Jäger, Manfred. (1993). Danian Serpulidae and Spirorbidae from NE Belgium and SE Netherlands: K/T boundary extinction, survival, and origination patterns. . Mededelingen Van De Werkgroep Voor Tertiaire En Kwartaire Geologie / Contributions to Tertiary and Quaternary Geology. 29 (3-4): 73-137.

68036

Jäger, Manfred

1993

29 (3-4): 73-137

Publication

https://natuurtijdschriften.nl/pub/521598

World Polychaeta Database (WPolyDb)

Available for editors   [request]

Twenty-two serpulid and spirorbid species and subspecies from the early Palaeocene (Danian) Geulhem Member (Houthem Formation) as exposed in the type area of the Maastrichtian Stage are illustrated, discussed in detail and assigned to the following genera: Cycloserpula, Serpula ?, Cementula, Rotularia, Ditrupa, Metavermilia ?, Pyrgopolon, Placostegus, Neomicrorbis, Bipygmaeus, Pileolaria ? and Neodexiospira ?. Three new subspecies are erected, viz. Neomicrorbis parietalis jagti, Rotularia (R.) tobar gracilis and R. (R.) tobar vroenhovensis, while additional new species are of necessity described in open nomenclature as they are poorly known. Within the Geulhem Member there are but moderate changes in the serpulid/spirorbid faunas, which result mainly from differences between hard and soft substrates. Of twenty-two (sub)species seven have previously been recorded from the classic Danian of Denmark, which corroborates the correlation of the Geulhem Member with the type Danian, while two show slight differences at the subspecies level. Although data are at present insufficient to determine precisely the position of the Geulhem Member within the type Danian succession, faunal relationships suggest a middle and late Danian rather than an early Danian age for this member. A comparison of Danian serpulid/spirorbid faunas with Maastrichtian ones from the Maastricht area as well as from other parts of the world shows that the former in fact represent a slightly impoverished fauna of Maastrichtian type. Thirteen genera and subgenera became extinct at or near the K/T boundary: these were either shallow and warm water forms which for fixation needed a large substrate, or genera and subgenera comprising only few species. Most (sub)genera crossed the K/T boundary, the majority (seventeen to twenty-four) with different species below and above the boundary, some (eight) with identical species. Comparatively few (seven) genera and subgenera originated during the Danian/Palaeocene. Generally, the extinction, survival and origination patterns are similar to those described for other benthic suspension/detritus feeders, on which the K/T boundary event had only a limited influence.

Europe

Paleontology, Fossils, Paleobiology
Systematics, Taxonomy

Annelida

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