New Data on the Dasycladales from the Lower Eocene of Seyitgazi Region, Eskisehir, Central Turkey

Abstract

An association of Dasycladalean algae is identified from the Lower Eocene (Ilerdian-Cuisian) of the Seyitgazi area, Western Anatolia. The association consists mostly of the genus Belzungia Morellet and Anatolia n. gen. This is the first discovery of such a rich and diversified dasycladalean flora with Belzungia in the Eocene of Central Tethys. The genus Belzungia is represented by four species: Belzungia terquemi Morellet, B. silvestrii (Pfender), B. bella (Ju Ying) Radoicic and B. pfenderae n. sp. Belzungia articles consist of whorls characterized by an assemblage of laterals, in the transversal section of which, the primary laterals are distally enlarged (sub-triangular in shape), whereas in the vertical section, they are flat. Cylindrical laterals of younger order are somewhat irregular or, in some species, they may be of more or less anarchic arrangement. The laterals of some orders, even in the same assemblage, oft en vary in size. Laterals of the sixth order are commonly interlaced, but are seldom preserved. Two new species (Anatolia kislae n. sp. and A. kozyakae n. sp.) of a new genus Anatolia have been described. The Anatolia new genus combines the structural elements of Belzungia and Thyrsoporella: the primary laterals are divided into divergent secondaries: in Trinocladus four (phloiopforous) tertiaries, thin at the base, are gradually enlarged, ending at the skeleton surface as a minor swelling. Besides some undetermined Belzungia and Anatolia, the dasycladalean flora of the studied area includes: Furcoporella diplopora Pia, Dissocladella aff. gracilis Radoicic, Acicularia aff. tavnae Radoicic, Uteria aff. merienda (Elliott), Uteria sp., Neomeris sp., Salpingoporella? sp., Clypeina? sp. and some undetermined forms.