Skip to main content
Log in

Punctate Devonian and Early Carboniferous Rhynchonellids (Brachiopoda) of Transcaucasia

  • Published:
Paleontological Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The diversity of the Late Devonian and Early Carboniferous punctate rhynchonellids of Transcaucasia is revised, and various possible reasons for the origin of punctation are considered. It appeared in different superfamilies of the order Rhynchonellida as a result of adaptation to the oxygen depletion towards the sea bottom. The first punctate rhynchonellids appeared in Transcaucasia after the Frasnian-Famennian ecosystem crisis. These are Greira transcaucasica Erlanger, 1993 and Sharovaella mirabilis Pakhnevich, 2012, found in the sediments of the Cyrtospirifer asiaticusMesoplica meisteri Zone of the Lower Famennian. Most of the punctate rhynchonellids settled along the northern coast of Gondwana. Only species of the genus Araratella Abramian, Plodowski and Sartenaer, 1975 are known to have inhabited the seas along the southern coast of Laurussia. Of the Transcaucasian species, only Tchanakhtchirostrum araraticum (Abramian, 1957) continued to exist into the Early Carboniferous, but soon became extinct.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1.
Fig. 2.

Similar content being viewed by others

REFERENCES

  1. Alexander, R.R. and Scharpf, C.D., Epizoans on Late Ordovician brachiopods from Southeastern Indiana, Hist. Biol., 1990, vol. 4, nos. 3–4, pp. 179–202.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Balinski, A., Brachiopods and conodont stratigraphy of the Famennian from the Debnik anticline, southern Poland, Palaeontol. Polon., 1995, vol. 54, pp. 1–88.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Baranov, V.V., Order Rhynchonellida, in Atlas Devonian brakhiopod Severo-vostoka Rossii. Tr. Paleontol. Inst., Ross. Akad. Nauk (Atlas of Devonian Brachiopods of Northeastern Russia. Trans. Paleontol. Inst. Russ. Acad. Sci.), 1996, vol. 266, pp. 55–112.

  4. Becker, R.T., Marshall, J.E.A., and Da Silva, A.-C., Chapter 22—The Devonian Period, in Geologic Time Scale 2020, vol. 2, Gradstein, F.M., Ogg, J.G., Schmitz, M.D., and Ogg, G.M., Eds., Amsterdam: Elsevier, 2020, pp. 733–810.

  5. Brice, D., Deux nouvelles espèces de Rhynchonelloidea dans le Dévonien supèrieur d’Afghanistan central, Ann. Soc. Géol. Nord., 1967, vol. 87, no. 2, pps. 95–105.

  6. Brice, D., Étude paléontologique et stratigraphique du Dévonien de ľ Afghanistan. Contribution a la connaissance des brachiopodes et des polypiers rugueux, Notes Mém. Moyen- Orient, 1970, vol. 11, pp. 1–364.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Brock, G.A. and Yazdi, M., Palaeobiogeographic affinities of Late Devonian brachiopods from Iran, Rec. West. Austral. Mus., 2000, vol. 58, Suppl., pp. 321–334.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Broushkin, A.V. and Gordenko, N.V., The oldest vascular plants and their impact on the environment, in Early Colonization of Land. Ser. “Geobiological Systems in the Past”, Moscow: Paleontol. Inst. Ross. Akad. Nauk, 2012, pp. 157–176.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Buggisch, W., The global Frasnian–Famennian “Kellwasser Event,” Geol. Rundschau, 1991, vol. 80, no. 1, pp. 49–72.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Caputo, M.V., Late Devonian glaciation in South America, Palaeogeogr., Palaeoclimatol., Palaeoecol., 1985, vol. 51, pp. 291–317.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Claeys, P. and Casier, J.-G., Microtektite-like impact glass associated with the Frasnian–Famennian boundary mass extinction, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 1994, vol. 122, pp. 303–315.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Cooper, G.A., New genera of Middle Paleozoic brachiopods, J. Paleontol., 1955, vol. 29, no. 1, pp. 45–63.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Drot, J., Rhynchonelloidea et Spiriferoidea Siluro-Dévoniens du Maroc Pré-Saharien, Notes Mém. Serv. Géol. Maroc., 1964, no. 178, pp. 1–284.

  14. Erlanger, O.A., On the taxonomy of punctate rhynchonellids (brachiopods), Paleontol. Zh., 1986, no. 3, pp. 52–59.

  15. Erlanger, O.A., Greira gen. nov. – the oldest genus of punctate brachiopods, Paleontol. Zh., 1993, no. 1, pp. 118–122.

  16. Gaetani, M., Brachiopods and mollusks from Geirud formation, Member A (Upper Devonian and Tournaisian). The geology of the Upper Djadjerud and Lar Valleys (North Iran). II. Palaeontology, Riv. Ital. Paleontol., 1965, vol. 71, no. 3, pp. 679–770.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Gamkrelidze, I.P., Geodynamic evolution of the Caucasus and adjacent areas in Alpine time, Tectonophysics, 1986, vol. 127, pp. 261–277.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Grechishnikova, I.A., Biostratigraphy of the Devonian and Carboniferous of Transcaucasia (Brachiopod Zonal Scale), Paleontol. J., 2018, vol. 52, no. 8 (Devonian and Carboniferous Brachiopods and Biostratigraphy of Transcaucasia), pp. 832–873.

  19. Grechishnikova, I.A. and Levitsky, E.S., The Famennian-Lower Carboniferous reference section Geran-Kalasi (Nakhichevan Autonomous Region, Azerbaijan), Stratigr. Geol. Correl., 2011, vol. 19, no. 1, pp. 24–46.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Grigoryan, A., Serobyan, V., Randon, C., et al., A Famennian (Late Devonian) conodont assemblage from brachiopod–rich limestones of the Djravank section (Southern Armenia), Proc. NAS RA, Earth Sci., 2019, vol. 72, no. 3, pp. 3–12.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Hoare, R.D. and Steller, D.L., A Devonian brachiopod with epifauna, Ohio J. Sci., 1967, vol. 67, no. 5, pp. 291–297.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Jafarian, M.A., Late Devonian index Brachiopoda of north-east Esfahan in correlation with other regions, J. Sci. I. R. Iran, 2000, vol. 11, no. 3, pp. 221–231.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Joachimski, M.M., Ostertag-Henning C., Pancost R.D., et al., Water column anoxia, enhanced productivity and concomitant changes in δ13C and δ34S across the Frasnian–Famennian boundary (Kowala–Holy Cross Mountains/ Poland), Chem. Geol., 2001, vol. 175, pp. 109–131.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Kaiser, S.I., Becker, R.T., and El Hassani, A., Middle to Late Famennian successions at Ain Jemaa (Moroccan Meseta)—Implications for regional correlation, event stratigraphy and synsedimentary tectonics of NW Gondwana, Spec. Publ.—Geol. Soc. Lond., 2007, vol. 278, pp. 237–260.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Kebria-Ee Zadeh, M., Biozonation of Geirud Formation in the Eastern Alborz (Damghan Region) based on the Brachiopoda, Sci. Quart. J. Geosci., 2009, vol. 18, no. 71, pp. 19–30.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Lordkipanidze, M.B., Adamia, Sh.A., and Asanidze, B.Z., Evolution of the active margins of the Tethys Ocean (on the example of the Caucasus), in “Paleookeanologija,” Dokl. 27th Int. Geol. Congr., vol. 3, Moscow: Nauka, 1984, pp. 72–83.

  27. Maslov, V.A., Artyushkova, O.V., Yakupov, R.R., and Mavrinskaya, T.M., Problematic issues of stratigraphy of the Lower and Middle Paleozoic of the Southern Urals, Geol. Sbornik, no. 7, Ufa: Inst. Geol. Ufa Nauch. Tsentr. Ross. Akad. Nauk, 2008, pp. 193–204.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Mizens, G.A., Fluctuations in the level of the World Ocean and sedimentation in the Devonian deep-water basins of the Southern Urals, Litosfera, 2003, no. 4, pp. 43–64.

  29. Mottequin, B., Brice, D., and Legrand-Blain, M., Biostratigraphic significance of brachiopods near the Devonian–Carboniferous boundary, Geol. Mag., 2014, vol. 151, no. 2, pp. 216–228.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Muir-Wood, H.M., A History of the Classification of the Phylum Brachiopoda. London: Brit. Museum (Nat. History), 1955.

  31. Nazik, A., Groos-Uffenorde, H., Olempska, E. et al., Late Silurian and Devonian ostracods of the Istanbul Zone (Western Pontides) and the Taurides: palaeogeographical implications, Palaeobiodiv. Palaeoenv., 2018, vol. 98, no. 4, pp. 593–612. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12549-018-0340-5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Nicoll, R.S. and Playford, P.E. Upper Devonian iridium anomalies, conodont zonation and the Frasnian–Famennian boundary in the Canning Basin, Western Australia, Palaeogeogr., Palaeoclimatol., Palaeoecol., 1993, vol. 104, pp. 105–113.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Nicollin, J.-P. and Brice, D., Biostratigraphical value of some Strunian (Devonian, Uppermost Famennian) Productidina, Rhynchonellida, Spiriferida, Spiriferinida brachiopods, Geobios, 2004, vol. 37, pp. 437–453.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Pakhnevich, A.V., Foulers of the White Sea brachiopods Hemithyris psittacea, in Mater. Nauch. Konf., Posvyashch. 70-letiyu Belomorskoy biol. stantsii MGU: Sborn. Statey (Proc. Sci. Conf. Dedicated to the 70th Anniversary of the White Sea Biological Station of Moscow State University: Coll. Sci. Works), Moscow: “Grif i K”, 2008, pp. 94–97.

  35. Pakhnevich, A.V., Revision of the Superfamily Rhynchoporoidae Muir-Wood, 1955, Paleontol. J., 2013, vol. 47, no. 1, pp. 36–43.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Pakhnevich, A.V., On the revision of the punctate rhynchonellids of the genus Araratella (Rhynchonellida, Brachiopoda), Paleontol. J., 2015, vol. 49, no. 4, pp. 383–390.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Pakhnevich, A.V., Order Rhynchonellida, Paleontol. J., 2018, vol. 52, no. 8 (Devonian and Carboniferous Brachiopods and Biostratigraphy of Transcaucasia), pp. 892–956.

  38. Peck, L.S., Morris, D.J., Clarke, A., and Holmes, L.J., Oxygen consumption and nitrogen excretion in the Antarctic brachiopod Liothyrella uva (Jackson, 1912) under simulated winter conditions, J. Exper. Var. Biol. Ecol., 1986, vol. 104, nos. 1–3, pp. 203–213.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Pérez-Huerta, A., Cusack, M., McDonald, S., et al., Brachiopod punctae: a complexity in shell biomineralization, J. Struct. Biol., 2009, vol. 167, pp. 62–67.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Pushkin, V.I., Famennian rhynchonellids (Brachiopoda) of Belarus. Families Trigonirhynchiidae, Pugnacidae, Hadrorhynchiidae, in Novyye i maloizuchennyye vidy iskopayemykh zhivotnykh i rasteniy Belorussii (New and Poorly Studied Species of Fossil Animals and Plants of Belarus). Minsk: Sci. Technol., 1986, pp. 63–96.

  41. Rong, J.-Y. and Zhang, Y., Rariellidae, a new family of Rhynchoporoidea (Brachiopoda) with a restudy of the type genus Rariella Zhang 1981, from the Emsian (Early Devonian) of Inner Mongolia, north China, Alcheringa, 1994, vol. 18, pp. 135–146.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. Rozman, H.S., Stratigraphy and brachiopods of the Famennian Stage of Mugodzhary and adjacent areas, in Tr. Geol. Inst. Akad. Nauk SSSR (Trans. Geol. Inst. USSR Acad. Sci.), 1962, vol. 50, pp. 1–196.

    Google Scholar 

  43. Ruban, D.A., Divergence of lines of higher plants in the Paleozoic in the light of molecular genetic studies and global conditions for their manifestation, Paleobotan. Vremennik, Prilozh. Lethaea rossica, 2013, no. 1, pp. 18–20.

  44. Ruban, D.A., Al-Husseini, M.I., and Iwasaki, Y., Review of Middle East Paleozoic plate tectonics, GeoArabia, 2007, vol. 12, no. 3, pp. 35–56.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  45. Sartenaer, P. and Plodowski, G., Reassessment of the Strunian genus Araratella Abrahamian, Plodowski & Sartenaer 1975 in the northern Gondwanaland (Rhynchonellida, Brachiopoda), Cour. Forsch.-Inst. Senckenb., 2003, vol. 242, pp. 329–348.

    Google Scholar 

  46. Savage, N.M., Superfamily Rhynchoporoidea Muir-Wood, 1955, in Treatise on Invertebrate Paleontology. Pt H. Brachiopoda. Vol. 4: Rhynchonelliformea (part), Lawrence: Kansas Univ. Press, 2002, pp. 1232–1235.

  47. Shumway, S.E., Oxygen consumption in brachiopods and the possible role of punctae, J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol., 1982, vol. 58, pp. 207–220.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  48. Simorin, A.M., Stratigrafiya i brakhiopody Karagandinskogo basseyna (Stratigraphy and Brachiopods of the Karaganda Basin), Alma-Ata: Akad. Nauk KazSSR, 1956.

  49. Thayer, C.W., Substrate specificity of Devonian Epizoa, J. Paleontol., 1974, vol. 48, no. 5, pp. 881–894.

    Google Scholar 

  50. Torsvik, T.H. and Cocks, L.R.M., The Paleozoic palaeogeo-graphy of central Gondwana, Spec. Publ.—Geol. Soc. London, 2011, vol. 357, pp. 137–166.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  51. Williams, A., Shell structure, in Treatise on Invertebrate Paleontology. Pt H. Brachiopoda, Revised. Vol. 1. Introduction, Kaesler, R.L., Ed., Boulder (Co), Lawrence (Ks): Geol. Soc. Amer.–Univ. Kansas Press, 1997, pp. 267–320.

  52. Yazikov, A.Yu., Izokh, N.G., Saraev, S.V., et al., New data on biostratigraphy and sedimentology of Upper Devonian deposits on Stolb Island (delta of the Lena River), Russ. Geol. Geophys., 2013, vol. 54, no. 8, pp. 780–791.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. V. Pakhnevich.

Ethics declarations

The author declares that he has no conflicts of interest.

Additional information

Translated by S. Nikolaeva

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Pakhnevich, A.V. Punctate Devonian and Early Carboniferous Rhynchonellids (Brachiopoda) of Transcaucasia. Paleontol. J. 56, 374–382 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1134/S0031030122040074

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S0031030122040074

Keywords:

Navigation