Matskási István (szerk.): A Magyar Természettudományi Múzeum évkönyve 79. (Budapest 1987)
Kecskeméti, T.: Contributions to the phylogenetic connections of Nummulites species
cord, peculiar reticulation) makes such an approach doubtless. Between these two taxa, however, there is a sizable time span from which the data available on the history of this lineage are very scant. These data suggest two main phylogenetic trends. According to one of them, N. partschi and N. partschi aequalispira and N. praefabianii are phylogcnetically related, with no intermediate taxon in between (PTUHJAN 1967, GRIGORJAN 1971, NEMKOV 1967). This requires the presence of N. partschi in the Middle Eocene, as indicated in the schemes of the respective authors. According to the second one, the phylogenetic connection between N. partschi and N. partschi aequalispira and N . praefabianii — with a downward connection that is for the moment unclear — is provided by intermediate forms such as the Lower Lutetian N. bironensis and the Middle Lutetian N. hormoensis (with a question mark) and N. bullatus (HOTTINGER, LEHMANN & SCHAUB 1964; BLONDEAU 1972). For the last three species, no comparative material is available to the present writer. For this reason, he cannot take a stand on this matter. In the present scheme, the probability of either of the two trends has been indicated, in the proper place, by a question mark. Lately, some taxonomic problems concerning N. praefabinii have arizen. As suggested by KACHARAVA (1969) the specimens from the Caucasus (Georgia, whence the species was described) and from W Mediterranean localities are not completely identical. The situation is further complicated by the fact that a taxon belonging to this group has recently been recovered from the Upper Lutetian of Armenia, a form which does not agree completely with the Georgian specimens of N. praefabianii (its characters are more primitive), but which comes very close to the W European specimens. KACHARAVA (1969) described this taxon under the name of N. ptuchjani as a new species, considering it to be a closest counterpart of W European N. praefabinii. With a view to a comparative material from W Europe and the Caucasus, the present writer sees N. praefabinii as being represented in the material studied by him. This is why N. praefabianii is the form given, in the present scheme, in the Upper Lutetian. Passing the Middle/Upper Eocene boundary, the lineage is continued by N. fabianii. The relationship between N. praefabianii and N. fabianii is a direct and closest one, as demonstrated by HERB & HEKEL on the basis of their quantitative analysis of the spire diagram of species of the fabianii group (HERB & HEKEL 1973). Let us mention in this context that the connection between N. praefabianii and N. fabianii is believed by these authors to be so strong that N. praefabianii is regarded just as a Biarritzian (= Upper Lutetian) subspecies (N. fabianii praefabianii) of N. fabianii. N. fabianii is an evolutionarily rather plastic species. As found during studies on N. fabianii from a number of continuous profiles (Priabona : ROVEDA 1961 ; Mossano : UNGARO 1969; Bojnice and the Upper Hron valley: VANOVÁ 1972; Possagno: HERB & HEKEL 1973; Cluj: BOMBITA 1975), during the development of the species spanning the whole interval of the Priabonian four taxonomic phases reflecting different phylogenetic stages (appearance, epibola, decline, transition) can be observed (BOMBITA 1975). In spite of this possibility for being divided into such phases, by all means inferior to the category of a species, N. fabianii persists as a uniform species throughout the Priabonian and N. retiatus (ROVEDA 1959) and N. aff. fabianii (UNGARO 1969), forms figuring in the relevant literature, are merely subspecies of N. fabianii. In the present scheme, A r . fabianii retiatus has been listed. Split up into transitional forms towards the end of the Priabonian [VANOVÁ (1972) distinguishes 6 morphological groups among the transitional forms!], N. fabianii gives way, at the Eocene/Oligocene boundary, to N. intermedins, a larger form exhibiting features of a higher stage of development. N. intermedins flourishes in Early Oligocène time, but it prospers very well over a good deal of the Middle Oligocène as well. At the end of Mid-Oligocene time, it suddenly declines,
