Molluscan paleontology and biostratigraphy

Reconstruction of late Pleistocene climate in the Valsequillo Basin (Central Mexico) through isotopic analysis of terrestrial and freshwater snails

by Rhiannon Stevens

Changes in shell durability of common marine taxa through the Phanerozoic: evidence for biological rather than taphonomic drivers

by Matthew Kosnik

Conferma della presenza di Personopsis grasi (D’Ancona, 1872 ex-Bellardi, m.s.) (Mollusca, Gastropoda, Personidae) nel Pliocene romagnolo

by Alessandro Ceregato

Alessandro Ceregato, Emidio Rinaldi, Cesare Tabanelli, 2002. Quaderno di studi e notizie di storia naturale della Romagna, 16: 1-9
Società per gli Studi Naturalistici della Romagna.

S.K. Donovan, M.D. Sutton, & J.D. Sigwart. (2010) Crinoids for lunch? An unexpected biotic interaction from the Upper Ordovician of Scotland. Geology.

by Julia Sigwart

S.K. Donovan, M.D. Sutton & J.D. Sigwart (2011) The last meal of the Late Ordovician mollusc ‘Helminthochiton’ thraivensis Reed, 1911, from the Lady Burn Starfish Beds, southwest Scotland. Geol. Jour.

by Julia Sigwart

J.D. Sigwart et al. (2007) First record of a chiton from the Palaeocene of Denmark (Polyplacophora: Leptochitonidae) and its phylogenetic affinities. J. Syst. Pal.

by Julia Sigwart

J.D. Sigwart & M.D. Sutton (2007) Deep molluscan phylogeny: synthesis of palaeontological and neontological data. Proc. Roy. Soc. B

by Julia Sigwart

J.D. Sigwart (2007) The Irish fossil polyplacophora. Ir. J. Earth Sci.

by Julia Sigwart

Aantekeningen over de Bithyniidae (Gastropoda, Streptoneura) in het Nederlandse Kwartair

by Tom Meijer

Published in: Mededelingen van de Werkgroep voor Tertiaire en Kwartaire Geologie, 11(4): 149-171 (1974)

The following species and forms of the gastropod family Bithyniidae, from Quaternary deposits of the Netherlands,... more The following species and forms of the gastropod family Bithyniidae, from Quaternary deposits of the Netherlands, could be identified. Neumayria crassitesta (Brömme, 1885), occurring in sediments of Holsteinian, Waalian and Tiglian age. Bithynia tentaculata (Linné, 1758), found in Holocene, Weichselian, Eemian, Holsteinian and Tiglian deposits. Bithynia tentaculata (Linné, 1758) subsp. has been encountered in sediments of Waalian age in a clay-pit near Bavel in the municipality of Breda (province of Noord Brabant). It differs from the typical species by its reflected peristome. The systematical position of this subspecies is not yet established. In this connection the genus Pseudemmericia Schlickum, 1968 is discussed. The present author does not want to express his opinion on the question whether this genus has rightly or wrongly been introduced. Bithynia leachi (Sheppard, 1823) is known from sediments with an age of Holocene, Weichselian, Waalian and Tiglian. Bithynia leachi (Sheppard, 1823) forma troscheli (Paasch, 1842) is known from Holsteinian, Waalian, Tiglian and "younger Pleistocene" deposits.
Furthermore, this investigation also allows the following conclusions:
- Opercula of Lithoglyphus naticoides (C. Pfeiffer, 1828), regularly mentioned in the Dutch literature, turned out te belong to Neumayria crassitesta. Opercula of L. naticoides have never been found in the fossil record.
- Records of Bithynia tentaculata in Dutch literature should be distrusted with respect to their correct identification. They might also belong to N. crassitesta, B. leachi forma troscheli or to B. tentaculata subsp.

Paleomalacologie van de Brabantse Leem (Nederland)

by Tom Meijer

(In Dutch language)
In: Bakels, C., Fennema, K., Out, W.A., Vermeeren, C. (Eds). Van planten en slakken. Bundel aangeboden aan Wim Kuijper als dank voor veertig jaar lesgeven en determineren. 279 pp. Sidestone Press, Leiden.

The mollusc  fauna  of  the  Brabant  Loam  (Liempde Deposit,  Formation ... more The mollusc  fauna  of  the  Brabant  Loam  (Liempde Deposit,  Formation  of  Boxtel)  is  described on  the basis of a  review of  research of  the  last one hundred years. Although much research was undertaken, hardly anything of it can be traced in publications. This contribution  tries  to  fill  this gap  in our knowledge. Because  the very varying methods of  research, results are difficult to compare with each other and therefore only a review has been made with presence or absence of taxa. For the same reason, conclusions are only possible to a limited degree. Only for one location, an outcrop near Acht, do the data lend themselves for a graphical representation and an analysis of the palaeoecological developments in the section.
The associations point here to a becoming wetter with a subsequent becoming dried up of a shallow pool in an open landscape with a vegetation of grasses and herbs. Seventeen locations are know  from the Brabant Loam  from which 35 taxa are known, 29 of which could be identified to species level. The most common species are Succinea schumacheri, Anisus leucostomus auct., Succinea oblonga s.l., Pupilla muscorum, Vertigo genesii, Gyraulus rossmaessleri and Columella  columella. All associations  found  indicate moist  to wet biotopes  in an open landscape during a subarctic climate. The average number of taxa per  location  is 10 which is a normal number for mollusc associations indicative of cold non-marine conditions. The mollusc species present give no indication of a specific stratigraphical age other than that it concerns a cold period. Earlier published data show that the Brabant Loam dates from a late phase of Marine Isotope Stage 3.

Two new freshwater molluscan species from the early Quaternary of the Netherlands

by Tom Meijer

Published in: Contributions to Tertiary and Quaternary Geology, 27(4): 107-112 (1990)

Two new freshwater molluscan species are described from Early Quaternary deposits in The Netherlands. Valvata... more Two new freshwater molluscan species are described from Early Quaternary deposits in The Netherlands. Valvata (Valvata) salebrosa n.sp. may be related to the Recent Valvata sibirica (Middendorff, 1851), whereas Sphaerium (Sphaerium) subtile n. sp. does not seem to have any affinity with Recent species.

Theodoxus danubialis (Pfeiffer 1828) uit de Vlaamse Vallei te Zelzate (België)

by Tom Meijer

Published in: Mededelingen van de Werkgroep voor Tertiaire en Kwartaire Geologie, 6(3): 53-54
(Dutch language)
Simple but nevertheless still important paper.

Enkele mollusken uit de klei van Neede

by Tom Meijer

Published in: Mededelingen van de Werkgroep voor Tertiaire en Kwartaire Geologie, 9(3/4): 87-88
(Dutch language)

The pre-Weichselian non-marine molluscan fauna from Maastricht-Belvédère (Southern Limburg, the Netherlands)

by Tom Meijer

Malacological evidence relating to the stratigraphical position of the Cromerian

by Tom Meijer

Published in: Turner, C. (ed.), The early Middle Pleistocene in Europe. Balkema (Rotterdam): 53-82 (1996)
Co-authored with R.C. Preece

Non-marine molluscan faunas from sites of late Lower and early Middle Pleistocene age in Britain, The Netherlands,... more Non-marine molluscan faunas from sites of late Lower and early Middle Pleistocene age in Britain, The Netherlands, France, Germany and Denmark are reviewed. The fauna from the Cromerian stratotype at West Runton shares two extinct prosobranchs (Valvata goldfussiana and Tanousia runtoniana) with that of the Bavel Interglacial at its type locality. Conversely, two other prosobranchs, Lithoglyphus jahni and Fagotia wuesti, characteristic of the Bavelian and earlier periods, are absent at West Runton. These facts suggest that the two sites are close in age but that West Runton is the younger. Moreover, the stratigraphical range of V. goldfussiana in the Netherlands (Middle Tiglian - Cromerian Interglacial I) suggests that West Runton should be placed early in the 'Cromerian Complex'.
British sites assigned to the 'Cromerian' Stage fall loosely into three groups. Group I is characterized by V. goldfussiana, T. runtoniana, Bithynia troscheli and Viviparus viviparus gibbus, and includes West Runton, Kessingland and Sugworth. The fauna of Group 2 with Valvata naticina, B. troscheli, Tanousia cf. stenostoma and Belgrandia marginata is known only from Little Oakley. Group 3 faunas, such as those from Sidestrand and Trimingham, with V. naticina, Bithynia tentaculata and B. marginata, lack distinctive 'Cromerian' elements and have close affinities with certain Hoxnian assemblages. The extinct water vole Mimomys savini has been recorded from sites assigned to each of these three Groups. At Ostend, Norfolk, an undiagnostic molluscan fauna has been recovered from beds that have yielded the vole Arvicola t. cantiana. It would appear from the malacological evidence that two, or more likely several, interglacials, currently assigned to the British Cromerian, are represented.
It is not possible to assign with confidence any of the continental sites discussed to these groups but the faunas from Noordbergum and Exmorra have closest affinities with Group 3, whereas those from IJsselstein and from oNrth Sea borehole E8-4, both with V. goldfussiana, are closest to Group I. The malacological data do not support correlation of Noordbergum ('Interglacial IV') with West Runton but would support a recent suggestion, based on vertebrate evidence, that West Runton is older. It is not possible to correlate West Runton with any known parts of the four Dutch 'Cromerian' interglacials.

Notes on Quaternary freshwater Mollusca of the Netherlands, with descriptions of some new species

by Tom Meijer

Published in: Mededelingen van de Werkgroep voor Tertiaire en Kwartaire Geologie, 26(1989)(4): 145-181

Quaternary freshwater molluscs of The Netherlands are reviewed. The species Theodoxus serratiliniformis Geyer, 1914,... more Quaternary freshwater molluscs of The Netherlands are reviewed. The species Theodoxus serratiliniformis Geyer, 1914, Nematurella stenostoma Nordmann, 1901 and Dreissena polymorpha (Pallas, 1771), which were recorded previously from the Dutch Quaternary, do in fact not occur. Other species are demonstrated to represent new taxa and are here described (Viviparus teschi n.sp., Bithynia (Neumayria) bavelensis n.sp., Fagotia wuesti n.sp., Planorbarius peetersi n.sp., Sphaerium (Sphaeriastrum) rosmalense n.sp.). The taxonomy of several other species is revised [Parafossarulus priscillae (Girotti, 1972), Tanousia runtoniana (Sandberger, 1880), Tournouerina belnensis (Delafond & Deperet, 1893), Lithoglyphus jahni Urbansky, 1975]. Three small euryhaline prosobranchs are recorded as fossils from The Netherlands for the first time: Hydrobia neglecta Muus, 1963; Semisalsa stagnorum (Gmelin, 1791) and Paludinella littorina (Chiaje, 1828)]. A lectotype for Nematurella minima Tesch, 1939, is designated.

Non-marine mollusc biozonation of Quaternary deposits in the Netherlands

by Tom Meijer

Published in: Ninth International Malacological Congress, Abstracts, p.53. Edinburgh.

Dutch Quaternary, starting with the Pretiglian first cold stage, may be subdivided by means of non-marine molluscs... more Dutch Quaternary, starting with the Pretiglian first cold stage, may be subdivided by means of non-marine molluscs into four main (Oppel) zones.
The upper boundary of Zone 1 coincides approximately with the top of the Olduvai Polarity subzone which also corresponds with the beginning of the Eburonian cold stage. Zone 2 ends approximately with the Jaramillo Polarity subzone, and the upper boundary of zone 3 is in the Saalian cold stage. Zone 4 covers the period after the Saalian. Additional studies are required to refine the zonation.

Malacological evidence relating to the insularity of the British Isles during the Quaternary

by Tom Meijer

Stratigraphical notes on Macoma (Bivalvia) in the southern part of the North Sea Basin and some remarks on the arrival of Pacific species

by Tom Meijer

Published in: Scripta Geologica, Special Issue, 2: 297-312 (Leiden)

The stratigraphical occurrence in the southern North Sea Basin of the marine bivalve genus Macoma is reviewed. New... more The stratigraphical occurrence in the southern North Sea Basin of the marine bivalve genus Macoma is reviewed. New data concerning first and last appearances are presented. Especially the first appearance of Macoma balthica and the last appearances of M. obliqua and M. praetenuis are discussed. M. balthica appears in the late Middle Tiglian (Early Pleistocene). M. obliqua has been found in offshore deposits dating from the climatic optimum of the last interglacial, the Eemian. M. praetenuis occurs in deposits just underlying the Eemian deposits. The age of these underlying deposits is uncertain but may be Late Saalian/Early Eemian. Both latter species were previously considered to be extinct after the late Middle Tiglian. The age of the arrival of 'Pacific' species in the North Sea Basin in the Pliocene is briefly discussed.

Mollusca from the borehole Zuurland-2 at Brielle, The Netherlands (an interim report)

by Tom Meijer

Published in: Mededelingen van de Werkgroep voor Tertiaire en Kwartaire Geologie, 25(1): 49-60 (1988)

The malaco-stratigraphy of borehole Zuurland-2 at Brielle, The Netherlands, is briefly discussed. Holocene, Eemian,... more The malaco-stratigraphy of borehole Zuurland-2 at Brielle, The Netherlands, is briefly discussed. Holocene, Eemian, Waalian, and Late Tiglian deposits were found. The presence of Middle Pleistocene interglacial deposits is not excluded.
The climatological conditions under which the deposits between -50 m and -62 m were formed, are not clear and the age of this interval is uncertain. All mollusc-bearing sediments were laid down in a marine or at least in a strongly tidally influenced fluvial environment. Marine faunas of Waalian and Late Tiglian age in The Netherlands are reported for the first time.
The stratigraphical range of many species, among which are Venerupis aurea (Gmelin, 1791), Macoma balthica (Linné, 1758), Barnea candida (Linné, 1758) and Mya arenaria Iata (Sowerby, 1815) appears to be longer than was assumed previously.