Ameki Railway - Cutting #1, southern Nigeria (Eocene of Nigeria)

Also known as Cutting #1

Where: Nigeria (5.0° N, 7.5° E: paleocoordinates 0.7° S, 1.4° E)

• coordinate estimated from map

• outcrop-level geographic resolution

When: Ameki Formation (Bende-Ameki Group), Lutetian (47.8 - 41.3 Ma)

• Cutting #1. No stratigraphic value can be assigned to cutting numbering. Collections presumably originate from the Ameki Fm (not stated in text, but highly likely based on age and geography). Newton states an upper Lutetian age. This has not be confirmed against publications of Arua and other Ameke Fm collections DO NOT state an age finer than "Eocene". This needs to be rectified as these will be orphaned in current binning scheme. Uhen's Ameki Fm collections state "Middle Eocene", which while encompassing the Lutetian will also be orphaned.

• bed-level stratigraphic resolution

Environment/lithology: estuary or bay; poorly lithified, concretionary, carbonaceous shale and concretionary, carbonaceous claystone

• Described as estuarine facies
• Facies may include: estuarine shales, clays and marls, with septarian nodules and pieces of coal and resin.

Size class: macrofossils

Collection methods: Collected by Sir Frederick Lugard, Sir J. Eaglesome, A. Kitson, W. Bell over several occasions, but with consistency in original of collections.

Primary reference: R. B. Newton. 1922. Eocene Mollusca from Nigeria. Geological Survey of Nigeria Bulletin 3 [A. Miller/A. Hendy/A. Hendy]more details

Purpose of describing collection: taxonomic analysis

PaleoDB collection 51237: authorized by Austin Hendy, entered by Austin Hendy on 01.06.2005, edited by Pete Wagner

Creative Commons license: CC BY (attribution)

Taxonomic list

• Obviously contains antiquated taxonomy. Will vett taxonomy according to that presented by Arua et al. (1987, 1988, 1989) - A. Hendy.
Gastropoda
 Heterostropha - Architectonicidae
Stellaxis bicingulata Newton 1922 sundial
Solariaxis cf. canaliculata Lamarck 1804 sundial
Solariaxis cf. spectabilis Sowerby 1850 sundial
 Cerithioidea - Turritellidae
Turritella mauryana Newton 1922 turret shell
 Neotaenioglossa - Calyptraeidae
Crepidula falconeri Newton 1922 slipper shell
Turbocalyptraea scabrosa n. gen. n. sp. Eames 1957 slipper shell
Locality not given, so I put it in 1 (PJW)
 Neogastropoda - Buccinidae
Strepsidura spirata Newton 1922 true whelk
Cominella douvillei Newton 1922 true whelk
 Neogastropoda - Melongenidae
"Bulbifusus nigieriensis" = Pseudomazzalina nigeriensis
"Bulbifusus nigieriensis" = Pseudomazzalina nigeriensis Newton 1922 snail
 Neogastropoda - Cancellariidae
Bonellitia cf. evulsa Solander 1766 snail
 Neogastropoda - Pseudolividae
Buccinorbis kitsoni Newton 1922 snail
 Neogastropoda - Clavatulidae
Surcula africana Newton 1922 snail
 Neogastropoda - Conidae
Conospirus cf. parisiensis Deshayes 1835 cone shell
 Neogastropoda - Turridae
Eopleurotoma nigeriensis Newton 1922 turrid
 Neogastropoda - Volutidae
Athleta lugardi Newton 1922 volute
Volutospina conicoturrita Newton 1922 volute
 Neogastropoda - Muricidae
Pteropurpura cf. tricarinata Lamarck 1803 murex snail
Poirieria cf. calcitrapa Lamarck 1803 murex snail
 Sorbeoconcha - Rostellariidae
"Semiterebellum suturocostatum" = Amekichilus suturocostatum, "Rostellaria unidigitata" = Cyrtulotibia unidigitata
"Semiterebellum suturocostatum" = Amekichilus suturocostatum Newton 1922 snail
"Rostellaria unidigitata" = Cyrtulotibia unidigitata Newton 1922 snail
 Sorbeoconcha - Pediculariidae
"Amphiperas nigeriensis" = Eovolva nigeriensis
"Amphiperas nigeriensis" = Eovolva nigeriensis Newton 1922 snail
Bivalvia
 Nuculida - Nuculidae
Nucula costaeimbricatis Newton 1922 nut clam
 Ostreida - Ostreidae
Ostrea cf. ludensis Deshayes 1861 oyster
Ostrea cf. marginidentata Wood 1861 oyster
 Arcida - Arcidae
"Anadara nigeriensis" = Protonoetia nigeriensis Newton 1922 clam
Striarca africana Newton 1922 clam
Fossularca africana Newton 1922 ark
 Cardiida - Cardiidae
"Cardium cf. obliquum" = Loxocardium obliquum
"Cardium cf. obliquum" = Loxocardium obliquum Lamarck 1805 cockle
 Cardiida - Tellinidae
Peronaea nigeriensis Newton 1922 tellin clam
 Cardiida - Mactridae
"Mactra semisulcata" = Spisula semisulcata
"Mactra semisulcata" = Spisula semisulcata Lamarck 1805 clam
 Pholadida - Corbulidae
"Corbula rugosa" = Notocorbula rugosa
"Corbula rugosa" = Notocorbula rugosa Lamarck 1806 clam
 Pholadida - Raetomyidae
Raetomya schweinfurthi Mayer-Eymar 1887 clam
 Carditida - Carditidae
Cardita costaenodulosis Newton 1922 clam
Trivelina sphenarium
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