Aix-en-Provence (Museum Marseille Coll) (Oligocene of France)

Where: Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France (43.5° N, 5.5° E: paleocoordinates 43.3° N, 2.8° E)

• coordinate estimated from map

• local area-level geographic resolution

When: Niveau du gypse d'Aix Formation, Chattian (28.1 - 23.0 Ma)

• "The ‘insect formation’ is 2.5 m thick, divided in two parts that correspond to two very different environmental conditions. The first (lower) episode is remarkable by its lateral monotony of facies on a distance of 6 km at least, in the outcrops observed on the northwest of Aix-en-Provence. This lower episode is distinguished from the rest of the ‘insect formation’ and from the whole formation of Aix-en-Provence by the presence of a very numerous thin limestone laminae. The second (upper) episode is remarkable by the presence of many silici- fied laminae. The fauna in this level is also very well preserved"….This collection consists of unspecified layers

Environment/lithology: lacustrine - large; lithified limestone

• This lacustrine formation was deposited in a very large but shallow-water lake, with variable salinity and near the marine coast (Nury 1990, Nury & Thomassin 1994). Irregular basins formed during extension of the European platform in the Oligocene resulting from the formation of the West-European rift system.
• The deposit presents an alternation of limestone and marls with gypsum.

Size classes: macrofossils, mesofossils

Preservation: mold/impression, adpression

Collection methods: Museum Marseille

Primary reference: S. H. Scudder. 1872. Description of a new fossil butterfly (Satyrites reynesii) found at Aix in Provence. The Geological Magazine 9:532-533 [M. Clapham/M. Clapham/M. Clapham]more details

Purpose of describing collection: taxonomic analysis

PaleoDB collection 122487: authorized by Matthew Clapham, entered by Jered Karr on 30.12.2011, edited by Matthew Clapham

Creative Commons license: CC BY (attribution)

Taxonomic list

Insecta
 Odonata - Calopterygidae
"Calopteryx sannoisiensis n. sp." = Sapho sannoisiensis2
"Calopteryx sannoisiensis n. sp." = Sapho sannoisiensis2 Meunier 1914 broad-winged damselfly
Museum Marseille 5898
 Odonata - Libellulidae
Libellulidae "larva"8, "Libellula martini n. sp." = Palaeotramea martini2
Libellulidae "larva"8 Rambur 1842 common skimmer
Museum Marseille M 60
"Libellula martini n. sp." = Palaeotramea martini2 Meunier 1914 common skimmer
Museum Marseille 5897
 Hymenoptera - Pompilidae
Tenthredinites bifasciata n. gen. n. sp.3
Tenthredinites bifasciata n. gen. n. sp.3 Meunier 1915 spider wasp
 Hymenoptera - Formicidae
"Aphaenogaster maculata n. sp." = Paraphaenogaster maculata8
"Aphaenogaster maculata n. sp." = Paraphaenogaster maculata8 Theobald 1937 ant
Museum Marseille M 55
 Hymenoptera - Sphecidae
Sceliphron tertiarius n. sp.3 Meunier 1915 digger wasp
 Hymenoptera - Apidae
Anthophorites mellona2 Heer 1849 bee
 Hymenoptera - Braconidae
Bracon vasseuri n. sp.2 Meunier 1914 wasp
Museum Marseille 112(113), 114(115)
 Hymenoptera - Ichneumonidae
"Ichneumon sublongaevus n. sp." = Pimpla antiquus2
"Ichneumon sublongaevus n. sp." = Pimpla antiquus2 Saussure 1852 ichneumon wasp
Museum Marseille 5948
 Hymenoptera - Tenthredinidae
Hylotomites robusta n. gen. n. sp.2
Hylotomites robusta n. gen. n. sp.2 Meunier 1914 wood wasp
Museum Marseille 107(111)
 Lepidoptera - Nymphalidae
Satyrites reynesii n. gen. n. sp.
Satyrites reynesii n. gen. n. sp. Scudder 1872 browns
 Lepidoptera - Hesperiidae
Pamphilites abdita n. gen. n. sp.7
Pamphilites abdita n. gen. n. sp.7 Scudder 1875 skipper
 Coleoptera -
Onthophagus luteus n. sp.5 Oustalet 1874 beetle
 Coleoptera - Eucnemidae
Eucnemidae indet.5 Eschscholtz 1829 false click beetle
 Coleoptera - Anthicidae
"Anthicus melancholicus n. sp." = Anthicus oustaleti5
"Anthicus melancholicus n. sp." = Anthicus oustaleti5 Telnov 1999 ant like flower beetle
 Coleoptera - Cerambycidae
Clytus leporinus n. sp.5 Oustalet 1874 longhorned beetle
 Coleoptera - Chrysomelidae
Cassida blancheti5 Heer 1856 tortoise beetle
Crioceris margarum n. sp.5 Oustalet 1874 leaf beetle
"Chrysomela lyelliana" = Plagiodera lyelliana5 Heer 1856 leaf beetle
Chrysomela debilis n. sp.5 Oustalet 1874 leaf beetle
Chrysomela matheroni5 Oustalet 1874 leaf beetle
 Coleoptera - Curculionidae
Hylobius carbo n. sp.5, Cleonus inflexus5, "Cleonus asperulus" = Protainophthalmus asperulus5, "Brachyderes longipes" = Protainophthalmus asperulus5, "Brachyderes aquisextanus" = Protainophthalmus asperulus5, "Cleonus marcelli" = Protainophthalmus asperulus5, "Sitones margarum" = Protainophthalmus margarus5, "Hipporhinus reynesii" = Rhytidoderes sexsulcatus5, Hipporhinus heeri8, Hipporhinus heerii5, Curculionites exiguus n. sp.5, "Hylobius morosus" = Curculionites morosus5, Coniatus minusculus n. sp.5, Cryptorhynchus gypsi n. sp.5, ? Hydronomus nasutus n. sp.5, Cleonus pygmaeus n. sp.5
Hylobius carbo n. sp.5 Oustalet 1874 snout beetle
Cleonus inflexus5 Oustalet 1874 snout beetle
"Cleonus asperulus" = Protainophthalmus asperulus5 Heer 1856 snout beetle
"Brachyderes longipes" = Protainophthalmus asperulus5 Heer 1856 snout beetle
"Brachyderes aquisextanus" = Protainophthalmus asperulus5 Heer 1856 snout beetle
"Cleonus marcelli" = Protainophthalmus asperulus5 Heer 1856 snout beetle
"Sitones margarum" = Protainophthalmus margarus5 Germar 1849 snout beetle
"Hipporhinus reynesii" = Rhytidoderes sexsulcatus5 Heer 1856 snout beetle
Hipporhinus heeri8 Germar 1849 snout beetle
Hipporhinus heerii5 Germar 1849 snout beetle
Curculionites exiguus n. sp.5 Oustalet 1874 snout beetle
"Hylobius morosus" = Curculionites morosus5 Heer 1856 snout beetle
Coniatus minusculus n. sp.5 Oustalet 1874 snout beetle
Cryptorhynchus gypsi n. sp.5 Oustalet 1874 snout beetle
? Hydronomus nasutus n. sp.5 Oustalet 1874 snout beetle
Cleonus pygmaeus n. sp.5 Oustalet 1874 snout beetle
 Coleoptera - Staphylinidae
"Staphylinus (Ocypus) atavus n. sp." = Ocypus atavus5, Staphylinus priscus5, "Staphylinus (Ocypus) germarii n. sp." = Staphylinus germarii5, Staphylinus calvus5, Quedius reynesii5, Achenium ingens n. sp.5, "Erinnys elongata n. sp." = Lithoplanes elongata5
"Staphylinus (Ocypus) atavus n. sp." = Ocypus atavus5 Oustalet 1874 rove beetle
Staphylinus priscus5 Oustalet 1874 rove beetle
"Staphylinus (Ocypus) germarii n. sp." = Staphylinus germarii5 Oustalet 1874 rove beetle
Staphylinus calvus5 Oustalet 1874 rove beetle
Quedius reynesii5 Oustalet 1874 rove beetle
Achenium ingens n. sp.5 Oustalet 1874 rove beetle
"Erinnys elongata n. sp." = Lithoplanes elongata5 Oustalet 1874 rove beetle
 Coleoptera - Hydrophilidae
Hydrophilopsis incerta n. sp.5 Oustalet 1874 water scavenger beetle
 Coleoptera - Geotrupidae
"Geotrupes atacus" = Geotrupes atavus3
"Geotrupes atacus" = Geotrupes atavus3 Oustalet 1874 earth-boring dung beetle
 Coleoptera - Carabidae
"Calosoma (Callisthenes) agassizi" = Calosoma agassizi5, Nebria tisiphone n. sp.5, Stomis elegans n. sp.5, Feronia minax n. sp.5, Feronia provincialis n. sp.5, Harpalus oustaleti n. sp.3, Harpalus deletus n. sp.5
"Calosoma (Callisthenes) agassizi" = Calosoma agassizi5 Barthelemy-Lapommeraye 1846 ground beetle
Nebria tisiphone n. sp.5 Oustalet 1874 ground beetle
Stomis elegans n. sp.5 Oustalet 1874 ground beetle
Feronia minax n. sp.5 Oustalet 1874 ground beetle
Feronia provincialis n. sp.5 Oustalet 1874 ground beetle
Harpalus oustaleti n. sp.3 Meunier 1915 ground beetle
Harpalus deletus n. sp.5 Oustalet 1874 ground beetle
 Hemiptera - Cydnidae
"Cydnopsis heerii" = Cydnus heeri6, "Odontotarsus archaicus n. sp." = Cydnus archaicus3
"Cydnopsis heerii" = Cydnus heeri6 Oustalet 1874 burrowing bug
"Odontotarsus archaicus n. sp." = Cydnus archaicus3 Meunier 1915 burrowing bug
 Hemiptera - Cicadellidae
"Euacanthus bellus n. sp." = Evacanthus bellus2
"Euacanthus bellus n. sp." = Evacanthus bellus2 Meunier 1914 leafhopper
 Thysanoptera - Thripidae
Thripidae indet.8 Stevens 1829 thrips
Museum Marseille M 10
Calothrips scudderi n. gen. n. sp.4 Oustalet 1873 thrips
 Orthoptera - Tettigoniidae
Decticus antiquus n. sp.2 Meunier 1914 katydid
Museum Marseille 5911
 Blattodea - Termitidae
Termitidae indet.8 Latreille 1802 termite
 Diptera - Chironomidae
Chironomidae indet.8 Macquart 1838 non biting midge
Museum Marseille M 30, 35
Chironomus serresi n. sp.8 Theobald 1937 non biting midge
Museum Marseille M 36
 Diptera - Tipulidae
Tipula grandis n. sp.2 Meunier 1914 crane fly
Tipula cossmanni n. sp.3 Meunier 1915 crane fly
 Diptera - Bombyliidae
"Bombylius depereti n. sp." = Bombylius (Bombylius) depereti3
"Bombylius depereti n. sp." = Bombylius (Bombylius) depereti3 Meunier 1915 bee fly
 Diptera - Asilidae
Asilus sannoisiensis n. sp.3 Meunier 1915 robber fly
 Diptera - Bibionidae
"Plecia elegans" = Plecia bucklandi8, "Plecia gracilis" = Plecia bucklandi8, "Plecia splendida" = Plecia foersteri8, "Plecia livida" = Plecia livida8, "Plecia constricta n. sp." = Plecia livida8, Bibio curtisi8, "Bibio serresi n. sp." = Bibio curtisii8, "Bibio conformans n. sp." = Bibio celasensis8
"Plecia elegans" = Plecia bucklandi8 Heer 1849 love bug
Museum Marseille M 14
"Plecia gracilis" = Plecia bucklandi8 Heer 1849 love bug
Museum Marseille M 11
"Plecia splendida" = Plecia foersteri8 Theobald 1937 love bug
Museum Marseille M 9
"Plecia livida" = Plecia livida8 Heer 1849 love bug
Museum Marseille M 7, 8, 12, 13
"Plecia constricta n. sp." = Plecia livida8 Heer 1849 love bug
Museum Marseille M 10
Bibio curtisi8 Heer 1856 march fly
Museum Marseille M 18, 22
"Bibio serresi n. sp." = Bibio curtisii8 Heer 1856 march fly
Museum Marseille M 24
"Bibio conformans n. sp." = Bibio celasensis8 Theobald 1937 march fly
Museum Marseille M 20, 19
 Diptera - Mycetophilidae
Mycetophila longipennis n. sp.8 Theobald 1937 fungus gnat
Museum Marseille M 33
Mycetophila confusa8 Theobald 1937 fungus gnat
Museum Marseille M 29
 Diptera - Sciaridae
Sciara minuscula n. sp.8 Theobald 1937 dark-winged fungus gnat
Museum Marseille M 1
Sciara inflata8 Theobald 1937 dark-winged fungus gnat
Museum Marseille M 6
Sciara oblonga n. sp.8 Theobald 1937 dark-winged fungus gnat
Museum Marseille M 2, 3
Sciara acuminata8 Theobald 1937 dark-winged fungus gnat
Museum Marseille M 4, 5
Arachnida
 Araneae - Oecobiidae
Uroctea galloprovincialis n. sp.1 Gourret 1887 disc web spider
 Araneae - Hersiliidae
Hersilia aquisextana n. sp.1 Gourret 1887 tree trunk spider
collection not given
 Araneae - Theridiidae
Ariamnes gabrieli n. sp.1 Gourret 1887 cobweb spider
 Araneae - Salticidae
"Attopsis hirsutus n. gen. n. sp." = Eoattopsis hirsutus1
"Attopsis hirsutus n. gen. n. sp." = Eoattopsis hirsutus1 Gourret 1887 spider
 Araneae - Agelenidae
Tegenaria lacazei n. sp.1 Gourret 1887 spider
 Araneae -
Protolachesis annulata n. gen. n. sp.1, Amphithomisus barbatus n. gen. n. sp.1, Eresoides orbicularis n. gen. n. sp.1, Mygale ambigua n. sp.1, Cercidiella aquisextana n. gen. n. sp.1, Pseudothomisus articulatus n. gen. n. sp.1, Prodysdera intermedia n. gen. n. sp.1, Herselioides thanatiformis n. gen. n. sp.1, Protochersis spinosus n. gen. n. sp.1, Clubionella antiqua n. gen. n. sp.1, Amphiclotho breviuscula n. gen. n. sp.1, "Protolycosa attiformis n. gen. n. sp." = Paralycosa attiformis1
Protolachesis annulata n. gen. n. sp.1 Gourret 1887 spider
Amphithomisus barbatus n. gen. n. sp.1 Gourret 1887 spider
Eresoides orbicularis n. gen. n. sp.1 Gourret 1887 spider
Mygale ambigua n. sp.1 Gourret 1887 spider
Cercidiella aquisextana n. gen. n. sp.1 Gourret 1887 spider
Pseudothomisus articulatus n. gen. n. sp.1 Gourret 1887 spider
Prodysdera intermedia n. gen. n. sp.1 Gourret 1887 spider
Herselioides thanatiformis n. gen. n. sp.1 Gourret 1887 spider
Protochersis spinosus n. gen. n. sp.1 Gourret 1887 spider
Clubionella antiqua n. gen. n. sp.1 Gourret 1887 spider
Amphiclotho breviuscula n. gen. n. sp.1 Gourret 1887 spider
"Protolycosa attiformis n. gen. n. sp." = Paralycosa attiformis1 Gourret 1887 spider
 Amblypygi -
"Phrynus marioni n. sp." = Phrynus fossilis1
"Phrynus marioni n. sp." = Phrynus fossilis1 Keferstein 1834 whip spider
 Opiliones - Trogulidae
Amphitrogulus sternalis n. gen. n. sp.1
Amphitrogulus sternalis n. gen. n. sp.1 Gourret 1887 harvestman
 Opiliones - Phalangiidae
Phalangillum hirsutum n. gen. n. sp.1
Phalangillum hirsutum n. gen. n. sp.1 Gourret 1887 harvestman
 Acariformes -
Megameropsis aquensis n. gen. n. sp.1, Pseudopachygnathus maculatus n. gen. n. sp.1
Megameropsis aquensis n. gen. n. sp.1 Gourret 1887 mite
Pseudopachygnathus maculatus n. gen. n. sp.1 Gourret 1887 mite