PBDB Collection

Abbey Wood (Eocene of the United Kingdom)

Also known as The Sandpit, Lessness Shell Bed, Blackheath Beds

Where: England, United Kingdom (51.4° N, 0.2° E: paleocoordinates 46.9° N, 2.3° W)

• coordinate based on nearby landmark

• outcrop-level geographic resolution

When: Abbey Wood Member (Blackheath Beds Formation), Ypresian (56.0 - 47.8 Ma)

• Blackheath Beds is an informal formation name. Lessness Shell Bed (Sparnacian) is within the lower sandy Abbey Wood Member of the Blackheath Beds.

•JA: assigned to the early Ypresian and Hooker zone PE III by Hooker 2007

• bed-level stratigraphic resolution

Environment/lithology: marine; sandstone

• from the lower sandy member

Size classes: macrofossils, mesofossils

Collection methods: bulk, chemical, sieve,

• Wrigley cites Mr. St. John Marriott (1925) as the first to publish on this locality in "British Woodlands as illustrated by Lessness Abbey Woods", which I couldn't get my hands on

Primary reference: A. Wrigley. 1931. The Lower Eocene Mollusca of Abbey Wood and of High Halstow. The Vertebrate Faunas of the English Eocene 1:110-112 [J. Alroy/E. Leckey/E. Leckey]more details

Purpose of describing collection: taxonomic analysis

PaleoDB collection 38868: authorized by John Alroy, entered by Erin Leckey on 11.05.2004, edited by John Alroy, Matthew Carrano, Philip Mannion, Juan Benito Moreno and Mark Uhen

Creative Commons license: CC BY (attribution)

Taxonomic list

• Cooper doesn't specify the level at Abbey Wood from which his fossils were found. He calls the unit London Clay and gives the age as Sparnacian-Ypresian, based on the fossils.

Show authors, comments, and common names

Bivalvia
Nuculida - Nuculidae	"Nucula fragilis" = Nucula (Nucula) fragilis "Nucula fragilis" = Nucula (Nucula) fragilis Deshayes 1829 nut clam common
Ostreida - Ostreidae	Ostrea sp. Ostrea sp. Linnaeus 1758 oyster fragmentary, "several indubitable pearls have been found. These probably originated in oysters rather than in Pinnae which are not known at this horizon.
Arcida - Glycymerididae	Glycymeris plumsteadiensis Glycymeris plumsteadiensis clam common
Mytilida - Mytilidae	"Modiola sp." = Modiolus "Modiola sp." = Modiolus Lamarck 1801 mussel rare
Hiatellida - Hiatellidae	Cyrtodaria rutupiensis Cyrtodaria rutupiensis Morris 1852 clam rare
Cardiida - Cardiidae	"Protocardium plumsteadianum" = Nemocardium plumsteadianum "Protocardium plumsteadianum" = Nemocardium plumsteadianum Sowerby 1813 cockle
Cardiida - Mactridae	"Mactra semisulcata" = Spisula semisulcata "Mactra semisulcata" = Spisula semisulcata Lamarck 1805 clam
Cardiida - Cyrenidae	Cyrena cuneiformis, Cyrena tellinella Cyrena cuneiformis clam abundant (in thousands) Cyrena tellinella clam abundant (in thousands)
Cardiida - Veneridae	"Dosiniopsis bellovacensis" = Dosiniopsis bellovacina "Dosiniopsis bellovacensis" = Dosiniopsis bellovacina Deshayes 1825 venus clam rare
Pholadida - Pholadidae	Barnea levesquei Barnea levesquei clam rare
Pholadida - Teredinidae	Teredo sp. Teredo sp. Linnaeus 1758 clam
Pholadida - Corbulidae	Corbula morrisi, Corbula arnouldi, Corbulomya antiqua Corbula morrisi clam common Corbula arnouldi clam Corbulomya antiqua clam common
Gastropoda
Neritoidea - Neritidae	Theodoxus globulus, Theodoxus subornatus, Nerita semilugubris Theodoxus globulus snail common Theodoxus subornatus snail common Nerita semilugubris snail rare
Cerithioidea - Thiaridae	"Bayania" triticea "Bayania" triticea snail common
Cerithioidea - Cerithiidae	"Tympanotonus funatus" = Cerithium (Tympanotonus) "Tympanotonus funatus" = Cerithium (Tympanotonus) cerith snail common
Cerithioidea - Pachychilidae	Paludomus sincenyensis, Melanatria inquinata Paludomus sincenyensis snail rare Melanatria inquinata snail common
Cerithioidea - Melanopsidae	Melanopsis buccinoidea Melanopsis buccinoidea snail abundant (in thousands)
Epitonioidea - Epitoniidae	Acirsa sp., "Epitonium cf. stueri" = Cirsotrema (Gyroscala) stueri Acirsa sp. Mörch 1857 wentletrap rare and corroded "Epitonium cf. stueri" = Cirsotrema (Gyroscala) stueri de Boury 1890 wentletrap rare
Neotaenioglossa - Calyptraeidae	Calyptraea sp. Calyptraea sp. Lamarck 1799 slipper shell
Sorbeoconcha - Naticidae	Natica abducta, "Natica glaucinoides" = Euspira glaucinoides Natica abducta moon snail common "Natica glaucinoides" = Euspira glaucinoides Sowerby 1812 moon snail common
Neogastropoda - Muricidae	Murex abbatiae Murex abbatiae murex snail rare
Neogastropoda - Turridae	"Hemipleurotoma spp." = Gemmula "Hemipleurotoma spp." = Gemmula Weinkauff 1875 turrid 3 species, rare
Neogastropoda - Terebridae	"Terebra plicatula" = Mirula plicatula "Terebra plicatula" = Mirula plicatula Lamarck 1803 auger snail common
Neogastropoda - Buccinidae	Tritonidea lata, Tritonidea sp., Pseudoliva fissurata, "Parvisipho" cf. infraeocenica, Siphonalia mariae Tritonidea lata true whelk common and very variable Tritonidea sp. Sowerby 1842 true whelk rare Pseudoliva fissurata true whelk common "Parvisipho" cf. infraeocenica true whelk Siphonalia mariae true whelk
Heterostropha - Ringiculidae	Ringicula lignitarium Ringicula lignitarium snail rare
Heterostropha - Acteonidae	"Actaeon cf. granum" = Acteon, Tornatellaea sp. "Actaeon cf. granum" = Acteon snail one corroded specimen Tornatellaea sp. Conrad 1860 snail one imperfect example
Heterostropha - Planorbidae	Planorbis hemistoma Planorbis hemistoma snail
Heterostropha - Pyramidellidae	Odontostomia regularis Odontostomia regularis snail
Reptilia
Testudines - Trionychidae	Trionyx silvestris n. sp.¹¹ Trionyx silvestris n. sp.¹¹ Walker and Moody 1974 softshell turtle almost complete skull
Aves
Procellariiformes - Marinavidae	Marinavis longirostris n. gen. n. sp.² Marinavis longirostris n. gen. n. sp.² Harrison and Walker 1977 bird
Mammalia
Insectivora -	Insectivora indet.¹ Insectivora indet.¹ Bowdich 1821 insectivoran
Chiroptera -	Chiroptera indet.⁶ Chiroptera indet.⁶ Blumenbach 1779 bat NHMUK M60045
Chiroptera - Emballonuridae	"? Adapisorex anglicus n. sp." = Eppsinycteris anglica¹, "Eppsinycteris anglica n. gen. n. sp." = Eppsinycteris anglica⁶ "? Adapisorex anglicus n. sp." = Eppsinycteris anglica¹ Cooper 1932 sac-winged bat n. sp., portion of right maxilla "Eppsinycteris anglica n. gen. n. sp." = Eppsinycteris anglica⁶ Cooper 1932 sac-winged bat NHMUK M13776 - holotye
Soricomorpha - Nyctitheriidae	Leptacodon sp.⁶, ? Remiculus sp.⁶, ? Wyonycteris sp.⁶, Wyonycteris richardi⁶ Leptacodon sp.⁶ Matthew and Granger 1921 placental NHMUK M50384 ? Remiculus sp.⁶ Russell 1964 placental NHMUK M60003 ? Wyonycteris sp.⁶ Gingerich 1987 placental NHMUK M63198 Wyonycteris richardi⁶ Smith 1995 placental NHMUK M44900, 44901 and 83068
Tribosphenida - Pantolestoidae	Palaeosinopa cf. osborni⁶ Palaeosinopa cf. osborni⁶ placental NHMUK M29761, 60665
Acreodi - Mesonychidae	Pachyaena cf. ossifraga⁶ Pachyaena cf. ossifraga⁶ Cope 1874 condylarth NHMUK M44984
Ferae -	Uintacyon cf. rudis⁶, Miacis rundlei n. sp.⁶ Uintacyon cf. rudis⁶ Rose 1981 placental NHMUK M26246 Miacis rundlei n. sp.⁶ Hooker 2010 placental NHMUK M26248 - type; paratypes: NHMUK M44902, 29725, 60008, 29726, 44890, 44955, 44974, 26785, 60081, 44962 and 45245; referred material: NHMUK M45554
Ferae - Viverravidae	Viverravus lawsoni n. sp.⁶ Viverravus lawsoni n. sp.⁶ Hooker 2010 placental NHMUK M51700 - type; paratypes: NHMUK 45487, 63196 and 44930
Placentalia -	Creodonta indet.¹ Creodonta indet.¹ Cope 1875 creodont
Creodonta - Oxyaenidae	Palaeonictis gigantea⁶, Oxyaena gulo⁶ Palaeonictis gigantea⁶ de Blainville 1842 creodont NHMUK M44983, 15125, 45517, 63811, 60024, 15128, 60092, 29410, 60026, 29233, 29359 Oxyaena gulo⁶ Matthew and Granger 1915 creodont NHMUK 13778, 15128 and 31877
Creodonta - Hyaenodontidae	Prototomus girardoti¹⁰, Prototomus minimus¹⁰ Prototomus girardoti¹⁰ Smith and Smith 2001 creodont NHMUK M45651, 20212 and 63696 Prototomus minimus¹⁰ Smith and Smith 2001 creodont NHMUK M44936 and 45672
Artiodactyla - Diacodexeidae	Diacodexis morrisi n. sp.⁶ Diacodexis morrisi n. sp.⁶ Hooker 2010 even-toed ungulate NHMUK M83071 - type; paratypes: NHMUK M44943, 83065, 15141, 44919 and 60060; referred material: NHMUK M45485, 45647, 60794, 45515, 45619, 63702, 26897, 45638, 63697 and 63703
Tribosphenida - Phenacodontidae	Phenacodus lemoinei⁶ Phenacodus lemoinei⁶ condylarth NHMUK M44926, 45661, 29723 and 29724
Perissodactyla - Lophiodontidae	Coryphodon eocaenicus¹ Coryphodon eocaenicus¹ odd-toed ungulate NHMUK M13775, 83063, 29232, 44887, 29234, 83056, 34863, 21819, 44911, 20229, 29746, 26788, 29748, 63572, 15144, 29749 and 44981
Perissodactyla - Equidae	"Hyracotherium aff. vulpiceps" = Pliolophus vulpiceps⁴, Pliolophus barnesi n. sp.⁶ "Hyracotherium aff. vulpiceps" = Pliolophus vulpiceps⁴ Owen 1858 horse Pliolophus barnesi n. sp.⁶ Hooker 2010 horse author notes that this is being described elsewhere
Procreodi - Arctocyonidae	Arctocyonides jefferyi n. sp.⁶ Arctocyonides jefferyi n. sp.⁶ Hooker 2010 condylarth NHMUK M45650 - type; paratypes: NHMUK M31876, 29235 and 51526
Primates - Omomyidae	Melaneremia bryanti n. gen. n. sp.⁵ Melaneremia bryanti n. gen. n. sp.⁵ Hooker 2007 tarsier NHMUK M60001 - holotype; Teilhardina sp. of Hooker 1980, Nannopithex sp. of Collinson and Hooker 1987, and Omomyidae indet. of Hooker 1998
Primates - Plesiadapidae	Platychoerops sp.⁶ Platychoerops sp.⁶ Charlesworth 1855 primate NHMUK M45623
Primates - Notharctidae	"Protoadapis eppsi n. sp." = Cantius eppsi¹ "Protoadapis eppsi n. sp." = Cantius eppsi¹ Cooper 1932 primate NHMUK M13773 - type; referred material: NHMUK M15145, 60055, 29641, 63691, 45637, 60007, 60022, 51750, 15147, 29639, 60795, 45616, 29753, 45491, 29638, 60799 and 45555
Primates - Paromomyidae	Arcius hookeri n. sp.⁹ Arcius hookeri n. sp.⁹ López-Torres and Silcox 2018 primate NHMUK M44945
Placentalia -	Rodentia indet.¹ Rodentia indet.¹ Bowdich 1821 rodent NHMUK M44899
Rodentia -	Pseudoparamys sp.⁶ Pseudoparamys sp.⁶ Michaux 1964 rodent NHMUK M44950, 44938, 45494 and 45640
Rodentia - Ischyromyidae	Ailuravinae indet.⁶, Ailuravus mitchelli n. sp.⁶, cf. Meldimys sp.⁶, ? Sparnacomys sp.⁶, Sparnacomys georgei n. sp.⁶, Pantrogna cf. russelli⁶ Ailuravinae indet.⁶ Michaux 1968 rodent NHMUK M44937 Ailuravus mitchelli n. sp.⁶ Hooker 2010 rodent NHMUK M31909 - type; paratyps: NHMUK M45258, 63195, 45493, 44905, 45390 and 44892 cf. Meldimys sp.⁶ Michaux 1968 rodent NHMUK M45391 ? Sparnacomys sp.⁶ Hartenberger 1971 rodent NHMUK M44909 Sparnacomys georgei n. sp.⁶ Hooker 2010 rodent NHMUK M29364 - type; paratype: NHMUK M26899; previously identified as Microparamys Pantrogna cf. russelli⁶ Michaux 1964 rodent NHMUK M26898 and 45643
Macroscelidea - Amphilemuridae	? Amphilemuridae indet.⁶, Macrocranion sp.⁶, Neomatronella gassoni n. sp.⁶ ? Amphilemuridae indet.⁶ Hill 1953 elephant shrew NHMUK M45500 and 45614 Macrocranion sp.⁶ Weitzel 1949 elephant shrew NHMUK M44893, 44904, 51702, 45618, 44903, 44956 and 60058 Neomatronella gassoni n. sp.⁶ Hooker 2010 elephant shrew NHMUK M60070 - type; paratypes: NHMUK M44953, 29365 and 51701; referred material: NHMUK M44952
Condylarthra - Hyopsodontidae	Lessnessina packmani n. gen. n. sp.³, Hyopsodus wardi n. sp.³ Lessnessina packmani n. gen. n. sp.³ Hooker 1979 condylarth left maxilla with P3-M3 and isolated teeth Hyopsodus wardi n. sp.³ Hooker 1979 condylarth jaw fragments and isolated teeth
Cimolesta - Esthonychidae	Plesiesthonyx minimus⁶ Plesiesthonyx minimus⁶ Baudry 1992 tillodont NHMUK M34580, 29363 and 26787
Cimolesta - Apatemyidae	Apatemys prouti n. sp.⁶, Eochiromys ? sp.⁴ Apatemys prouti n. sp.⁶ Hooker 2010 eutherian NHMUK M51704 - type; paratypes: NHMUK M44880, 44948 and 13772 Eochiromys ? sp.⁴ Teilhard de Chardin 1927 eutherian
Proteutheria - Palaeoryctidae	Didelphodontinae indet.⁴ Didelphodontinae indet.⁴ Simpson 1927 eutherian
Leptictida - Leptictidae	? Leptictidae indet.⁶, Didelphodus sp.⁶ ? Leptictidae indet.⁶ Gill 1872 eutherian NHMUK M45247 Didelphodus sp.⁶ Cope 1882 eutherian NHMUK M60071, 26140, 29733, 15124 and 44954
Leptictida - Pseudorhyncocyonidae	Fordonia lawsoni⁷, Leptictidium prouti n. sp.⁷ Fordonia lawsoni⁷ Hooker 2013 eutherian NHMUK.M45247 (LP3) Leptictidium prouti n. sp.⁷ Hooker 2013 eutherian NHMUK.M65382 - type (LM3)
Tribosphenida - Herpetotheriidae	Amphiperatherium "sp. 1"⁶, Amphiperatherium "sp. 2"⁶ Amphiperatherium "sp. 1"⁶ Filhol 1879 marsupial NHMUK M60004, 63695, 60005, 44963; previously listed as Amphiperatherium brabantense Amphiperatherium "sp. 2"⁶ Filhol 1879 marsupial NHMUK M60002; previously listed as Amphiperatherium maximum
Tribosphenida - Peradectidae	Peradectes sp.⁶ Peradectes sp.⁶ Matthew and Granger 1921 marsupial NHMUK M44991
Multituberculata - Neoplagiaulacidae	Ectypodus cf. tardus⁶, "Charlesmooria childei n. gen. n. sp." = Ectypodus childei⁸ Ectypodus cf. tardus⁶ Jepsen 1940 multituberculate NHMUK M60309 "Charlesmooria childei n. gen. n. sp." = Ectypodus childei⁸ Kühne 1969 multituberculate NHMUK M26617 - type; referred material: M15131
Actinopteri
Teleostei -	Teleostei indet.⁸ Teleostei indet.⁸ 2 species
Osteichthyes
Acipenseriformes - Acipenseridae	Acipenser sp.⁸ Acipenser sp.⁸ Linnaeus 1758 sturgeon
Chondrichthyes
Euselachii -	Myliobatiformes indet.⁸ Myliobatiformes indet.⁸ Compagno 1973 stingray "rayid"
Lamniformes - Lamnidae	Lamnidae indet.⁸ Lamnidae indet.⁸ Müller and Henle 1838 mackerel shark

¹Cooper 1932; ²Harrison and Walker 1977; ³Hooker 1979; ⁴Hooker 1980; ⁵Hooker 2007; ⁶Hooker 2010; ⁷Hooker 2013; ⁸Kühne 1969; ⁹López-Torres and Silcox 2018; ¹⁰Solé et al. 2013; ¹¹Walker and Moody 1974