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Camera trap records of native and non-native mammalian carnivores in urban forests of southern Kyoto, central Japan
No full textInformation on urban mesocarnivores in densely populated urban areas of Asia remains limited. This study presents camera trap data collected in autumn and winter from urban forests in central Japan. The study was conducted in the Uji Campus of Kyoto University and riparian forest patches along the Uji River in southern Kyoto, central Japan. We confirmed the presence of six medium‑sized carnivore species across five families, including three native species: Raccoon Dog Nyctereutes procyonoides (Gray, 1834), Red Fox Vulpes vulpes (Linnaeus, 1758), Japanese Marten Martes melampus (Wagner, 1841), and three non‑native species: Raccoon Procyon lotor (Linnaeus, 1758), Masked Palm Civet Paguma larvata (Smith, 1827), and Stray Cat Felis catus (Linnaeus, 1758). The urban forests within the study area may provide habitat for mesocarnivores, presumably supporting their foraging and sheltering needs. Our data is valuable as baseline information on the mesocarnivore presence and utilisation of urban greenspaces in East Asia
Archaeozoology of rituals: Objects 40 and 41 (“Small Sanctuaries”) of cult district 2 in Roseldorf (Lower Austria, Middle La Tène period)
No full textThis study presents new archaeozoological research on the animal remains from the trenches of two square enclosures, Objects 40 and 41 (“Small Sanctuaries”), located in cult district 2 at Roseldorf-Sandberg. The faunal assemblages from the two enclosures differ significantly from the animal remains excavated in the settlement, especially concerning species composition, age structure, skeletal element representation, and butchery patterns indicating a different selection and use of animals. Furthermore, faunistic differences observed between the two investigated square enclosures (“Small Sanctuaries”) might be related to the different character of ritual activities performed at each area: cattle and horses are prevalent in Object 40, whereas remains of young pigs dominate in Object 41. Finally, the deposition of four skeletons of non-adult pigs in Object 41 offers important information concerning the season in which the ritual practices might have occurred; based on the age profiles, ritual activities in Object 41 probably took place during late autumn or early winter
Johnius javaensis, a new species of croaker (Acanthuriformes, Sciaenidae) from the southern coast of Java, Indonesia
No full textIn this study, we describe a newly recognized croaker (Sciaenidae), Johnius javaensis sp. nov. based on five specimens (87–121 mm in standard length) from the southern coast of Java, Indonesia. Specifically, taxonomic reassessment of sciaenids collected from fish markets on the islands of Java, Bali, and Lombok of Indonesia has revealed that specimens previously identified as Johnius heterolepis represent this new species. Johnius javaensis sp. nov. is characterized by five vesicular mental barbels on the chin, 30–32 dorsal-fin rays, seven or eight scale rows below the lateral line; 11 or 12 lower gill rakers, 11 or 12 swim-bladder appendages, and ventral margin of the sagitta head expanded into a distinct convexity. Historically, four Johnius species (J. amblycephalus, J. fuscolineatus, J. macropterus and J. mannarensis) were reported to have one mental barbel on the chin. The new species is readily distinguished from all other 33 described Johnius species by possessing five vesicular mental barbels on the chin. A phylogenetic analysis of 21 Johnius species based on the 521-bp COI gene confirms that the new species is placed as a sister species of J. macropterus, based on an average of dissimilarity 8.16%
Nachruf HR Dr. Anton Kern, Direktor der Prähistorischen Abteilung i.R. (1957–2023)
No full textHofrat Dr. Anton Kern, zwischen 2001 und 2022 Direktor der Prähistorischen Abteilung, erlag am 28. Oktober 2023 seinem schweren Krebsleiden. Er prägte die Archäologie und die Prähistorische Abteilung vor allem durch sein Wirken bezüglich Öffentlichkeitsarbeit, Ausstellungen und die Forschungen in Hallstatt
Potential and challenges of underground CO2 storage via in-situ mineralization in Switzerland
No full textCarbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technologies play a critical role in achieving global and Swiss climate goals, particularly with Switzerland aiming to domestically store some of its residual CO2 emissions. In situ mineralization presents a promising avenue for stable and permanent CO2 sequestration. This study aims to evaluate the potential of CO2 storage via in situ mineralization in the Swiss underground. A set of technical/geological criteria was defined and used to identify, evaluate, and classify the various geological formations. The selected areas identified and evaluated include alpine tectonic units with large volumes of mafic and ultramafic rocks. Despite the presence of suitable rock types, these units are marked by alpine deformation with highly complex structures, rock mixtures, and complex bedrock hydrogeology. The old, altered, and metamorphic nature of the alpine mafic and ultramafic rock formations results in minimal permeability and porosity, consequently impeding CO2 injectivity and mineralization kinetics, particularly given the low average geothermal gradient. Additionally, challenges related to water resource requirements, storage site location and accessibility, financial costs, regulation, social acceptance, and environmental impacts further impact feasibility negatively. This study concludes that CO2 sequestration via in situ mineralization in the Swiss context is unfeasible in the near term and possibly unsuitable in the long one
New or poorly known Neocomitidae (Ammonitina, Ammonoida) from the lower Hauterivian sedimentary series of the Jura platform and the Vocontian trough (France and Switzerland)
No full textThe Hauterivian type region and more widely the Jura mountains were investigated for their ammonites of the family Neocomitidae. Three rare lower Hauterivian genera are described here: (i) a more detailed description of Haroella charcensis Bulot, Pictet, Frau & Bryers, 2024 is given, which was identified in historical collections of ammonites from the Jura mountains, originating from a phosphatic conglomerate dating from the local Leopoldia buxtorfi Horizon and making it the oldest representative of the genus; (ii) Lyticoceras subhystricoides (Kilian & Reboul, 1915) from the Eclépens quarry is currently being revised as Theodorites cf. theodori Baraboshkin and Mikhailova, 2006; (iii) the new genus Jurienella is introduced for “Breistrofferella” peyroulensis Atrops, Autran & Reboulet 1996, previously known only to a few Provençal sections, in SE France. The stratigraphic position of the Jura specimens raises questions about the age of this taxon, as well as the phyletic link between the genera Bresitrofferella Thieuloy, 1971 and Acanthodiscus Uhlig, 1905. The Haroella-Theodorites lineage is presently considered to be separate from the Lyticoceras-Cruasiceras lineage. The Haroella-Theodorites lineage seems to originate from, or to be closely allied to the late Valanginian species Distoloceras hystrix (Phillips, 1829) sensu Neumayr & Uhlig, genotype of Distoloceras
Tectonometamorphic evolution of a subduction plate interface at the base of the Mirdita Ophiolite (Bajram Curri, northeastern Albania)
No full textThe Western Vardar ophiolite, a thrust sheet of oceanic crust and mantle obducted onto the Adriatic passive margin in the Late Jurassic, crops out along the entire Balkan Peninsula. The Mirdita Ophiolite forms the northern Albanian segment of this unit. In northeast Albania near Bajram Curri, a 200–700 m thick metamorphic sole is preserved at its base. The assembly of obducted mantle rocks and metamorphic sole constitutes a plate interface that formed during the intraoceanic subduction stage preceding obduction; we call this a fossil intraoceanic plate interface in this paper. This setting allows to study the interrelated tectonometamorphic evolution and rock-water interaction between the subducted and exhumed metamorphic sole and concomitant mantle wedge serpentinization in the overlying units. We combined detailed lithological and structural mapping with micro-scale analyses along this plate interface. Three tectonic units were distinguished. Mylonitic harzburgites overlie a tightly folded, tectonised subophiolitic mélange along a SE-dipping contact that defines the fossil intraoceanic plate interface. The tectonised subophiolitic mélange itself was separated into a structurally lower non-metamorphic broken formation and a higher metamorphic sole, separated by an isoclinally folded thrust. Within the metamorphic sole, the temperature and degree of deformation increase towards the structural top. Shear sense indicators in calcschists of the metamorphic sole show top to the west transport of the overriding units. All metamorphic sole lithologies were overprinted at lower greenschist-facies conditions, reflecting their exhumation from intraoceanic subduction. Corresponding microstructures indicate mineral growth at isotropic stresses, suggesting that deformation migrated into structurally lower, frontally accreted non-metamorphic units of the sub-ophiolitic mélange marking the start of obduction onto the passive Adriatic margin. Ongoing westward transport led to folding of the entire sub-ophiolitic succession. Harzburgites are more deformed towards the plate interface, forming a mylonitic fabric. There, harzburgites contain accessory Cr-rich spinel and the foliation is dissected by multiple generations of veins containing serpentine and magnetite. Vein density is highest along the plate interface and decreases up-section, suggesting that serpentinisation was triggered by devolatilisation reactions in the sediments of the metamorphic sole that were subducting below the harzburgites, and the upwards migration of volatiles into the overlying mantle wedge
Cranial osteology of Cynodictis (Amphicyonidae), the oldest European carnivoran
No full textThe amphicyonids, colloquially called ‘beardogs’, are one of the oldest known groups of caniformians, taking part in the initial radiation of this carnivoran clade. While the oldest American occurrences from the Middle Eocene have been investigated in detail, the European material remains understudied. The oldest European occurrences suggest an appearance of caniformians in the Priabonian of southern France and a diversification during the Oligocene, after a major faunal turnover following drastic climatic and environmental changes, the ‘Grande Coupure’. Their first representative is the amphicyonid Cynodictis lacustris, the cranial osteology of which is of much relevance for the systematics of Caniformia. A well-preserved cranium of Cynodictis lacustris was collected in the Phosphorites of Quercy (Lot, France) in the late 1960s. The exceptional preservation of the specimen allows us to describe the osteology, make substantial comparative observations and propose biological interpretations, leading to a partial reconstruction of the cranial vascularization, innervation, and musculature. We also reconstruct the ecological evolution of the European amphicyonids from the Paleogene based on their body masses and diets, leading to identify three different faunas: (1) the oldest one (Priabonian) is characterized by body mass around 10 kg, well-exemplified by Cynodictis lacustris; (2) the second (Rupelian) groups taxa from 30 to 50 kg; (3) the last one (Chattian) differs from the two others by the presence of large amphicyonids (ca. 140 kg) and the low number of hypercarnivorous amphicyonids. The in-depth investigation of this exceptional specimen provides new material for the systematic and paleoecological understanding of Paleogene amphicyonids
A novel marine turtle (Pan-Chelonioidea: Ctenochelyidae) from the Maastrichtian Neylandville Marl Formation of north central Texas, U.S.A
No full textThe marine turtle family Ctenochelyidae was a Late Cretaceous North American radiation of Pan-Chelonioidea, broadly distributed along the coastlines of the Atlantic Coastal Plain and Mississippi Embayment. Here, we describe a large, mostly articulated carapace representing a novel species of the ctenochelyid genus Asmodochelys from the Maastrichtian Neylandville Marl Formation in north central Texas. The specimen is diagnosed as a ctenochelyid by its large cordiform carapace with a broad nuchal embayment, prominent neural keel with epineural ossifications, and costoperipheral fontanelles. It has a unique combination of characters: large size (~ 120 cm); epineurals dorsal to N1/2, N3/4, N5/6, and N7/8; robust articulation between costal 1 and peripherals 1–2; lack of postnuchal fontanelles; pronounced anterior horn-like projection of peripheral 1; weakly scalloped posterior peripherals. Maximum parsimony phylogenetic analyses were conducted in TNT v1.6, and in the resulting majority-rule consensus trees, the specimen was positioned at the base of Ctenochelyidae in an unresolved polytomy with Asmodochelys parhami and the unresolved clade of (Peritresius ornatus + Prionochelys matutina + Ctenochelys acris + Ctenochelys stenoporus). The Neylandville Marl lies within the faunal zone of the marine oyster Exogyra cancellata, providing a particular marine ecological context that extends from Mexico to New Jersey. The new species extends the stratigraphic range of Asmodochelys into the Maastrichtian of the Gulfian Series, and geographically further west of the Mississippi Embayment to north-central Texas. It is one of the latest surviving members of the Ctenochelyidae persisting into the Maastrichtian, a time of global climatic cooling when other major Campanian marine turtle lineages, such as protostegids and Toxochelys-like early stem-chelonioids faced extinction
Otoliths in situ in Pinichthys shirvanensis Bannikov, 2021 (Stromateidae) from the Tarkhanian (Langhian, Middle Miocene) of the northern Caucasus (Russia)
No full textOtolith finds in situ are important for connecting the independent data sets of articulated fish skeletons and isolated otoliths in the fossil record. Here we describe an otolith in situ retrieved from a skeleton of the stromateid Pinichthys shirvanensis Bannikov, 2021, which was collected from the Tarkhanian (Langhian, Middle Miocene) from the prolific Pshekha River locality in the Krasnodar Region of the northern Caucasus, Russia. It represents the first find of an otolith in situ made in a fossil stromateoid skeleton. The extracted otolith is compared to fossil otolith-based species allocated to the genus Pampus. One of these species is being reallocated in the process to Pinichthys: Pinichthys steurbauti (Schwarzhans, 1994) from the late Oligocene to early Middle Miocene in the North Sea Basin