Mazon Creek

2008 ◽  
pp. 118-138
Keyword(s):  
Mazon Creek

COMPARING PRESERVATION OF DIFFERENT HISTOLOGIES: MAZON CREEK-TYPE FOSSILS OF THE SUN SPOT MINE, ILLINOIS, USA

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tara Selly ◽  
◽  
Stephanie A. Rosbach ◽  
James D. Schiffbauer ◽  
Jacalyn M. Wittmer
Keyword(s):  
The Sun ◽  
Mazon Creek

Stephanospermum konopeonus (Langford) Comb. Nov.: A Medullosan Ovule from the Middle Pennsylvanian Mazon Creek Flora of Northeastern Illinois, U.S.A.

1990 ◽  
Vol 151 (3) ◽  
pp. 385-401 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew N. Drinnan ◽  
Jenai M. Schramke ◽  
Peter R. Crane
Keyword(s):  
Mazon Creek

New Homoiopteridae (Insecta: Paleodictyoptera) with wing articulation from Upper Carboniferous strata of Mazon Creek, Illinois

1983 ◽  
Vol 61 (7) ◽  
pp. 1670-1687 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jarmila Kukalová-Peck ◽  
Eugene S. Richardson Jr.
Keyword(s):  
Late Paleozoic ◽  
Upper Carboniferous ◽  
The Family ◽  
Mazon Creek

New adults, a subadult, and a nymph of primitive, giant, Late Paleozoic Paleodictyoptera (Homoiopteridae) are described from Upper Carboniferous (Westphalian C–D) strata of Illinois: Mazothairos enormis gen. et sp. nov., Mazonopterum wolfforum gen. et sp. nov., Adolarryia bairdi gen. et sp. nov., Larryia osterbergi gen. et sp. nov., and Turneropterum turneri gen. et sp. nov. Some of these fossils show dorsal wing articulation, the most primitive known in the Pterygota. The biology of Paleodictyopteroidea is discussed. The family Homoiopteridae is reviewed for plesiomorphic features in venation that have been either reduced or transformed in modern insects, including paired costa, subcosta, and anal, and doubled radial stems.

Early terrestrial arthropods: a fragmentary record

1985 ◽  
Vol 309 (1138) ◽  
pp. 207-218 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Land Plants ◽  
Faecal Pellets ◽  
Delta Plain ◽  
Terrestrial Arthropods ◽  
Mazon Creek ◽  
Continuous Record ◽  
Rhynie Chert ◽  
Animal Interaction ◽  
Lake Deposits ◽  
Early Land

The earliest unequivocal terrestrial fossils are uppermost Silurian (Přídolí) myriapods, presumed to be pioneer decomposers. Descendants of their marine ancestors may be discernible in the Cambrian lobopod Aysheaia (recently challenged). Known euthycarcinoids are too late except as survivors from such a lobopod ancestry. Unique arthropods are also known from Cambrian and Ordovician lake deposits, but shed no light on origin of terrestrial forms. Among relevant arthropods, only scorpions have a continuous record from Silurian aquatic to Devonian terrestrial records (eurypterids are dealt with elsewhere in this volume). Respiratory organs are unknown in Silurian forms, but at least three types of gills may have existed by the Devonian, arguing for great diversification by then, and possible multiple colonization of the land. Trace fossils suggest some Devonian scorpions were amphibious, while development of a pre-oral tube indicates they were adapted for feeding out of water. Morphology of Silurian forms implies they were aquatic, solid feeders. The presence of Silurian fungivorous microarthropods is indicated by Ludlow faecal pellets containing fungal hyphae. The terrestrial decomposer niche was occupied, and soils therefore in existence, by then. Constant humid microclimates created by early land plants were important in enabling land colonization by arthropods otherwise susceptible to desiccation. Mamayev’s gravitational hypothesis provides an explanation for evolution of hexapody from uniramians clambering up and over early land plants. Plants of the Siegenian Rhynie Chert show pathological features that may indicate terrestrial plant-animal interaction by that time, as do other lines of circumstantial evidence. Energy costs incurred by plants producing anti-herbivore and anti-detritivore defences have therefore probably been significant in ecosystems since the Devonian. Recent major backwards extensions in time of terrestrial arthropods prove that the terrestrial geological record is still poorly sampled. Givetian Gilboa shows that, as with early plants, much can be hoped for from study of cuticle fragments. New finds should be sought in pre-Devonian equivalents of the Carboniferous Mazon Creek delta plain facies.

Revision of the aïstopod genus Phlegethontia (Tetrapoda: Lepospondyli)

2002 ◽  
Vol 76 (6) ◽  
pp. 1029-1046 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason S. Anderson
Keyword(s):  
Jugular Foramen ◽  
Foramen Magnum ◽  
Pectoral Girdle ◽  
Parietal Foramen ◽  
The Family ◽  
Mazon Creek ◽  
Related Feature ◽  
Cranial Kinesis ◽  
Potential Mobility ◽  
Sagittal Crest

The aïstopod family Phlegethontiidae is restudied based on new specimens from Pit 11 of Mazon Creek, Illinois, and the coal shales of Nýřany, Czech Republic, as well as most available specimens from North America. Phlegethontiids have highly fenestrate skulls, with orbits placed just anterior their skull's mid point. Dermal skull bones are greatly reduced in number and limited in extent, whereas the endochondral braincase is hyperossified. The frontals are fused medially and enclose the parietal foramen and anterior sagittal crest. As in most other aïstopods, the quadrate, pterygoid, and epipterygoid are fused into a composite bone, the palatoquadrate complex. Details of cranial anatomy contradict a previous model of cranial kinesis by severely limiting the skull's potential mobility. Remnants of the pectoral girdle are present, perhaps due to the presence of an operculum–opercularis-like connection to the stapes. No remnants of the pelvis are present.Three species are recognised within the family. Phlegethontia linearis has short anterior vertebrae, high neural spines on at least the anterior four vertebrae, and vertebrae number between 230–250 in total. Phlegethontia longissima has low neural spines throughout the column, anterior vertebrae that are twice as long as P. linearis, and only 200–210 total vertebrae. Sillerpeton permianum, known from a single braincase and an unassociated string of vertebrae, is distinguished from Phlegethontia by the retention of a separate foramen for the passage of the occulomotor nerve. Phlegethontia “phanerhalpa” is a tiny braincase fragment that differs from the other species of Phlegethontia only in the placement of the jugular foramen relative to the centre of the foramen magnum. This is probably a size-related feature, and P. “phanerhalpa” is considered a nomen dubium.

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