Menat (Piton collection) (Paleocene of France)

Where: Auvergne, France (46.1° N, 2.9° E: paleocoordinates 40.3° N, 0.7° E)

• coordinate stated in text

• outcrop-level geographic resolution

When: Menat Formation, Selandian (61.6 - 59.2 Ma)

• The estimated age of the Menat site varies. It was previously dated by pollen analysis, mammal stratigraphy, and an unpublished radiometric K/Ar analysis as late Paleocene (see Kedves & Russell 1982). However, several lines of more recent evidence indicate an older, middle Paleocene (Selandian) age, of about 60-61 Ma. Paleomagnetic studies reveal that the eruption took place during a reversed interval (Kedves & Russell 1982). Fossils of the mammal Plesiadapis from Menat enable the locality to be connected to the biostratigraphic framework established in the Western Interior USA that relies extensively on this genus (Gingerich 1976; Secord et al. 2006). The abundance of the genus, its rapid evolution, and its Holarctic dispersal history allow species of Plesiadapis to play an important role in the zonation of Paleocene continental sediments and in correlation of faunas on both sides of the North Atlantic (e.g., Gingerich 1976). Two remarkable skeletons of P. insignis, one of them nearly complete, have been found in lake deposits at Menat, and this species closely compares to P. praecursor / P. anceps in North America (pers. comm. P. Gingerich August 2008). This suggests an early Selandian age, equivalent to the early Tiffanian Ti-1/Ti-2 land mammal biozonation sensu Secord et al. (2006) (see also Gingerich 1976; Russell 1967, 1975). In North America, the Ti1 and Ti2 biozones occur within magnetic polarity Chron 26r (Secord et al. 2006), consistent with the reversed polarity of the Menat sediments.

Environment/lithology: crater lake; diatomite

• Volcanic Paleolake (maar) deposit
• spongo-diatomitic

Size classes: macrofossils, mesofossils

Preservation: mold/impression

Collected by Piton; reposited in the MNHN

Primary reference: L. Piton. 1940. Paléontologie du Gisement Éocéne de Menat (Puy-de-Dôme) (Flore et Faune) 1-303 [M. Clapham/J. Karr/M. Clapham]more details

Purpose of describing collection: taxonomic analysis

PaleoDB collection 113685: authorized by Matthew Clapham, entered by Jered Karr on 04.08.2011, edited by Philip Mannion

Creative Commons license: CC BY (attribution)

Taxonomic list

Insecta
 Odonata - Aeshnidae
Aeshna sp.3 Fabricius 1775 hawker dragonfly
Coll. Piton 193
 Odonata - Lestidae
"Lestes" zalesskyi n. sp.4 Piton 1940 spread-winged damselfly
Coll. Piton 190
 Coleoptera -
Megopis lineolatus n. sp. Piton 1940 beetle
Coll. Piton 177
Euchroma arvernica n. sp. Piton 1940 beetle
Coll. Piton 27
Acmaeodera perreaui n. sp. Piton 1940 beetle
Coll. Piton 575
 Coleoptera - Gyrinidae
"Dineutes giganteus n. sp." = Gyretes giganteus
"Dineutes giganteus n. sp." = Gyretes giganteus Piton 1940 whirligig beetle
Coll. Piton 141, 143
 Coleoptera - Carabidae
Bembidium cyaneomicans n. sp. Piton 1940 ground beetle
Coll. Piton 28
Harpalus lheritieri n. sp. Piton 1940 ground beetle
Coll. Piton 75
Agonum antiquum n. sp. Piton 1940 ground beetle
Coll. Piton 150
 Coleoptera - Cupedidae
"Zonabris immaculatus n. sp." = Cainomerga immaculata
"Zonabris immaculatus n. sp." = Cainomerga immaculata Piton 1940 reticulated beetle
Coll. Piton 650
 Coleoptera - Buprestidae
Psiloptera vermiculata n. sp., Buprestites lineatocollis n. sp., "Eurythyrea viridis n. sp." = Buprestis viridis, "Ancylochira octomaculata n. sp." = Buprestis octomaculata, Ancylochira metallica n. sp., Eurythyrea micropunctata n. sp., Anthaxia ventricosa n. sp., "Anthaxia biimpressa n. sp." = Anthaxia eocenica, Stigmodera unicolor n. sp., Iridotaenia hovassei n. sp., "Lampra gautieri" = Lamprodila gautieri, "Psiloptera (Lampetis) aurostriata" = Lamprodila gautieri, Polybothris primordialis n. sp., Ancylochira striatopunctata n. sp., Ancylochira violaceocyanescens n. sp., Ancylochira pinguis n. sp., Chrysochroa punctata n. sp.
Psiloptera vermiculata n. sp. Piton 1940 jewel beetle
Coll. Piton 381
Buprestites lineatocollis n. sp. Piton 1940 jewel beetle
Coll. Piton 112
"Eurythyrea viridis n. sp." = Buprestis viridis Piton 1940 jewel beetle
Coll. Piton 840
"Ancylochira octomaculata n. sp." = Buprestis octomaculata Piton 1940 jewel beetle
Coll. Piton 85, 86
Ancylochira metallica n. sp. Piton 1940 jewel beetle
Coll. Piton 347, 348
Eurythyrea micropunctata n. sp. Piton 1940 jewel beetle
Coll. Piton 450
Anthaxia ventricosa n. sp. Piton 1940 jewel beetle
Coll. Piton 270
"Anthaxia biimpressa n. sp." = Anthaxia eocenica Bílý 1996 jewel beetle
Coll. Piton 926
Stigmodera unicolor n. sp. Piton 1940 jewel beetle
Coll. Piton 284, 285
Iridotaenia hovassei n. sp. Piton 1940 jewel beetle
Coll. Piton 818
"Lampra gautieri" = Lamprodila gautieri Bruyant 1902 jewel beetle
Coll. Piton 11
"Psiloptera (Lampetis) aurostriata" = Lamprodila gautieri Bruyant 1902 jewel beetle
Coll. Piton 400, 401
Polybothris primordialis n. sp. Piton 1940 jewel beetle
Coll. Piton 606
Ancylochira striatopunctata n. sp. Piton 1940 jewel beetle
Coll. Piton 625
Ancylochira violaceocyanescens n. sp. Piton 1940 jewel beetle
Coll. Piton 720, 721
Ancylochira pinguis n. sp. Piton 1940 jewel beetle
Coll. Piton 412
Chrysochroa punctata n. sp. Piton 1940 jewel beetle
Coll. Piton 814
 Coleoptera - Elateridae
Semiotus menatensis n. sp., "Adelocera jungi n. sp." = Lacon jungi
Semiotus menatensis n. sp. Piton 1940 click beetle
Coll. Piton 943
"Adelocera jungi n. sp." = Lacon jungi Piton 1940 click beetle
Coll. Piton 76
 Coleoptera - Cerambycidae
Chlorida magnifica n. sp. Piton 1940 longhorned beetle
Coll. Piton 610, 611
Monohammus orientalis n. sp. Piton 1940 longhorned beetle
Coll. Piton 771
Prolamioides brunneus n. sp. Piton 1940 longhorned beetle
Coll. Piton 162
"Palaeoncoderes piacentinii n. sp." = Palaeoncoderes piacentini Piton 1940 longhorned beetle
Coll. Piton 525
Palaeoncoderes eocenicus Piton and Théobald 1937 longhorned beetle
Coll. Piton 12, 57
Prionus sinuatus n. sp. Piton 1940 longhorned beetle
Coll. Piton 260
 Coleoptera - Chrysomelidae
"Haltica dryophyllorum n. sp." = Altica dryophyllorum, Cryptocephalus minusculus n. sp., "Clythrina eocenica n. gen. n. sp." = Clytrina eocenica
"Haltica dryophyllorum n. sp." = Altica dryophyllorum Piton 1940 flea beetle
Coll. Piton 447
Cryptocephalus minusculus n. sp. Piton 1940 leaf beetle
Coll. Piton 980
"Clythrina eocenica n. gen. n. sp." = Clytrina eocenica Piton 1940 leaf beetle
Coll. Piton 843
 Coleoptera - Attelabidae
Phytonomus punctatus n. sp. Piton 1940 leaf rolling weevil
Coll. Piton 805
 Coleoptera - Curculionidae
Rhysosternum punctatolineatum n. sp. Piton 1940 snout beetle
Coll. Piton 46
"Balaninus elegans n. sp." = Menatorhis elegans Piton 1940 snout beetle
Coll. Piton 730
Centrinus longipes n. sp. Piton 1940 snout beetle
Coll. Piton 927
Lixus ligniticus n. sp. Piton 1940 snout beetle
Coll. Piton 254
Hipporhinus ventricosus n. sp. Piton 1940 snout beetle
Coll. Piton 312
 Coleoptera - Brentidae
Apion sp. Herbst 1797 weevil
Coll. Piton 499
 Coleoptera - Tenebrionidae
Ancylochira oligostriata Piton and Théobald 1937 darkling beetle
Coll. Piton 589
 Coleoptera - Bolboceratidae
Bolboceras inermis n. sp. Piton 1940 dor beetle
Coll. Piton 247
 Coleoptera - Scarabaeidae
Aphodius charauxi n. sp. Piton 1940 scarab beetle
Coll. Piton 250
 Coleoptera - Staphylinidae
Oxyporus impressus n. sp. Piton 1940 rove beetle
Coll. Piton 940
 Trichoptera - Leptoceridae
Prodontocerum ligniticum n. gen. n. sp.
Prodontocerum ligniticum n. gen. n. sp. Piton 1940 long-horned caddisfly
Coll. Piton 227, 228
 Trichoptera - Phryganeidae
Phryganea nigripennis n. sp. Piton 1940 large caddisfly
Coll. Piton 218,219
 Hymenoptera - Siricidae
"Eosirex ligniticus n. gen. n. sp." = Urocerus ligniticus
"Eosirex ligniticus n. gen. n. sp." = Urocerus ligniticus Piton 1940 horntail
Coll. Piton 743( MNHN IPM-R07004, IPM-B47308)
 Hymenoptera - Ichneumonidae
"? Phaenolobus arvernus n. sp." = Hallocinetus arvernus
"? Phaenolobus arvernus n. sp." = Hallocinetus arvernus Piton 1940 ichneumon wasp
Coll. Piton 663 (MNHN.F.A57301)
 Hymenoptera - Thynnidae
Myzine madeleinae n. sp. Piton 1940 wasp
Coll. Piton 705
 Hymenoptera - Megachilidae
Probombus hirsutus n. gen. n. sp.
Probombus hirsutus n. gen. n. sp. Piton 1940 mason bee
Coll. Piton 628
 Hymenoptera - Crabronidae
Gorytes statzi n. sp. Piton 1940 apoid wasp
Coll. Piton 314
 Hymenoptera - Vespidae
Polistes vergnei n. sp. Piton 1940 wasp
Coll. Piton 409
"Rygchium andrei n. sp." = Rhynchium andrei Piton 1940 potter wasp
Coll. Piton 851
Odynerus manevali n. sp. Piton 1940 potter wasp
Coll. Piton 417, 418, 419
Ancistrocerus eocenicus n. sp. Piton 1940 potter wasp
Coll. Piton 936
Ancistrocerus berlandi n. sp. Piton 1940 potter wasp
Coll. Piton 340
Eumenes projaponica n. sp. Piton 1940 potter wasp
Coll. Piton 532
 Hymenoptera - Myrmosidae
Myrmosa brunnea n. sp. Piton 1940 wasp
Coll. Piton 185
 Hymenoptera -
Manevalia pachyliformis n. gen. n. sp.
Manevalia pachyliformis n. gen. n. sp. Piton 1940 wood wasp
Coll. Piton 306, 307
 Hymenoptera - Tenthredinidae
Tenthredo primordialis n. sp. Piton 1940 wood wasp
Coll. Piton 268
 Hymenoptera -
Prohepialus incertus n. gen. n. sp.
Prohepialus incertus n. gen. n. sp. Piton 1940 winged insect
Coll. Piton 426
 Hemiptera - Ricaniidae
Hammapteryx eocenicus n. sp. Piton 1940 planthopper
Coll. Piton 88, 105
 Hemiptera -
Lithopsis lineatus n. sp. Piton 1940 true bug
Coll. Piton 432
 Hemiptera - Tessaratomidae
Pycanum griseum n. sp. Piton 1940 giant shield bug
Coll. Piton 69
Pycanum vanvollenhoveni n. sp. Piton 1940 giant shield bug
Coll. Piton 648, 649
 Hemiptera - Scutelleridae
Teleocydnus auriculatus n. sp. Piton 1940 metallic shield bug
Coll. Piton 333
 Hemiptera - Plataspidae
Coptosoma eocenica n. sp. Piton 1940 true bug
Coll. Piton 335, 336
 Hemiptera - Pentatomidae
Doryderes laticollis n. sp. Piton 1940 stink bug
Coll. Piton 169
Deryeuma primordialis n. gen. n. sp. Piton 1940 stink bug
Coll. Piton 118, 119
Asopus puncticollis n. sp. Piton 1940 stink bug
Coll. Piton 155
 Hemiptera -
Lithopsis punctinervis n. sp. Piton 1940 true bug
Coll. Piton 585
 Hemiptera - Cicadellidae
Tettigonella chazei n. sp. Piton 1940 leafhopper
Coll. Piton 837
Bythoscopus pulcher n. sp. Piton 1940 leafhopper
Coll. Piton 863
 Hemiptera - Aphrophoridae
"Aphrophora maculata n. sp." = Aphrophora pitoni5
"Aphrophora maculata n. sp." = Aphrophora pitoni5 Dmitriev 2020 froghopper
Coll. Piton 50
 Hemiptera - Tettigarctidae
Meuniera haupti n. sp.5 Piton 1936 hairy cicada
Coll. Piton 49 (MNHN-IPM-R0790)
 Hemiptera - Cicadidae
"Rihana beauchampi n. sp." = Chremistica beauchampi
"Rihana beauchampi n. sp." = Chremistica beauchampi Piton 1940 cicada
Coll. Piton 904
 Dicondylia -
Menatacridium eocenicum n. sp. Piton 1936 winged insect
Coll. Piton 51
Orthacanthacris incertus n. sp. Piton 1940 winged insect
Coll. Piton 18
 Orthoptera - Tettigoniidae
Protempusa incerta n. gen. n. sp. Piton 1940 katydid
Coll. Piton 718, 719
Conocephalus martyi n. sp. Piton 1940 katydid
Coll. Piton 225
Prophasgonura lineatocollis n. gen. n. sp. Piton 1940 katydid
Coll. Piton 148
 Orthoptera -
Eremobiites sp. Piton 1940 grasshopper
Coll. Piton 36
Ochrilidia lineata n. sp. Piton 1940 grasshopper
Coll. Piton 161
 Orthoptera - Acrididae
Oedipoda indet. Latreille 1829 band-winged grasshopper
Coll. Piton 226
 Mantodea - Chaeteessidae
"Archaeophlebia enigmatica n. gen. n. sp." = Louispitonia enigmatica, Arvernineura insignis n. gen. n. sp.
"Archaeophlebia enigmatica n. gen. n. sp." = Louispitonia enigmatica Piton 1940 mantis
Coll. Piton 640, 641
Arvernineura insignis n. gen. n. sp. Piton 1940 mantis
Coll. Piton 715
 Blattodea - Kalotermitidae
Neotermes grassei n. sp. Piton 1940 termite
MNHN IPM-R.54380 (Coll. Piton 807)
 Blattodea -
Prochaeradodis enigmaticus n. gen. n. sp. Piton 1940 cockroach
Coll. Piton 230
 Blattodea - Ectobiidae
Chopardia spinipes n. gen. n. sp. Piton 1940 cockroach
Coll. Piton 751
Ectobia menatensis n. sp. Piton 1940 croton bug
Coll. Piton 750
Ectobia arverniensis n. sp. Piton 1940 croton bug
Coll. Piton 808
 Blattodea - Blaberidae
Gyna obesa n. sp.
Gyna obesa n. sp. Piton 1940 giant cockroach
Coll. Piton 979
 Blattodea - Blattidae
Prostylopyga gigantea n. gen. n. sp. Piton 1940 cockroach
Coll. Piton 704
Periplaneta houlberti n. sp. Piton 1940 cockroach
Coll. Piton 243, 244
Zeunera madeleinae n. sp. Piton 1936 cockroach
Coll. Piton 52
Zeunera superba n. sp. Piton 1940 cockroach
Coll. Piton 115, 116
Eoplaneta desforesti Piton and Théobald 1937 cockroach
Coll. Piton 223
Protectobia primordialis n. gen. n. sp. Piton 1940 cockroach
Coll. Piton 802
 Dicondylia -
Dictyophara scudderi n. sp. Piton 1940 winged insect
Coll. Piton 925
 Diptera - Limoniidae
"Limnobia theobaldi n. sp." = Limonia theobaldi
"Limnobia theobaldi n. sp." = Limonia theobaldi Piton 1940 crane fly
Coll. Piton 325
 Diptera - Bibionidae
Bibio sp. Geoffroy 1762 march fly
 Diptera - Tabanidae
Chrysops seguyi n. sp. Piton 1940 deer fly
Coll. Piton 541
Aves
 Aves -
Aves "gen. et sp. indet. A"2 bird
MNT-11-7952
Aves "gen. et sp. indet. B"2 bird
MNHN-MEN 9
 Psittaciformes - Messelasturidae
Messelasturidae indet.2 Mayr 2005 parrot
MNHN-MEN 69
 Ralliformes - Ralloidae
"? Ralloidea indet." = Ralloidae2, cf. Songziidae indet.2
"? Ralloidea indet." = Ralloidae2 Rafinesque 1815 bird
cf. Songziidae indet.2 Hou 1990 bird
MNHN-MEN 70 and MNHM.16037
Reptilia
 Crocodylia -
Menatalligator bergouniouxi n. gen. n. sp.6 Piton 1940 crocodilian
 Choristodera -
Lazarussuchus sp.1 Hecht 1992 choristodere
BDL 1819 - comprises a skull and postcranial skeleton in articulation, preserved as part and counterpart