Digitisation of the fossil Actinopterygii collection
Pilot project for the systematic reorganisation and digitisation of the BSPG’s collection
Since 2012, part of a DFG-funded project of the Bavarian Natural History Collections (SNSB) has been carried out at the BSPG: “Integrated Data Management for the Digital Indexing of Zoological and Palaeontological Collections (IDES)”. The pilot project is intended to advance the systematic reorganisation and digitisation of the BSPG’s collection holdings and is initially focused on a specific group, region and time period, namely the fossil ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii) of Europe and adjacent seas from the Mesozoic onwards. The digitisation (image capture and data acquisition) of the collection’s holdings is intended to support collection management (loan transactions, inventory) and enable integration into global databases (e.g. GBIF). The latter database is the prerequisite for many current and future palaeobiodiversity research projects. The international research community is thus given an insight into the collection holdings.
Funding: German Research Foundation (DFG).
Staff: Markus Moser, Oliver Rauhut
Late Paleozoic in situ microorganisms in chert deposits
Microorganisms are critical in the bio- and geosphere today, and are responsible for the sustainability of ecosystem functions ranging from decomposition and bioerosion, to the catalyzation of nutrient cycles. With this recognition of the significance of microorganisms today, detailed knowledge about the evolutionary history of these organisms and their roles in biological and ecological processes in the past is pivotal to understanding the sustainability and evolution of ancient ecosystems.
Chert deposits are among the most important sources of information about fossil microorganisms, and about microbial associations and interactions with other organisms in ancient ecosystems. This is due primarily to the fact that cherts represent a mode of preservation in which the morphology, anatomy, and diversity levels of not only the microorganisms, but also their host organisms can be directly examined. Moreover, aspects of microbial biology and ecology (e.g., life history features, habitat preferences), as well as specific details of microbial associations and interactions (e.g., infection pathways, spatial distribution of the microbes on/within the host, host responses), can often be demonstrated on a consistent basis from multiple examples.
Our research currently centers around three chert deposits containing exquisitely preserved terrestrial plants and microorganisms.
• The Early Devonian Rhynie chert (Aberdeenshire, Scotland) • The Visean (Late Mississippian) cherts of Esnost and Lay/Roanne (France) • The Late Pennsylvanian Grand’Croix cherts (central France)
The fossil communities preserved in these cherts are used to document the morphology, biology, and biodiversity of the microorganisms, and also to detail the biological interactions between different types of microorganisms and between microorganisms and terrestrial plants. It is interesting to note that, although none of the plant partners exist today, many of the microorganisms involved appear morphologically little changed. Moreover, some interactions suggest that the genetic code and biochemical pathways necessary for the interactions to be successful evolved early in the lineages of microorganisms involved, and have seemingly remained unchanged to the present. The examination of inter-microbial and microorganism-land plant associations and interactions provides another level of biological resolution that helps in formulating hypotheses designed to more fully understand the functioning and evolution of ecosystems.
Abb. A: Ausschnitt aus einer L. macrosporae Kolonie (rechts); Maßstab 40 μm [aus: KRINGS et al. (2005), Geobios 38: 451–465]
Abb. C: Reproduktionsstrukturen eines bislang unbeschriebenen, pilzähnlichen Mikroorganismus aus dem Rhynie Chert (Unterdevon, Schottland); Maßstab = 25 μm. [aus: KRINGS et al. (2007), New Phytol. 174: 648–657]
Abb. E: Phycoma einer Prasinophycee aus dem Rhynie Chert; Maßstab = 40 μm
Abb. A: Ausschnitt aus einer Sublagenicula nuda Megaspore aus dem Visé (oberes Unterkarbon) von Frankreich mit einer Kolonie der endophytischen Alge Lageniastrum macrosporae Maßstab = 100 μm. [aus: KRINGS et al. (2005), Geobios 38: 451–465]
Abb. B: Hyphen (g–i), Sporen (a,b,m–p) und Fruktifikationen (c–f,j–l) verschiedener Mikropilze und pilzähnlicher Mikroorganismen aus dem Holz und Periderm einer Lycophyte (Lepidodendron rhodumnense) aus dem Visé (oberes Unterkarbon) von Frankreich; Maßstäbe = 5 μm (c,d,m–o), 10 μm (g–i,k,p), 20 μm (a,b,e,f,l) und 40 μm (j).
Abb. D: Filamente einer bislang unbeschriebenen Cyanobakterie aus dem Rhynie Chert; Maßstab = 20 μm.
Scientific cooperation
Hans Kerp & Hagen Hass, Forschungsstelle für Paläobotanik am Geologisch-Paläontologischen Institut, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Hindenburgplatz 57, 48143 Münster, Germany.
Thomas N. Taylor, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, and Natural History Museum and Biodiversity Research Center, The University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045-7534, U.S.A.
Jean Galtier, AMAP, UMR 5120 CNRS, CIRAD TA A-51/ PS2, Boulevard de la Lironde, 34398 Montpellier, France.
Reinhard Agerer, Department Biologie I und GeoBio-CenterLMU, Organismische Biologie: Mykologie, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Menzinger Straße 67, 80638 Munich, Germany.
Several other colleagues in individual projects. University of Kansas at Lawrence, USA.
Funding
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG)
National Science Foundation (NSF)
Alexander von Humboldt-Foundation
Freunde der Bayerischen Staatssammlung für Paläontologie und Historische Geologie, München e.V.
Publications
Dotzler N, Krings M, Agerer R, Galtier J, Taylor TN (2008) Combresomyces cornifer gen. sp. nov., an endophytic peronosporomycete in Lepidodendron from the Carboniferous of central France. Mycological Research 112, 1107–1114.
Dotzler N, Walker C, Krings M, Hass H, Kerp H, Taylor TN, Agerer R (2009) Acaulosporoid glomeromycotan spores with a germination shield from the 400-million-year-old Rhynie chert, Mycological Progress 8, 9–18.
Krings M, Dotzler N, Galtier J, Taylor TN (2009) Microfungi from the upper Visean (Mississippian) of central France: Chytridiomycota and chytrid-like remains of uncertain affinity. Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology 156, 319–328.
Krings M, Dotzler N, Taylor TN (2009) Globicultrix nugax nov. gen. et nov. spec. (Chytridiomycota), an intrusive microfungus in fungal spores from the Rhynie chert. Zitteliana A 48/49, 165–170.
Krings M, Dotzler N, Taylor TN, Galtier J (2007) A microfungal assemblage in Lepidodendron from the Upper Visean (Carboniferous) of central France. Comptes Rendus Palevol 6, 431–436.
Krings M, Dotzler N, Taylor TN, Galtier J (2009) A Late Pennsylvanian fungal leaf endophyte from Grand-Croix, France, Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology 156, 449–453.
Krings M, Galtier J, Taylor TN, Dotzler N (2009) Chytrid-like microfungi in Biscalitheca cf. musata (Zygopteridales) from the Upper Pennsylvanian Grand-Croix cherts (Saint-Etienne Basin, France). Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology 157, 309–316.
Krings M, Hass H, Kerp H, Taylor TN, Agerer R, Dotzler N (2009) Endophytic cyanobacteria in a 400-million-yr-old land plant: A scenario for the origin of a symbiosis? Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology 153, 62–69.
Krings M, Kerp H, Hass H, Taylor TN, Dotzler N (2007) A filamentous cyanobacterium showing structured colonial growth from the Early Devonian Rhynie chert. Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology 146, 265–276.
Krings M, Taylor TN, Dotzler N, Decombeix AL (2010) Galtierella biscalithecae nov. gen. et sp., a Late Pennsylvanian endophytic water mold (Peronosporomycetes) from France. Comptes Rendus Palevol 9, 5–11.
Krings M, Taylor TN, Hass H, Kerp H, Dotzler N, Hermsen EJ (2007) An alternative mode of early land plant colonization by putative endomycorrhizal fungi. Plant Signaling & Behavior 2, 125–126.
Krings M, Taylor TN, Hass H, Kerp H, Dotzler N, Hermsen EJ (2007). Fungal endophytes in a 400-million-yr-old land plant: infection pathways, spatial distribution, and host responses. New Phytologist 174, 648–657.
Taylor TN, Krings M (2005) Fossil microorganisms and land plants: associations and interactions. Symbiosis 40, 119–135.
Taylor TN, Krings M (2010) Paleomycology: the rediscovery of the obvious. Palaios 25, 283–286.
Mesozoic Tetrapods
Research at the Mesozoic Tetrapods Research Group includes projects on many different aspects of Mesozoic tetrapod anatomy, taxonomy, evolution, and biogeography. Some of the most important individual research projects are introduced here.
Evolution, phylogeny and taxonomy of upper triassic to middle jurassic gastropods
(DFG NU 96/11-1; funded:1. 2. 2009 bis 31. 1. 2011)
The time period between the Carnian (Upper Triassic) and Aalenian (Middle Jurassic) is characterized by important global and regional mass extinctions (e.g., end-Triassic and Pliensbachian/Toarcian). Similar to modern faunas, gastropods have been one of the most diverse clades during this period of time. This project is about systematics and taxonomy of several important gastropod groups: Trochidae and Eucyclidae (Trochoidea: Vetigastropoda), Cerithioidea (Caenogastropoda), Mathildoidea, and Acteonoidea (Heterobranchia). These groups are highly diverse in the sample period; their knowledge is essential for research on gastropod phylogeny. The revision of these groups facilitates the analysis of their evolutionary fate at the mentioned mass extinction events and may serve as a base for more far future analyses. The revision and documentation of the type species of genera is especially important (Museum material). In order to use the entire information content of the fossil shells, it will be tried to analyse shape, ornament, protoconch, and aperture as well as changes in time of these characters. The re-investigation of type specimens often changes the systematic placement and our understanding of of genera and families entirely. In addition, well-preserved not yet studied material is at hand and will be used for analyses.
Contact: Prof. Dr. Alexander Nützel
Cooperations
Joachim Gründel, Freie Universität Berlin
Cylindrobullina sp. (Opisthobranchia) from the Upper Triassic Cassian Formation (N Italy, S Dolomites); a heterostrophic larval shell is also typical for this group.
Cryptaulax armata (Cerithioidea) from the Liassic of Franconia (Germany, N Bavaria) (from Schulbert & Nützel 2008)
Tricarilda sp. (Mathildidae) from the Liassic of Franconia (Germany, N Bavaria); a heterostrophic larval shell is typical for this group (from Schulbert & Nützel 2008)
Eucyclus elegans (Eucyclidae) from the Liassic of Franconia (Germany, N Bavaria), c. 1 cm high (from Nützel 2008)
Gastropod diversity and evolution at the Paleozoic/Mesozoic transition
(DFG NU 96/6-1, 6-2; funded: 2002 bis 2005; Alexander von Humboldt Stiftung with Andrzej Kaim as fellow since 2009)
Gastropods comprise a vast number of species and have a good fossilization potential. Therefore, they represent and excellent object fort the study of paleo-diversity. This project is about the evolution and diversity of gastropods at the most profound Phanerozoic caesura: The Permian Triassic crisis. Aided by a database of all described Permian and Triassic gastropod species the evolution of one of the most important invertebrate groups is assessed and analyzed on the species and higher levels. To date, especially the Early Triassic disaster and recovery phase have been analyzed. At the same time, Early Triassic gastropod fauna have been studied and re-evaluated (Werfen Formation, South Alps; South China; Sinbad Limestone Member, Moenkopi Formation, Utah, U.S.A.). Extinction was rather severe in gastropods but they recover particularly fast. After an Early Triassic minimum of reported species, the number of species rises considerably as early as Smithian. It rises steeply in the Anisian and continues to rise until the Carnian when a peak of about 1000 nominate species was reached..
This rise is also reflected in the alpha-diversity of single faunas. Recovery is combined with a turnover, i.e. several groups appear for the first time in the Early Triassic and immediately form dominant faunal elements. For example Cylindrobullina convexa, the earliest certain opisthobranch, is one of the most abundant gastropods in the Early Triassic Sinbad Limestone (Utah).
Sinbad Limestone (Moenkopi Formation), Utah, USA. From this outcrop the richest and best preserved Early Triassic (Smithian) gastropod fauna has been described by Batten & Stokes (1986). This fauna is re-evaluated in this project..
Cyllindrobullina convexa from Sinbad Limestone. This species represents the oldest certain opisthobranch. It is one of the most common gastropods in the Sinbad Limestone. The material is excellently preserved and the heterostrophic larval shell is well visible. From Nützel (2005).
Stromatolites growing on gastropods (Sinbad Limestone). Early Triassic stromatolites are commonly interpreted as disaster phenomena. From Nützel & Schulbert (2005).
Diversity of gastropods throughout the Triassic. After a minimum in the Early Triassic, the number of species is steeply increasing until the Carnian which displays a peak of about 1000 species. From Nützel (2005).
Rarefaction analysis of some of the richest Triassic gastropod faunas. Even the richest Early Triassic fauna (Sinbad Limestone, Moenkopi Formation) is clearly less diverse than the great Late Triassic gastropod faunas. From Nützel (2005).
Contact: Prof. Dr. Alexander Nützel
Cooperations
Douglas H. Erwin, Dept. of Paleobiology, Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington D.C., U.S.A.
Pan Hua-zhang, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Academia Sinica, Nanjing, People’s Republic of China
Hugo Bucher, Paläontologisches Institut und Museum Zürich
Publications
Hautmann, M. & Nützel, A. 2005. First record of a heterodont bivalve (Mollusca) from the Early Triassic: Implications for Scythian ecosystems and the `Lazarus problem´. Palaeontology 48: 1131-1138.
Nützel, A. & Pan Hua-zhang 2005. Late Paleozoic evolution of the Caenogastropoda: larval shell morphology and implications for the Permian/Triassic mass extinction event. Journal of Paleontology 79: 1175-1188.
Nützel, A. 2005. Recovery of gastropods in the Early Triassic. In Bottjer, D. and Gall J.-C. (eds) The biotic recovery from the end-Permian mass extinction. Comptes Rendus, Palevol 4: 501-515.
Nützel, A. & Schulbert, C. 2005. Facies of two important Early Triassic gastropod lagerstätten: implications for diversity patterns in the aftermath of the end-Permian mass extinction. Facies 51: 495-515.
Nützel, A. 2005. A new Early Triassic gastropod genus and the recovery of gastropods from the Permian/Triassic extinction. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 50: 19-24.
Pan Hua-Zhang, D. H. Erwin, Nützel, A. & Zhu Xiang-shui 2003. Jiangxispira, a new Gastropod genus from the Early Triassic of China with Remarks on the Phylogeny of the Heterostropha at the Permian/Triassic Boundary. Journal of Paleontology 77: 44-49.
Nützel, A. & Erwin, D. H. 2002. Battenizyga, a new Early Triassic gastropod genus with a discussion of the caenogastropod evolution at the Permian/Triassic boundary. Paläontologische Zeitschrift 76: 21-27.
Late Paleozoic larval paleobiology
Gastropod shells reflect ontogeny to a high degree. Even in fossil species, the analysis of the morphology and the dimensions of early ontogenetic shells (protoconchs) allow to infer whether a plankton feeding larval stage was present or not. However, protoconchs are rarely preserved and have been primarily used for taxonomy and phylogenetics. However, the information content of protoconchs is much higher.
Planktotrophic larval shells allow to assess paleo-productivity and planktonic food chains. Moreover, heterochronic processes can be recognized which play an important role in evolution. We have superbly preserved Carboniferous gastropods at hand from the Buckhorn Asphalt (Oklahoma, U.S.A.) and other Upper Carboniferous localities in the U.S.A. In the case of the Buckhorn Asphalt, an oils migrated synsedimentary into the Upper Carboniferous deposits and sealed the mollusc shells. Thus, they are preserved in their original aragonitic composition with microstructures. This material facilitates a reconstruction of Late Paleozoic ecosystems and planktonic food chains including larval ecology of marine invertebrates. An analysis of the evolution of gastropod larvae showed that openly coiled larval shells were dominant in the Early Paleozoic and that this morphology has been increasingly abandoned during the Paleozoic. Cambrian molluscs probably had a non planktotrophic early ontogeny and planktotrophy evolved at the Cambrian/Ordovician boundary.
Planktotrophic caenogastropod larval shell from the Buckhorn Asphalt (Upper Carboniferous, Pennsylvanian, U.S.A.).
Aragonitic crossed-lamellar shell structure from the Buckhorn Asphalt; preservation of this structure is very rare in Paleozoic deposits; width c. 0.2 mm.
Thin section of nautilid with cameral deposits from the Buckhorn Asphalt; the brown colors derive from the asphalt impregnation.
Protoconch measurements suggest that there were no planktotrophic mollusc larvae in the Cambrian and that planktotrophy evolved at the transition to the Ordovician (from Nützel et al. 2006, Evolution & Development; copyright Blackwell Publishing).
Contact: Prof. Dr. Alexander Nützel
Working group
Barbara Seuß, Institut für Paläontologie, Universität Erlangen André Freiwald, Institut für Paläontologie, Universität Erlangen
Cooperations
Royal, H. Mapes, Department of Geological Sciences, Ohio University, Athens 45701, U.S.A.
Thomas Yancey, Texas A&M University, Geology & Geophysics, College Station, Texas, TX 77843-3115
Dieter Korn, Museum für Naturkunde, Humboldt Universität Berlin
Seuss, B., Nützel, A., Mapes, R. H., Yancey, T. E. 2009. Facies and fauna of the Pennsylvanian Buckhorn Asphalt Quarry deposit: a review and new data on an important Palaeozoic fossil Lagerstätte with aragonite preservation. Facies 55: 609-645, DOI 10.1007/s10347-009-0181-9.
Mapes, R. H. & Nützel, A. 2009. Where did Upper Paleozoic cephalopods lay their eggs? – Evidence from cephalopod embryos and gastropod and pelecypod veliger larvae. Lethaia 42: 341–356, DOI: 10.1111/j.1502-3931.2008.00141.x
Wisshak, M., Seuß, B. & Nützel, A. 2008. Evolutionary implications of an exceptionally preserved Carboniferous microboring assemblage in the Buckhorn Asphalt Lagerstätte (Oklahoma, USA). In: Wisshak M, Tapanila L (eds) Current Developments in Bioerosion. Springer-Verlag, Berlin Heidelberg, 21-54.
Servais, T., Lehnert, O., Li, J., Mullins, G.L., Munnecke, A., Nützel, A. & Vecoli, M. 2008. The Ordovician Biodiversification: revolution in the oceanic trophic chain. Lethaia 41: 99-109.
Nützel, A., Frýda, J., Yancey, T. E. & Anderson, J. R. 2007. Larval shells of Late Palaeozoic naticopsid gastropods (Neritopsoidea: Neritimorpha) with a discussion of the early neritimorph evolution. Paläontologische Zeitschrift 81: 213–228.
Lehnert, O., Vecoli, M., Servais, T. & Nützel, A. 2007. Did plankton evolution trigger the Ordovician diversifications? Acta Palaeontologica Sinica 46: 262-268.
Nützel, A., Lehnert, O. & Frýda, J. 2007. Origin of planktotrophy – evidence from early molluscs: A response to Freeman and Lundelius. Evolution & Development 9: 313-318.
Nützel, A., Lehnert, O. & Frýda, J. 2006. Origin of planktotrophy – evidence from early molluscs. Evolution & Development 8: 325-330.
Nützel, A. & Frýda, J. 2003. Paleozoic plankton revolution: Evidence from early gastropod ontogeny. Geology 31: 829-831.
Bandel, K., Nützel, A. & Yancey, T. E. 2002. Larval shells and shell microstructures of exceptionally well-preserved Late Carboniferous gastropods from the Buckhorn Asphalt deposit (Oklahoma, USA). Senckenbergiana letheae 82: 639-689.
Nützel, A. & Mapes, R. H. 2001. Larval and juvenile gastropods from a Carboniferous black shale: palaeoecology and implications for the evolution of the Gastropoda. Lethaia 34: 143-162.
Jurassic (Pliensbachian, Toarcian, Aalenian) gastropod faunas from Franconia (Southern Germany)
Project titel Jurassic (Pliensbachian, Toarcian, Aalenian) gastropod faunas from Franconia (Southern Germany) Gastropods are commonly the most abundant and diverse group in marine Early to Middle Jurassic fine-grained dark shales form southern Germany. Most of these gastropods are small and do not exceed an adult size of 10 mm. Despite their abundance, gastropods are largely neglected in paleoecological studies of this facies. Ongoing collections in the Jurassic of Franconia have resulted in rich well-preserved material and abundance data, especially from the Amaltheenton Formation.
Rich faunas have also been obtained from a clay pit near the small village of Mistelgau (Upper Franconia, Germany). There, unique section from the Pliensbachian to the Early Aalenian is exposed. The ammonite stratigraphy was studied by Christian Schulbert. The section also contained a rich microgastropod assemblage, especially in the Late Toarcian to Early Aalenian period. During that period the assemblages changed considerably in composition and diversity. This has major implications for the knowledge of the Pliensbachian/Toarcian extinction event in this region.
Contact: Prof. Dr. Alexander Nützel
Cooperations
Christian Schulbert, (Institut für Paläontologie, Universität Erlangen) Joachim Gründel (Freie Universität Berlin).
Publications
Schulbert, C. & Nützel, A. 2009. Über die jurassische Gastropodenfauna der Tongrube Mistelgau bei Bayreuth. Berichte der Naturwissenschaftlichen Gesellschaft Bayreuth 26: 475-499.
Schubert, S., Gründel, J. & Nützel, A. 2008. Early Jurassic (Upper Pliensbachian) gastropods from the Herforder Liasmulde (Bielefeld, Northwest Germany). Paläontologische Zeitschrift 82: 17-30.
Nützel, A. 2008. Leben am Meeresboden – Über die Fauna des fränkischen Amaltheentons. Freunde der Bayerischen Staatssammlung für Paläontologie und Historische Geologie München e.V., Jahresbericht 2007 und Mitteilungen 36: 42-61.
Nützel, A. & Gründel, J. 2007. Two new gastropod genera from the Early Jurassic (Pliensbachian) of Franconia (South Germany). Zitteliana 47: 61-69.
Nützel, A. & Hornung, T. 2002. Katosira undulata (Benz) (Gastropoda) aus dem Lias Frankens und eine Gastropoden-Assoziation des oberen Pliensbachiums. Geologische Blätter für Nordost Bayern 52: 55-62.
Gründel, J. & Nützel, A. 1998. Gastropoden aus dem oberen Pliensbachium (Lias δ, Zone des Pleuroceras spinatum) von Kalchreuth östlich Erlangen. Mitteilungen der Bayrischen Staatssammlung 38: 63-96.
Nützel, A. & Kießling, W. 1997. Gastropoden aus dem oberen Pliensbachium (Amaltheenton) von Kalchreuth (Süddeutschland). Geologische Blätter Nordost-Bayern 47: 381-414.
Evolution of the Late Palaeozoic Caenogastropoda
The subclass Caenogastropoda is the most diverse group of the Recent Gastropoda. The first undoubted caenogastropods are from the Late Palaeozoic. Caenogastropods can have planktotrophic larval development and larval shells are commonly ornamented in a characteristic way. Therefore, protoconch morphology can be very informative in terms of systematics and larval ecology. Protoconch preservation is very rare in the Palaeozoic. However, in some faunas of the U.S.A. and Australia such well-preserved material is available.
This increases the number of shell characters and therefore the significance of phylogenetic analyses. Phylogenetic, systematic, and taxonomic work has been carried out in DFG-funded projects (especially NU 96/3-1, 3-2) and is still ongoing. The most important Late Paleozoic caenogastropod groups that have been studied are the Subulitoidea, The Zygopleuroidea (especially Pseudozygopleuridae), and the Cerithioidea (e.g., Goniasmatidae and Orthonematidae). These studies allow also a substantial comparison with Mesozoic groups which helps to understand the end-Permian extinction event better. I also try to clarify the early evolutionary history and roots of the major extant caenogastropod clades.
Contact: Prof. Dr. Alexander Nützel
Carboniferous (Mississippian) subulitoid gastropods of the family Imoglobidae Nützel, Erwin & Mapes 2000. All specimens smaller one 1 mm. These bulbous caenogastropods are characterized by a particular fine larval shell ornament.
Phylogenetic Tree (PAUP) of Late Paleozoic Subulitoidea (modified from Nützel et al. 2000).
Cooperations
Douglas H. Erwin, Dept. of Paleobiology, Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington D.C., U.S.A.
Winston F. Ponder, Australian Museum of Natural History, Australia
Pan Hua-zhang, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Academia Sinica, Nanjing, People’s Republic of China
Royal, H. Mapes, Department of Geological Sciences, Ohio University, Athens 45701, U.S.A.
Alex Cook, Queensland Museum, Brisbane, Australia
Publications
Ponder, W. F., Colgan, D. J., Healy, J. M., Nützel, A., Simone, L. R. L. & Strong, E. E. 2008. Caenogastropoda. In Ponder, W. F. and Lindberg, D. L. (eds), Phylogeny and evolution of the Mollusca. University of California Press (Berkeley, Los Angeles, London): 331-383.
Frýda, J., Nützel, A. & Wagner, P. 2008. Paleozoic Gastropoda. In Ponder, W. and Lindberg, D. L. (eds) In Ponder, W. and Lindberg, D. L. (eds), Phylogeny and evolution of the Mollusca. University of California Press (Berkeley, Los Angeles, London): 239-270.
Cook, A., Nützel, A. & Frýda, J. 2008. Two Carboniferous caenogastropod limpets from Australia and their meaning for the ancestry of the Caenogastropoda. Journal of Paleontology 82: 183-187.
Nützel, A. & Pan Hua-zhang 2005. Late Paleozoic evolution of the Caenogastropoda: larval shell morphology and implications for the Permian/Triassic mass extinction event. Journal of Paleontology 79: 1175-1188.
Bandel, K., Nützel, A. & Yancey, T. E. 2002. Larval shells and shell microstructures of exceptionally well-preserved Late Carboniferous gastropods from the Buckhorn Asphalt deposit (Oklahoma, USA). Senckenbergiana letheae 82: 639-689.
Nützel, A. and Cook, A. G. 2002. Chlorozyga, a new caenogastropod genus from the Early Carboniferous of Australia. – Alcheringa 26:151-157.
Nützel, A., Erwin, D. H. & Mapes, R. H. 2000. Identity and Phylogeny of the Late Paleozoic Subulitoidea (Gastropoda). Journal of Paleontology 74: 575-598.
Nützel, A. & Bandel, K. 2000. Goniasmidae and Orthonemidae: two new families of Palaeozoic Caenogastropoda. Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie, Monatshefte 9: 557-569.
Nützel, A. 1998. Über die Stammesgeschichte der Ptenoglossa (Gastropoda). Berliner Geowissenschaftliche Abhandlungen, Reihe E 26: 1-229, 35 Tafeln.
