’Orbigny),
and their associated species. The underlying beds in Angola, dominated by
Douvilleiceras mammillatum aequinodum (Quenstedt) and D. inaequinodum
(Quenstedt), are thus certainly to be correlated with the /sohoplites eodentatus
Subzone of the Anglo-Paris basin. It is perhaps worthy of note that O. mirape-
lianum (d’Orbigny) is a replacement name for Ammonites cristatus Quenstedt
(non DeLuc) and, as such, Quenstedt (1849) was dealing with a faunal horizon
closely comparable, and probably strictly contemporaneous, with those at
Dombe Grande.
As such, the Dombe Grande faunas are here regarded as of basal Middle
Albian age, to be correlated with the Isohoplites eodentatus and Lyelliceras
lyelli Subzones of the European succession. The absence of lyelliceratids and
brancoceratids is enigmatic. Since Oxytropidoceras species are relatively long-
lived, the Oxytropidoceras (M.) buarquianum faunule may prove to range
somewhat higher. The fact that many of the Douvilleiceras assemblages from
around the world could now prove to be of basal Middle Albian age suggests
312 ANNALS OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN MUSEUM
that the late early Albian eustatic transgression (Cooper 1977) might actually
have peaked during the earliest Middle Albian.
SUMMARY
Two Middle Albian faunules rich in numbers, but poor in species, are
described from the vicinity of Dombe Grande, Angola. The lower faunule,
which is correlated with the I[sohoplites eodentatus Subzone of the European
sequence has yielded Douvilleiceras mammillatum aequinodum (Quenstedt),
D. inaequinodum (Quenstedt), D. variabile Tavani and Puzosia_bistricta
(White). The upper faunule has yielded Oxytropidoceras (Oxytropidoceras)
boesei Knechtel, O. (M.) buarquianum (White), O. (M.) sergipense (White),
Puzosia bistricta (White), Protanisoceras sp. and a Hamites sp., and is to be
correlated with the Lyelliceras lyelli Subzone of the Anglo-Paris basin. Mojsiso-
vicziinid phylogeny is discussed, and the following new taxa introduced: Morto-
niceratoides gen. nov., Oxytropidoceras (Mirapelia) subgen. nov. and O. (Bena-
videsites) subgen. nov., while Manuaniceras is included in the synonymy of
Oxytropidoceras S.s.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I am grateful to Dr W. J. Kennedy for providing me with photographs of
D’Orbigny’s type material, and to Dr P. Bengtson for photographs of the
Brazilian material. I should also like to express my thanks to Dr R. Kirby for
allowing me to study his collections from the Middle Albian of France. This
paper was much improved by the valuable criticism of Prof. K. Young and Dr
P. Destombes.
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Neto, M. G. M. 1961. As bacias sedimentares de Benguela e Mocamedes. Bolm Serv. geol.
min. Angola 3: 63-93.
O.iverrA, A. I. & LEonNARDOS, O. H. 1943. Geologia de Brasil. 2nd ed. Rio de Janeiro: Service
de Informacao Agricola.
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Masson.
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Hist. (geol.) Suppl. 8: 1-164.
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314 ANNALS OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN MUSEUM
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8: 175-228.
6. SYSTEMATIC papers must conform to the Jnternational code of zoological nomenclature
(particularly Articles 22 and 51).
Names of new taxa, combinations, synonyms, etc., when used for the first time, must be
followed by the appropriate Latin (not English) abbreviation, e.g. gen. nov., sp. nov., comb.
Nnov., syn. nov., etc.
An author’s name when cited must follow the name of the taxon without intervening
punctuation and not be abbreviated; if the year is added, a comma must separate author’s
name and year. The author’s name (and date, if cited) must be placed in parentheses if a
species or subspecies is transferred from its original genus. The name of a subsequent user of
a scientific name must be separated from the scientific name by a colon.
Synonymy arrangement should be according to chronology of names, i.e. all published
scientific names by which the species previously has been designated are listed in chronological
order, with all references to that name following in chronological order, e.g.:
Family Nuculanidae
Nuculana (Lembulus) bicuspidata (Gould, 1845)
Figs 14-15A
Nucula (Leda) bicuspidata Gould, 1845: 37.
Leda plicifera A. Adams, 1856: 50.
Laeda bicuspidata Hanley, 1859: 118, pl. 228 (fig. 73). Sowerby, 1871: pl. 2 (fig. 8a—b).
Nucula largillierti Philippi, 1861: 87.
Leda bicuspidata: Nicklés, 1950: 163, fig. 301; 1955: 110. Barnard, 1964: 234, figs 8-9.
Note punctuation in the above example:
comma separates author’s name and year
“semicolon separates more than one reference by the same author
full stop separates references by different authors
figures of plates are enclosed in parentheses to distinguish them from text-figures
dash, not comma, separates consecutive numbers
Synonymy arrangement according to chronology of bibliographic references, whereby
the year is placed in front of each entry, and the synonym repeated in full for each entry, is
not acceptable.
In describing new species, one specimen must be designated as the holotype; other speci-
mens mentioned in the original description are to be designated paratypes; additional material
not regarded as paratypes should be listed separately. The complete data (registration number,
depository, description of specimen, locality, collector, date) of the holotype and paratypes
must be recorded, e.g.:
Holotype
SAM-—A13535 in the South African Museum, Cape Town. Adult female from mid- tide region, King’s Beach
Port Elizabeth (33°51’S 25°39’E), collected by A. Smith, 15 January 1973.
Note standard form of writing South African Museum registration numbers and date.
7. SPECIAL HOUSE RULES
Capital initial letters
(a) The Figures, Maps and Tables of the paper when referred to in the text
> ‘
e.g. *... the Figure depicting C. namacolus...’; ‘... in C. namacolus (Fig. 10) .
(b) The prefixes of prefixed surnames in all languages, when used in the text, if not preceded
by initials or full names
e.g. Du Toit but A.L.du Toit; Von Huene but F. von Huene
(c) Scientific names, but not their vernacular derivatives
e.g. Therocephalia, but therocephalian
Punctuation should be loose, omitting all not strictly necessary
Reference to the author should be expressed in the third person
Roman numerals should be converted to arabic, except when forming part of the title of a
book or article, such as
“Revision of the Crustacea. Part VIII. The Amphipoda.’
Specific name must not stand alone, but be preceded by the generic name or its abbreviation
to initial capital letter, provided the same generic name is used consecutively.
Name of new genus or species is not to be included in the title: it should be included in the
abstract, counter to Recommendation 23 of the Code, to meet the requirements of
Biological Abstracts.
"WANT
3 9088 01206 6858
MICHAEL R. COOPER
LOWER CRETACEOUS
(MIDDLE ALBIAN)
AMMONITES FROM
DOMBE GRANDE, ANGOLA