Recent study of late Middle Givetian deposits (upper Moscow Formation, Tully Formation, and lowermost Genesee Group) in east-central New York State, has revealed new, more detailed information concerning the nature and timing of both the “Taghanic transgression” and the Taghanic bioevents in the type region of west-central New York State. The present research focuses on foreland basin detrital facies, peripheral to the classic Tully Limestone succession in western New York; we have documented more complete and complex faunal-facies successions essential for comparison to other regions. These new sections show that it is possible to extend bed-by-bed correlations of typical Tully marker units away from the carbonate platform into both basinal and nearshore detrital deposits, where sections are more complete. The resulting high-resolution stratigraphic framework allows better assessment of the nature and timing of bioevents now recognized in the Taghanic interval in the New York and Pennsylvania region. This paper reviews Taghanic biofacies and focuses on reinterpretation of lower Tully deposits as outer shelf-to-basin facies rather than inner shelf or “lagoonal” facies as previously suggested. The potential relationship of the Tully Fauna to the post-Taghanic Ithaca Fauna is discussed briefly. We also discuss these findings in the context of recent biostratigraphic and geophysical work by others within the Taghanic time-slice, particularly, in Europe and Morocco. • Key words: Givetian, bioevents, incursion, Taghanic Stage, onlap, Catskill Delta.

BAIRD, G.C. & BRETT, C.E. 2008. Late Givetian Taghanic bioevents in New York State: New discoveries and questions. Bulletin of Geosciences 83(4), 357–370 (6 figures). Czech Geological Survey, Prague. ISSN 1214-1119. Manuscript received September 19, 2006; accepted in revised form August 20, 2007; issued December 31, 2008.

Gordon C. Baird, Department of Geosciences, S.U.N.Y. Fredonia, Fredonia, NY, 14063, U.S.A; Gordon.Baird@fredonia.edu • Carlton E. Brett, Department of Geology, University of Cincinnati, 500 Geology/Physics Bldg., Cincinnati, OH 45221-0013, U.S.A; Carlton.Brett@uc.edu

Four well-preserved radiolarian associations recovered from the uppermost Givetian–upper Frasnian siliceous strata of the Zolotukha and Gryaznukha formations near Gornyak Settlement in the Altai-Sayan Folded Area (ASFA) in the South West Rudny Altai, southwestern Siberia, eastern Russia, are represented by 26 species assigned to 11 genera including a new taxon, Cancellientactinia acifera gen. et sp. nov. The validity of the genera Entactinia Foreman and Stigmosphaerostylus Rüst is discussed and the diagnosis of the genus Trilonche Hinde is emended. The main Frasnian fauna is dominated by spherical entactiniids whereas spiny ceratoikiscids and palaeoscenids possess more diversity in the later transitional Frasnian-Famennian association. • Key words: Mid-Upper Devonian, Frasnian, radiolarians, taxonomy, SW Siberia.

OBUT, O.T. & SHCHERBANENKO, T.A. 2008. Late Devonian radiolarians from the Rudny Altai (SW Siberia). Bulletin of Geosciences 83(4), 371–382 (6 figures). Czech Geological Survey, Prague. ISSN 1214-1119. Manuscript received December 21, 2006; accepted in revised form August 7, 2008; issued December 31, 2008.

Olga Timofeevna Obut, Trofimuk Institute of Petroleum Geology and Geophysics, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Acad. Koptyug av. 3, 630090, Novosibirsk, Russia; ObutOT@ipgg.nsc.ru • Tatyana Aleksandrovna Shcherbanenko, Trofimuk Institute of Petroleum Geology and Geophysics, SB RAS, Acad. Koptyug av. 3, 630090, Novosibirsk, Russia; ShcherbanenkoTA@ipgg.nsc.ru

The redefinition of the lower boundary of a traditional stage by means of a GSSP must be adapted as closely as practicable to the traditional boundary level because divergence between the original sense of the stage concept and name and the new GSSP creates confusing nomenclature. The present GSSP for the lower boundary of the Emsian Stage in the Zinzilban section (Kitab Reserve, SE Uzbekistan) is too low in the section to fulfill this requirement. Accordingly, a redefinition of the boundary of the lower Emsian by the International Subcommission on Devonian Stratigraphy (SDS) and the IUGS Commission on Stratigraphy is necessary. A new GSSP must be defined at a higher level and this could be done in strata of the present stratotype area. The stratigraphic correlation of the traditional Lower Emsian boundary and the GSSP is based on Mauro-Ibero-Armorican and Rheno-Ardennan benthic and pelagic faunas. • Key words: Pragian-Emsian GSSP, Inter-regional correlation, biostratigraphy, GSSP redefinition.

CARLS, P., SLAVÍK, L. & VALENZUELA-RÍOS, J.I. 2008. Comments on the GSSP for the basal Emsian stage boundary: the need for its redefinition. Bulletin of Geosciences 83(4), 383–390 (1 figure). Czech Geological Survey, Prague. ISSN 1214-1119. Manuscript received July 3, 2008; accepted in revised form October 8, 2008; issued December 31, 2008.

Peter Carls, Institut für Umweltgeologie, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Pockelsstrasse 3, D-38023 Braunschweig, Germany • Ladislav Slavík (corresponding author), Institute of Geology AS CR, v.v.i., Rozvojová 269, CZ-16502 Praha, Czech Republic; slavik@gli.cas.cz • José Ignacio Valenzuela-Ríos, Department of Geology, University of Valencia, C/. Dr. Moliner 50, E-46100 Burjassot, Spain; Jose.I.Valenzuela@uv.es

Since the Late Emsian the geological history of Devonian sedimentation in the South Ural Basin of Russia was associated with the evolution of volcanism responsible for vastly different facies environments over a long period of time – from the Late Emsian until the Late Famennian. Maximum manifestations of volcanism took place in the Magnitogorsk Megazone; much less masses of volcanic rocks are characteristic of the Kuragan-Sakmara zone. A significant deepening of the basin was associated with rift basaltic volcanism at the end of the costatus Conodont Zone and continued through the australis and kockelianus zones. Prolonged deepening in the Frasnian began in the punctata Zone and continued until the tectonic calm of the Late rhenana Zone. Maximum shallowing occurred at the end of the varcus zone. Faunal changes followed with the more pronounced mass extinction of different faunal groups occurring at the F/F boundary. • Key words: Devonian, South Urals, correlation, Zilair, Magnitogorsk megazones, Kuragan-Sakmara zone, conodonts, volcanic succession.

ARTYUSZKOVA, O.V. & MASLOV, V.A. 2008. Detailed correlation of the Devonian deposits in the South Urals and some aspects of their formation. Bulletin of Geosciences 83(4), 391–399 (3 figures). Czech Geological Survey, Prague. ISSN 1214-1119. Manuscript received May 11, 2007; accepted in revised form August 18, 2008; issued December 31, 2008.

Olga V. Artyuszkova & Victor A. Maslov, Russian Academy of Sciences, Ufa Research Centre, Institute of Geology, Karl Marx Street, 16/2, Ufa 450000, Russia; stpal@anrb.ru

A new phylogeny is introduced for Lower and Middle Devonian delthyridoid spiriferids with plicated fold and sulcus and bifurcating and trifurcating ribs. The new interpretation is based on side-by-side comparison of the type species of the genera with special focus on the micro-ornamentation and the style of ribbing, especially in the sulcus. During the revision of this group the following taxa are proposed: Multispiriferidae fam. nov, Ovetensispirifer novascotianus gen. et sp. nov., Turcispirifer turciae gen. et. sp. nov.; three taxa are described in open nomenclature: gen. nov. A, ?Turcispirifer sp. A, and Ovetensispirifer cf. ovetensium. In the systematic part, each genus is described including its type species of the studied group. Emended diagnoses from family to species level are given. As a consequence of this study, the geographic distribution of the taxa of each evolutionary branch emphasizes the endemicity present during Early Devonian time and its decline at the beginning of the Middle Devonian. However, on the other hand, faunal pathways are shown from Western Europe to Nova Scotia, from North Africa over Turkey to Eastern Asia and to Arctic Canada, and probably from Venezuela to North Africa. • Key words: Delthyridoidea, Spiriferida, Brachiopoda, phylogeny, palaeobiogeography, Devonian.

SCHEMM-GREGORY, M. 2008. New interpretations of the phylogeny and taxonomy of delthyridoid spiriferids (Brachiopoda, Lower and Middle Devonian). Bulletin of Geosciences 83(4), 401–448 (29 figures, 3 tables). Czech Geological Survey, Prague. ISSN 1214-1119. Manuscript received September 22, 2008; accepted in revised form November 24, 2008; issued December 31, 2008.

Mena Schemm-Gregory, Forschungsinstitut und Naturmuseum Senckenberg, Paläozoologie III, Senckenberganlage 25, D-60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; Mena.Schemm-Gregory@senckenberg.de

Trepostomid bryozoa from the Devonian of the Salair-Altai region (SAR) have been investigated. Analysis of collected data has allowed the late Silurian-Devonian-Tournaisian interval to be divided into 16 stages, each represented by a specific association of trepostomids. Cyclic changes in trepostomid species composition are marked by alternations of low diversity. Four cycles can be recognized, beginning with an interval of high species diversity and ending with an interval of low species diversity. Synchronicity between cycles of species diversity and recognized transgressive-regressive cycles is evident in the SAR. Diversity peaks correspond to transgressions, whereas minimum diversity to regressions. Local cyclicity of the trepostomid diversity in the SAR does not coincide with a global bryozoan cyclicity. Species duration of Devonian trepostomids is assessed and their potential for biostratigraphical correlation within the SAR proven. • Key words: bryozoans, trepostomids, species association, diversity changes, Devonian, Salair-Altai region.

MESENTSEVA, O.P. 2008. Trepostomids (Bryozoa) from the Devonian of Salair, Kuznetsky Basin, Gorny and Rudny Altai, Russia. Bulletin of Geosciences 83(4), 449–460 (8 figures). Czech Geological Survey, Prague. ISSN 1214-1119. Manuscript received November 13, 2006; accepted in revised form February 28, 2007; issued December 31, 2008.

Olga P. Mesentseva, Kuzbass State Education Academy, Kuznetsova st. 6, Novokuznetsk, 654041, Russia; MesentsevaOP@yandex.ru

Devonian deposits of eastern Transbaikal, Russia, are widely distributed in the Onon, Argun and Upper Amur terranes, each with a different geological development history. Two lithofacies are represented in the geological section: carbonate-volcanogenic-terrigenous (Onon terrane) and terrigenous-carbonate (Argun and Upper Amur terranes), with strata in the latter characterized by abundant fossil remains, especially numerous crinoids and brachiopods. Brachiopod assemblages are stated for each strata of the Transbaikal Devonian. A crinoid biostratigraphic zonation is proposed within the Mongol-Okhotsk fold belt as follows: Scyphocrinites mariannae, Costatocrinus bicostatus and Tastjicrinus paucicostatus (Lower Lochkovian); Amazaricrinus ildicanensis (Pragian); Paradecacrinus orientalis (Emsian); Raricrinus minimus and Vasticrinus vastus (Eifelian); Ononicrinus gracilis (Givetian); Hexacrinites? stukalinae sp. nov. (Frasnian) and Platycrinites? subtuberosus (Upper Famennian). Local and regional crinoid ages accord well with those of brachiopods. Lateral distribution of faunal assemblages allows regional correlation. • Keywords: Devonian, crinoid biozonation, brachiopods, assemblages, biostratigraphy, Transbaikal.

KURILENKO, A.V. & KULKOV, N.P. 2008. A proposed crinoid zonation of the Devonian deposits of eastern Transbaikal. Bulletin of Geosciences 83(4), 461–472 (4 figures, 2 tables). Czech Geological Survey, Prague. ISSN 1214-1119. Manuscript received November 22, 2006; accepted in revised form July 2, 2008; issued December 31, 2008.

Alena Vasilyevna Kurilenko, State Geological Unitary Enterprise "Chitageolsyomka", Amurskaya St. 91/15, 672090 Chita, Russia; Alena_Kurilenko@geolog.chita.ru • Nikolay Petrovich Kulkov, Siberia Research Institute of Geology, Geophysics and Mineral Resources, 630091 Novosibirsk, Russia

In the Devonian the Minusa Intermountain Trough (Basin) of Siberia represented a rift structure that was filled with rocks which now occur as strata-like bodies interpreted to be of volcanic origin. The character of the mafic rocks including their upper contacts and geochronological dating, using Rb/Sr, 40Ar/39Ar, and U/Pb methods, suggests their sill or subvolcanic nature. Porphyry and dolerite sills and basalt formed later (385–405 Mya) than felsic and andesitic volcanic rocks (402–448 Mya). Because these bodies were earlier considered as volcanic flows, it is important to revise the geological succession of the Devonian formations dominated by mafic igneous rocks. • Key words: Early Devonian, stratigraphy, geochronology, basalt, dolerite and porphyry sills, Minusa Basin, Russia.

FEDOSEEV, G.S. 2008. The role of mafic magmatism in age specification of Devonian continental trough deposits: evidence from the Minusa Basin, western Siberia, Russia. Bulletin of Geosciences 83(4), 473–480 (3 figures, 2 tables). Czech Geological Survey, Prague. ISSN 1214-1119. Manuscript received September 19, 2006; accepted in revised form August 26, 2008; issued December 31, 2008.

Geliy S. Fedoseev, Institute of Geology and Mineralogy named after V.S. Sobolev, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Koptug Av. 3; Novosibirsk State University, Pirogov st. 2, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia; fedoseev@uiggm.nsc.ru

Microfacies analysis combined with palaeontological studies on Middle to Upper Devonian marine carbonates exposed at the section Renanué in the Pyrenees, northern Spain, allow recognition of an open-shelf environment. Several eustatic changes through the Givetian and lower Frasnian are recorded, discriminated by detailed conodont control. A transgressive pulse represented by a deepening trend from an open-shelf setting to deep-shelf environment around the Lower-Middle Givetian transition is more likely related to a regional event. A second important transgression is present in the upper half of the Middle varcus Zone (Middle Givetian); its correlation with the Taghanic Event is still a matter of discussion. A third important transgressive pulse is recognized close to the Middle-Upper varcus Zone boundary [see above], still in the Middle Givetian. A paraconformity spanning from, possibly, already the Upper varcus Zone through, at least, the upper disparilis Zone precludes further analysis of paleoenvironmental development at the Renanué section. The reason for this lack of sediments is unknown, but bottom currents have been considered as the explanation for such gaps in similar deposits of, approximately, the same age in several European and Moroccan sequences. Finally, a transgressive trend is inferred from the uppermost Givetian into the lowermost Frasnian also recognizable by a change in conodont biofacies that took place at the basal part of the Frasnian and is represented by the absence of Icriodus and the arrival of Klapperina and Mesotaxis. • Key words: Middle-Upper Devonian, conodonts, microfacies analysis, sea-level curve, Spanish Pyrenees.

LIAO, J.-C., KÖNIGSHOF, P., VALENZUELA-RÍOS, J.I. & SCHINDLER, E. 2008. Depositional environment interpretation and development of the Renanué section (Upper Eifelian-Lower Frasnian; Pyrenees, N. Spain. Bulletin of Geosciences 83(4), 481–490 (4 figures). Czech Geological Survey, Prague. ISSN 1214-1119. Manuscript received July 4, 2007; accepted in revised form December 15, 2008; issued December 31, 2008.

Jau-Chyn Liao, Dpto. de Paleontología, Facultad de Ciencias Geológicas, Universidad Complutense, E-28040 Madrid, Spain & Dpto. de Geología, Universitat de Valencia, Dr. Moliner 50, E-46100 Burjassot, Spain; Jau.Liao@uv.es • José I. Valenzuela-Ríos, Dpto. de Geología, Universitat de Valencia, Dr. Moliner 50; E-46100 Burjassot, Spain; Jose.I.Valenzuela@uv.es • Peter Königshof & Eberhard Schindler, Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg und Naturmuseum, Senckenberganlage 25, D-60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; peter.koenigshof@ senckenberg.de, eberhard.schindler@senckenberg.de

Rich fossil material of the Early Devonian Orthonychia protei (Oehlert, 1883) from the Saint Céneré Formation, Brittany (France) provides a unique chance to analyze the infraspecific variability of muscle scars and post-larval shell morphology. The position of the muscle scar in this species depends on the shape of the teleoconch, which seems to be influenced by its living position upon the crinoid host. Individuals having a teleoconch aperture with a pentagonal outline and five apertural processes probably lived on top of a crinoid calyx and their muscle was attached to the center of their teleoconchs. However, muscle scars are situated more laterally in individuals with irregular teleoconchs lacking apertural processes. The latter group was probably attached to another part of the crinoid body or even to another type of hard substrate. Juvenile post-larval Orthonychia protei was a mobile animal, but very early in its ontogeny became adapted to a fixed position on the crinoid body and remained immobile for the majority of its post-larval ontogeny. Long-term coexistence of Orthonychia protei with the same crinoid suggests that this species had a long-term advantage from such an ecological strategy. However, the existence of individuals with irregularly shaped teleoconchs suggests that Orthonychia protei could also live successfully outside of the digestive openings of crinoids and, thus, use a food source not closely connected with crinoids. This interpretation can be supported by the fact that at least some Silurian and Devonian platyceratids were adapted to living on small firm objects (like empty cephalopod shells) lying on the sediment surface. • Key words: Gastropoda, muscle scars, ontogeny, Orthonychiidae, Early Devonian, W France.

FRÝDA, J., RACHEBOEUF, P.R. & FRÝDOVÁ, B. 2008. Mode of life of Early Devonian Orthonychia protei (Neritimorpha, Gastropoda) inferred from its post-larval shell ontogeny and muscle scars. Bulletin of Geosciences 83(4), 491–502 (5 figures). Czech Geological Survey, Prague. ISSN 1214-1119. Manuscript received November 17, 2008; accepted in revised form December 3, 2008; issued December 31, 2008.

Jiøí Frýda, Czech Geological Survey, P.O.B. 85, 118 21 Prague 1, and Faculty of Environmental Sciences, CULS, 165 21 Prague 6, Czech Republic; bellerophon@seznam.cz • Patrick R. Racheboeuf, UMR CNRS 6538, Domaines Océaniques, Université de Bretagne Occidentale, Brest, UFR des Sciences et Techniques, 6, avenue Le Gorgeu, C.S. 93837, F-29238 Brest Cedex 3, France; patrick.racheboeuf@univ-brest.fr • Barbora Frýdová, VÚVR v.v.i., Research Institute, Drnovská 507, 161 06 Prague - Ruzynì, Czech Republic; frydova@vuvr.cz

Several specimens of the hyolith Ottomarites discors (Barrande, 1867) most probably from the Lower Devonian Daleje-Tøebotov Formation, Suchomasty Limestone from Konìprusy, near Beroun (Prague Basin, Barrandian), exhibit distinct colouration on the venter of the conch and exterior of the operculum. These markings are developed as irregular brick-red concentric bands that follow the growth lines. Ottomarites discors is the only known hyolith that seems to retain its original colour pattern. • Key words: Hyolitha, colour pattern, Devonian, Emsian, Prague Basin, Bohemia, Czech Republic.

VALENT, M. & MALINKY, J.M. 2008. Early Devonian (Emsian) hyolith Ottomarites discors (Barrande, 1867) with colour pattern. Bulletin of Geosciences 83(4), 503–506 (1 figure). Czech Geological Survey, Prague. ISSN 1214-1119. Manuscript received March 4, 2008; accepted in revised form November 3, 2008; issued December 31, 2008.

Martin Valent, National Museum, Department of Palaeontology, Václavské námìstí 68, 115 79 Praha 1, Czech Republic; martin_valent@nm.cz • John M. Malinky, San Diego City College, Physical Science Department, 1313 Park Boulevard, San Diego, CA 92131, USA; jmalinky@sbcglobal.net