Kaszab Zoltán (szerk.): A Magyar Természettudományi Múzeum évkönyve 75. (Budapest 1983)
Vörös, A.: Some new genera of Brachiopoda from the Mediterranean Jurassic
The subfamiliar status of this new genus is more problematic. It seems to be logical to erect a new subfamily for this compact group of Lower Jurassic species. DIENT & MIDDLEMISS (1981, p. 29) considered it as a separate evolutionary radiation from the hypothetical "stock" of the Pygopidae. This view is supported by the fact that certain species show some of the morphological modifications (ligation: S. filosa; incipient sulcation: S. paronai) recorded among the Upper Jurassic Pygopinae too. These modifications are interpreted as early unsuccessful "attempts" towards a perforate stage. The long time-gap between the Lower Jurassic forms and the Kimmeridgian —Tithonian Pygopinae would serve as a comfortable, though artifical, boundary for a new subfamily. Hesitation in this matter is however justified at this moment since minor "revolution" in the systematics of the Pygopidae is to be expected in the near future. Namely, a unique and very rich pygopid fauna has been found in Western Sicily in Oxfordian (or even older) rocks. The material is currently studied by DR. SIOBHAN GRAHAM (Swansea) and the results will probably throw more light on the ancestry of the Upper Jurassic pygopids (GRAHAM, pers. comm.). Another interesting question is the possible relationship between Seeurithyris (and perhaps the Pygopidae) and the family Dyscoliidae. The external similarity of Seeurithyris to the Upper Cretaceous Moraviaturia and to the Recent Dyscolia is surprisingly great. The almost total absence of hinge plates and the very short and simple loop are important internal features common in the two groups in question. If it was not so distant in time. Dyscoliidae would be suitable to embrace Seeurithyris. As an alternative solution, Dyscoliidae could be regarded as a descendant of the Pygopidae. In this case the most conservative "stock" of the whole group must have consisted of the rectimarginate, triangular forms. Distribution : Pliensbachian of the Mediterranean Region (Betic Cordilleras, Sicily, Appennines, Southern Alps, Northern Limestone Alps. West Carpathians, Hungary. Greece). Family Cancellothyrididae THOMSON. 1926 Subfamily uncertain Genus Papodina gen. n. Derivatio no minis: after the name of the hill Papod in the Bakony Mts. (Hungary). Type species: P. bittneri (GEYER, 1889) Diagnosis : Medium to large terebratulids, subtrigonal in outline, valves equally convex. Anterior commissure rectimerginate to ligate. Beak suberect, beak ridges blunt. Cardinal process low, hinge plates missing. Loop wide, short, with converging branches; transverse band dorsally arched. Description : External characters (Fig. 7) (Representative figures of the type species: GEYER 1889, pl. I, fig. 36a-c, pl. II, fig. la-c, 2a-b): Papodina embraces a few, medium to large terebratulids with rounded subtrigonal outline. The two valves are nearly equally convex. The commissures are rectimarginate but in certain species opposite sulci may develop resulting in ligate anterior commissure. The posterior (hinge) and the lateral margins meet at an obtuse angle, forming cardinal extremities. Planareas are not developed. The valves meet (along the lateral and anterior commissures) at an acute angle but, occasionally, their margins can be retreated or incurved. The shell surface is finely capillate and is covered with irregular growth lines. The beak is high, attenuated, suberect with marked but not sharp beak ridges. The point of the beak is truncated by a mesothyridid foramen. The interarea is high; the deltidial plates are poorly known, pressumably conjunct. Internal characters (Figs 8, 9) — Pedicle valve: The delthyrial cavity is elliptical with welldeveloped pedicle collar. The hinge-teeth are very massive and long, not crenulated. On their inner side distinct grooves are developed for articulation with the socket ridges. The denticula are high and sharp. — Brachial valve (Fig. 16): The cardinal process is relatively small and low, its surface is crenulated. Hinge plates are totally absent. The inner socket ridges are very strong leaning over the sockets posteriorly. Anterior to the plane of articulation their inner surfaces become crenulated and this crenulation continues into a curious segmentation of the whole structure including the crura.
