Moderately well-preserved Middle Triassic radiolarians were recovered from bedded limestone exposed at about 3 km west of Kefamenanu, West Timor, Indonesia. This limestone probably from the Aitutu Formation is considered to be an allochthonous block and is embedded in the Neogene Bobonaro Complex. The radiolarian fauna in this limestone is characterized by abundant radiolarians of typical Tethyan forms and is identical to that of the early Fassanian (early Ladinian) of European Tethys and other related faunas reported from the Philippines, Russian Far East, and Japan. The Aitutu Formation is thought to be deposited in an ocean environment dominated by a warm-water current system originating from the low latitude Tethyan realm. Fifty-nine species belonging to 34 genera, including five unidentified genera, are systematically treated, among them, five new species; Parentactinia suparkai, Pseudostylosphaera timorensis, Cryptostephanidium? megaspinosum, Tetrarchiplagia compacta, and Planospinocyrtis kefaensis.
The Journal of Paleontology, published by the Paleontological Society, includes original articles and notes on the systematics of fossil organisms and the implications of systematics to biostratigraphy, paleoecology, paleogeography, and evolution. The Journal emphasizes specimen-based research and features high quality illustrations. All taxonomic groups are treated, including invertebrates, microfossils, plants, and vertebrates. The Journal seeks to appeal to a broad international audience, and to publish comprehensive systematic treatments of taxa, which employ modern analytical techniques and have broad evolutionary, environmental, and/or geographic significance. The Journal also publishes review articles, opinion pieces in its "View From the Field" section, comments and replies in response to recent publications in the Journal, and book reviews.
The Paleontological Society is an international organization devoted exclusively to the advancement of the science of paleontology. The Society was founded in 1908 in Baltimore, Maryland, and has ~1,500 members, including professional paleontologists, academicians, explorationists, science editors, earth-science teachers, museum specialists, land managers, students, amateurs, and hobbyists. The Society holds an Annual Meeting, which is ordinarily in the fall at the same time and place as the Annual Meeting of The Geological Society of America (GSA). The Paleontological Society publishes the Journal of Paleontology six times annually, as well as Paleobiology, which is released quarterly. The Society also publishes, on an irregular basis, The Paleontological Society Memoirs (issued as supplements to the Journal), Short Course Notes, and Special Publications. The Society's official newsletter, Priscum, is issued to all members twice yearly.
This item is part of a JSTOR Collection.
For terms and use, please refer to our Terms and Conditions
Journal of Paleontology
© 1999 Cambridge University Press
Request Permissions
