Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics; Paleontology
Abstract :
[en] Localities within strata of the Witpoort Formation (Witteberg Group, Cape Supergroup) of South Africa provide diverse new fossil material of Famennian plants from a high palaeolatitude marginal marine setting. Lycopsid axes with sterile leaves include material here diagnosed to two new species of Colpodexylon Banks 1944. C. pullumpedes sp. nov. from Waterloo Farm is a ‘short-tipped’ species, whereas C. mergae sp. nov. from Coombs Hill, is a ‘long-tipped’ species. The latter has leaves similar to those of the type species, C. deatsii Banks, yet differing in proportions. This provides the first definite high latitude records of the genus. Furthermore, these occurrences substantially extend the temporal range of Colpodexylon, formerly only known from lower Frasnian and older strata, indicating that the genus persisted at high-latitudes after its apparent disappearance from the palaeo-sub-tropics.
Harris, Christopher; Evolutionary Studies Institute, School of Geosciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
Gess, Robert W.; Geology Department and Albany Museum, Rhodes University, Makhanda (Grahamstown), South Africa
Prestianni, Cyrille ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de géologie > Evolution and diversity dynamics lab ; OD Terres et Histoire de la Vie, Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Brussels, Belgium
Bamford, Marion K.; Evolutionary Studies Institute, School of Geosciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
Language :
English
Title :
A Late Devonian refugium for Colpodexylon (Lycopsida) at high latitude
This work was supported by the DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence in Palaeosciences, the Palaeontological Scientific Trust and the Millennium Trust. Opinions expressed, and conclusions arrived at, are those of the authors and are not attributed to the above organizations. CP is hired under a Belspo FED- tWIN project from the Belgian Federal Government (PALEOGREEN). The authors acknowledge the assistance of the South African National Roads Agency Limited in facilitating research within their construction site. Christopher M. Berry made helpful comment on a draft of this work and an anonymous reviewer's comments improved the manuscript. Charles Ver Straeten kindly provided up to date information on stratigraphy in New York State. Khokela Camagu, Ross Umhleli and Chris Meintjies are thanked for their assistance in the field.This work was supported by the DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence in Palaeosciences , the Palaeontological Scientific Trust and the Millennium Trust . Opinions expressed, and conclusions arrived at, are those of the authors and are not attributed to the above organizations. CP is hired under a Belspo FED- tWIN project from the Belgian Federal Government (PALEOGREEN).
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