The rooting system of Leptophloeum Dawson: New material from the upper Devonian, Famennian Witpoort Formation of South Africa
- Prestianni, Cyrille, Gess, Robert W
- Authors: Prestianni, Cyrille , Gess, Robert W
- Date: 2014
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/72732 , vital:30104 , https://doi.org/10.1016/j.revpalbo.2014.05.007
- Description: The rhizomorphs of Early (Devonian and Early Carboniferous) arborescent lycopsids are known from only a handful of taxa. That of Leptophloeum is previously described from a single fragmentary specimen from China that, in our opinion, has been incorrectly interpreted. Here we describe several relatively well-preserved examples of Leptophloeumrhizomorphs from the Famennian aged Waterloo Farm Lägerstatte of South Africa. We demonstrate an unlobed cormose morphology separated from the microphyll bearing axis by a smooth transition zone. This provides one of the few known examples of a cormose lycopsid rhizomorph dating back to the Devonian. We assign this material and all previously published South African Leptophloeum material to Leptophloeum rhombicum.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Prestianni, Cyrille , Gess, Robert W
- Date: 2014
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/72732 , vital:30104 , https://doi.org/10.1016/j.revpalbo.2014.05.007
- Description: The rhizomorphs of Early (Devonian and Early Carboniferous) arborescent lycopsids are known from only a handful of taxa. That of Leptophloeum is previously described from a single fragmentary specimen from China that, in our opinion, has been incorrectly interpreted. Here we describe several relatively well-preserved examples of Leptophloeumrhizomorphs from the Famennian aged Waterloo Farm Lägerstatte of South Africa. We demonstrate an unlobed cormose morphology separated from the microphyll bearing axis by a smooth transition zone. This provides one of the few known examples of a cormose lycopsid rhizomorph dating back to the Devonian. We assign this material and all previously published South African Leptophloeum material to Leptophloeum rhombicum.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2014
New placoderm fishes from the Late Devonian of South Africa
- Long, John A, Anderson, M Eric, Gess, Robert W, Hiller, Norton
- Authors: Long, John A , Anderson, M Eric , Gess, Robert W , Hiller, Norton
- Date: 1997
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/72763 , vital:30108 , https://doi.org/10.1080/02724634.1997.10010973
- Description: New placoderm fishes are described from a black shale lens in the Famennian Witpoort Formation, near Grahamstown, South Africa. Arthrodires include a new species of Groenlandaspis, G. riniensis sp. nov., a new genus of groenlandaspidid, Africanaspis doryssa gen. et sp. nov., and a new species of the antiarch Bothriolepis, B. africana sp. nov. This is the first record of the ubiquitous genera Bothriolepis and Groenlandaspis from the African continent. The South African placoderm fauna has demonstrable links with the eastern Gondwana faunas in the close affinity of the Bothriolepis africana with B. barred of Antarctica, and the high diversity of groenlandaspid species, especially the presence of a very high crested form having affinities to Tiaraspis.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1997
- Authors: Long, John A , Anderson, M Eric , Gess, Robert W , Hiller, Norton
- Date: 1997
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/72763 , vital:30108 , https://doi.org/10.1080/02724634.1997.10010973
- Description: New placoderm fishes are described from a black shale lens in the Famennian Witpoort Formation, near Grahamstown, South Africa. Arthrodires include a new species of Groenlandaspis, G. riniensis sp. nov., a new genus of groenlandaspidid, Africanaspis doryssa gen. et sp. nov., and a new species of the antiarch Bothriolepis, B. africana sp. nov. This is the first record of the ubiquitous genera Bothriolepis and Groenlandaspis from the African continent. The South African placoderm fauna has demonstrable links with the eastern Gondwana faunas in the close affinity of the Bothriolepis africana with B. barred of Antarctica, and the high diversity of groenlandaspid species, especially the presence of a very high crested form having affinities to Tiaraspis.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1997
Marine algal remains from the Upper Devonian of South Africa
- Hiller, Norton, Gess, Robert W
- Authors: Hiller, Norton , Gess, Robert W
- Date: 1996
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/72753 , vital:30107 , https://doi.org/10.1016/0034-6667(95)00062-3
- Description: The remains of what are interpreted to be marine brown algae are described from Late Devonian clastic rocks in South Africa. Dichotomously-branched specimens with rounded terminations are placed in the new species Hungerfordia fionae and the closely related H. dichotoma Fry and Banks is placed in synonymy with Buthotrephis trichotoma Douglas and Jell. A large strap-like form is described as a new species, Yeaia africana.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1996
- Authors: Hiller, Norton , Gess, Robert W
- Date: 1996
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/72753 , vital:30107 , https://doi.org/10.1016/0034-6667(95)00062-3
- Description: The remains of what are interpreted to be marine brown algae are described from Late Devonian clastic rocks in South Africa. Dichotomously-branched specimens with rounded terminations are placed in the new species Hungerfordia fionae and the closely related H. dichotoma Fry and Banks is placed in synonymy with Buthotrephis trichotoma Douglas and Jell. A large strap-like form is described as a new species, Yeaia africana.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1996
A new species of Diplacanthus from the Late Devonian (Famennian) of South Africa
- Authors: Gess, Robert W
- Date: 2009
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/73873 , vital:30237 , https://doi.org/10.1016/S0753-3969(01)88002-2
- Description: An advanced diplacanthid (Climatiiformes) is described from a Famennian estuarine environment of South Africa. It is characterized by having exceptionally long thin fin spines and a deep body form. Unusual details of the fins and fin spine insertions are preserved. This is the first record of a diplacanthid from the Southern Hemisphere.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2009
- Authors: Gess, Robert W
- Date: 2009
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/73873 , vital:30237 , https://doi.org/10.1016/S0753-3969(01)88002-2
- Description: An advanced diplacanthid (Climatiiformes) is described from a Famennian estuarine environment of South Africa. It is characterized by having exceptionally long thin fin spines and a deep body form. Unusual details of the fins and fin spine insertions are preserved. This is the first record of a diplacanthid from the Southern Hemisphere.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2009
Late Devonian charophytes from the Witteberg Group, South Africa
- Gess, Robert W, Hiller, Norton
- Authors: Gess, Robert W , Hiller, Norton
- Date: 1995
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/72742 , vital:30106 , https://doi.org/10.1016/0034-6667(95)00007-8
- Description: The first record of Palaeozoic charophytes from southern Africa allows the establishment of two new genera to which are assigned four new species, Octochara crassa, O. gracilis. Hexachara setacea, and H. riniensis. Each species is represented by both vegetative and reproductive structures and suggested reconstructions are presented. Associated plant and animal remains, and the sedimentology and geochemistry of the containing rocks indicate that the charophytes probably grew in the shallow parts of a brackish coastal lagoon.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1995
- Authors: Gess, Robert W , Hiller, Norton
- Date: 1995
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/72742 , vital:30106 , https://doi.org/10.1016/0034-6667(95)00007-8
- Description: The first record of Palaeozoic charophytes from southern Africa allows the establishment of two new genera to which are assigned four new species, Octochara crassa, O. gracilis. Hexachara setacea, and H. riniensis. Each species is represented by both vegetative and reproductive structures and suggested reconstructions are presented. Associated plant and animal remains, and the sedimentology and geochemistry of the containing rocks indicate that the charophytes probably grew in the shallow parts of a brackish coastal lagoon.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1995
Vertebrate Biostratigraphy of the Witteberg Group and the Devonian-Carboniferous boundary in South Africa
- Authors: Gess, Robert W
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: text , boook chapter
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/73987 , vital:30248 , https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-40859-0_13
- Description: Witteberg Group rocks are Late Devonian to Early Carboniferous in age. Comparison with Laurasian sea-level curves has correlated the earliest Carboniferous Tournasian transgression, with the argillaceous Kweekvlei Formation, overlying the arenaceous Witpoort Formation. The Devonian/Carboniferous boundary is globally characterised by a Mass Extinction which extinguished the entire grade of placoderm fish and radically reduced sarcopterygian and acanthodian diversity, preluding an Early Carboniferous radiation of actinopterygians. Analysis of Cape Supergroup biostratigraphy reveals that a fauna preservationally dominated by placoderms, sharks, and gyracanthid acanthodians may be traced from the Upper Bokkeveld Group through the Wagondrift Formation (Witteberg Group) to the Witpoort Formation, wherein it displays an increased diversity of placoderms, as well as sarcopterygians. Overlying strata contain no placoderms or sarcopterygians, but present are some relict sharks and acanthodians, and an increasing abundance of actinopterygians. This congruence confirms sea-level curve based age estimates of the Witteberg Group and the position of the Devonian/Carboniferous boundary.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Gess, Robert W
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: text , boook chapter
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/73987 , vital:30248 , https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-40859-0_13
- Description: Witteberg Group rocks are Late Devonian to Early Carboniferous in age. Comparison with Laurasian sea-level curves has correlated the earliest Carboniferous Tournasian transgression, with the argillaceous Kweekvlei Formation, overlying the arenaceous Witpoort Formation. The Devonian/Carboniferous boundary is globally characterised by a Mass Extinction which extinguished the entire grade of placoderm fish and radically reduced sarcopterygian and acanthodian diversity, preluding an Early Carboniferous radiation of actinopterygians. Analysis of Cape Supergroup biostratigraphy reveals that a fauna preservationally dominated by placoderms, sharks, and gyracanthid acanthodians may be traced from the Upper Bokkeveld Group through the Wagondrift Formation (Witteberg Group) to the Witpoort Formation, wherein it displays an increased diversity of placoderms, as well as sarcopterygians. Overlying strata contain no placoderms or sarcopterygians, but present are some relict sharks and acanthodians, and an increasing abundance of actinopterygians. This congruence confirms sea-level curve based age estimates of the Witteberg Group and the position of the Devonian/Carboniferous boundary.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2016
Archaeopteris (Progymnospermopsida) from the Devonian of southern Africa
- Anderson, Heidi M, Hiller, Norton, Gess, Robert W
- Authors: Anderson, Heidi M , Hiller, Norton , Gess, Robert W
- Date: 1995
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/72712 , vital:30102 , https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1095-8339.1995.tb02593.x
- Description: Archaeopteris notosaria sp. nov. based on one fertile and numerous sterile leafy branches is described from the Grahamstown By-Pass locality, Witpoort Formation (Witteberg Group) Upper Devonian, and represents the first unequivocal record of the genus in southern Africa. This occurrence is used, in its palaeogeographical context, to support the suggestion that climatic gradients in Late Devonian times were less steep than they are at present.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1995
- Authors: Anderson, Heidi M , Hiller, Norton , Gess, Robert W
- Date: 1995
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/72712 , vital:30102 , https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1095-8339.1995.tb02593.x
- Description: Archaeopteris notosaria sp. nov. based on one fertile and numerous sterile leafy branches is described from the Grahamstown By-Pass locality, Witpoort Formation (Witteberg Group) Upper Devonian, and represents the first unequivocal record of the genus in southern Africa. This occurrence is used, in its palaeogeographical context, to support the suggestion that climatic gradients in Late Devonian times were less steep than they are at present.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1995
- «
- ‹
- 1
- ›
- »