'5SO (^ T^ 4- , V \ , LI E> RARY OF THE UNIVERSITY Of ILLINOIS 550.5 FI cop. 2 REMOT TORAGE* f\ * < LIBRARY UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS UB-. Field Columbian Museum Publication 36. Geological Series. Vol. I, No. 6. CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE PALEONTOLOGY OF THE UPPER CRETACEOUS SERIES BY William Newton Logan, A.M. Oliver Cummings Farrington, Ph.D. Curator, Department of Geology. Chicago, U. S. A. April, 1899. CONTENTS. Introductory Note, . The Genus Scaphites . Scaphites warreni, . Prionotropis woolgari, . The Genus Ostrea, . Ostrea beloiti, Fasciolaria, Fusus, Astrocaenia conica, Pseudo-perna wilsoni, . Page. 205 207 210 211 213 214 214 215 215 215 ILLUSTRATIONS. Opposite Plate. page. XXII 209 XXIII 210 XXIV . . . . . 211 XXV 214 XXVI. 215 INTRODUCTORY NOTE. The specimens described in this paper were collected by the writer at different times while studying the geological formations of Kansas. The Ft. Pierre fossils were collected from the deposits bear- ing that name in the extreme northwestern part of the State. The Benton fossils were obtained from outcrops of that formation in the central part of the State, in Osborne, Lincoln and Mitchell Counties. The Niobrara species were collected from outcrops on the Smoky Hill river in Ellis County, and from outcrops on the White Rock in Jewell County. Some of the Benton forms, particularly the gastropods, were taken from calcareous nodules which were so thoroughly indurated that the shell could not be obtained in a form complete enough to warrant specific determinations. Nevertheless, they are figured and the best description possible from the material is given. The remain- ing specimens are well preserved. A comparison of some of the species of the same genus led the author to a study of the distribution, ontogeny, and phylogeny of some of the genera. The results of this study are included in the present paper. The specimens treated of in this paper are now in the paleonto- logical collection of the Field Columbian Museum. THE GENUS SCAPH1TES. Distribution. The genus Scaphites belongs to the family Steph- anoceratida) of the order Ammonoidea. The genus includes about forty known species. Its geological range is confined to the Upper Cretaceous Series, but its distribution is widespread, as it is known to have been an inhabitant of at least four continents. The species were no doubt marine littoral organisms. The history of the genus forms an interesting record. The ear- liest known species occurs in the Gault of Europe which seems to form a transition stage from the Lower to the Upper Cretaceous, for it is classed by some authors with the former and by others with the latter series. In this earliest known horizon of the genus there are few species, and individuals are not abundant. In the formation overlying the Gault, the Cenomian, the primi- tive species, Scaphites cequalis Sowerby, reaches the acme of its abundance. Up to this time, however, few, if any, structural varia- tions have been introduced. But during later Cenomian time disper- sion began and the primitive species made its appearance in the Cre- taceous seas of France and Switzerland. With the migration came new environments which resulted in a differentiation of organic struct- ure, and the consequent production of new species. All of the new species, however, are closely allied to S. ivqualis. It is, of course, questionable whether environment is the sole cause of variability. But it is very highly probable that in this case, at least, the change of environment was one of the prime factors in the production of the new species. For it is not improbable that under new conditions bathmism could more readily assert itself. That it did assert itself rapidly is shown by the production, in a short period, geologically speaking, of nearly fifteen species. From this it must at least be inferred that the change in environment gave an impetus to the growth force. It becomes more obvious in the light of the fact that in the center of dispersion but three or possibly four species are recorded for the entire geological range of the genus. Furthermore it is not certain that two of these species did not migrate to the center of dispersion from the Eastern colonies. 207 208 Field Columbian Museum — Geology, Vol. i. During middle Upper Cretaceous times the genus continued its eastward migration. From India two or three of the primitive types are reported. From the Pacific coast of North America one species which -is very closely allied to the early forms has been discovered. During middle Upper Cretaceous times came the introduction of the waters of the great North American epicontinental sea, and with the waters of this sea came in some of the primitive species from the Western or Eastern waters. And here as in the epicontinental sea of Europe conditions favorable to development were found. Bath- mism here also found a strong ally in environment, and the result was the production of thirteen or fourteen new species. But differ- entiation of structure was of a greater degree. The development was more accelerated and the changes more marked. The individual grew to much larger size; nodes were developed where ribs only had existed; the sutures became more complex and the form more globu- lar. One remarkable fact in connection with the development of the genus Scaphites is that its greatest development in both Europe and America took place in a region lying between parallels 40° and 500 of latitude. This may be only a coincidence, or it may be that when the paleontology of the now unknown regions is thoroughly worked out the present conditions will be found to be only apparent and not the real ones. If neither of these assumptions be correct the explanation may be found to lie in the similarity of environ- ments. The following is the distribution of the species of the genus Scaphites. In Europe, S. (equalis, S. obliquus, S. texanus, S. conradi, S. nicolleti, S. hippocrepis, S. hugardianus, S. ivanii, S. compressus, S. conslrictus, S. culvieri, S. reiformis, S. geinitzi, S. inlatus, S. mul- tinodosus, S. nodi/er, S. ornatus, S. quadrispinosus, S. tridens, S. tuber - culatus, S. trinodosus, India, S. cequalis, S. obliquus, S. kingianus; North America, S. warreni, S. conradi (3 varieties), S. larvceformis, S. vermiformis, S. texanus, S. nodosus (3 varieties), S. mullanus, S. sub- globosus, S. nicolleti, S. cheyennensis, S. abyssinus, S. iris, S. mandanen- sis, S. hippocrepis, S. culvieri, S. quatsincensis, S. reniformis, S. semi- costatus, S. vermiculus, S. verrucosus, S. comprimus. Ontogeny, Phylogeny and Paleontogeny. No description of the ontogeny or phylogeny of the genus Scaphites has as yet been pub- lished. As the adult forms of the majority of the species show evi- dences of a degenerative character, it was supposed that the genus was an abnormal type, and further that the individual did not per- LIBRARY UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS FIELD COLUMBIAN MUSEUM. GEOLOGY, PL. XXII Explanation of Plate XXII SCAPHITES WARRENI. (Mus. No. P 5940.) Fig. I. Side view of specimen. SCAPHITES NODOSUS. Fig. 2. Side view of specimen. -IIXX 3TA. 0?- .03 Apr. 1899. Paleontology of Upper Cretaceous Series — Logan. 209 petuate racial characteristics. That these suppositions do not accord with the facts is a further confirmation of one of the laws of evolu- tion. It is confirmatory of the law that as characters of development first show themselves in the adult, so also do degenerative characters. In other words degeneration takes place in the inverse order of development. The order of development of the Cephalopods, as shown by Hyatt, has been in regard to form: 1. the straight shell ; 2. the arcuate shell ; 3. the loosely coiled shell ; 4. the closely coiled shell. Along with this development of the form of the shell has gone an increased development in the complexity of the sutures. Scaphites is considered degenerative in form because of the tendency exhibited in the adult to return to an early form by a partial uncoil- ing of the shell. If this be true degeneration, it has not as yet affected the sutures. In fact the phylogeny of the genus reveals progression rather than retrogression. As an illustration compare the suture of Scaphites warreni . Meek, Fig. 1, PI. XXII with the suture line of Scaphites no- dosus Meek, Fig. 2, PI. XXII. The first is a Benton species while the second is a Pierre species. The first, therefore, is the primitive form as regards time and suture. Furthermore the ontogeny of 6". nodosus reveals a stage which cor- responds with reference to the suture very closely to the adult suture of S. warreni. It seems very probable, then, that the latter is in the line of the direct evolution of the former and represents an earlier stage. The changes in form as revealed by the two species do not point to any marked degree of retrogression. The principal changes have been an increase in the size of the individual; an increase in the complexity of the suture lines; and the development of two rows of nodes, one on the umbilical shoulder and a second on the ventral border. In 6*. warreni the ornamentation consists of strong ridges with a tendency toward nodosity in some individuals. In the young of S. nodosus the ridges are well marked while the nodes are entirely absent on the umbilical shoulder and not prominent on the ventral border. In the excellent work of Branco although Scaphites is mentioned in the list of genera its ontogeny is not exhibited. The omission was no doubt due to a lack of workable material. And, indeed, this was at first a serious obstacle to the success of the present writer. Owing to the highly crystalline character of the calcium carbonate which preserved the form of the shells many specimens were broken up without results. Later, from some young forms furnished by Prof. Weller, of the University of Chicago, the results recorded below 210 Field Columbian Museum — Geology, Vol. i. were obtained. Some of the specimens although entirely opaque in the outer whorls were very translucent in the inner whorls so that the suture lines were easily discernible. Fig. i, PI. XXIII, represents a number of sutures as follows: a. The first suture is angustisellate and represents the ananepionic stage. b. The second suture is a transition from the suture of Anarcestes to that of Tornoceras. c. The third suture is Tornoceras. d. The fourth suture is a transition from Tornoceras to Glyphioceras, or possibly Prionoceras. e. The fifth suture is Glyphioceras. /. Is Glyphioceras. g. Is a suture on the second whorl which is Gastri- oceras but is just approaching Paralegoceras. //. Is a suture on the third whorl, diameter 5mm., and is the ammonitic radical, probably nearest Pronorites. The suture on the first part of the fourth whorl has much the ap- pearance of the suture of 6". warreni, and toward the end of that whorl reaches the adult form. In Figs. 2, 3 and 4, PI. XXIII, views of the protoconch are given which represent the phylembryonic stage of the type Scaphites nodosus Meek. Figs. 7-12, PI. XXIII, represent six stages of growth between the close of the brephic and the beginning of the ephebic stage. Fig. 5, PI. XXIII, shows the suture of the adult form of S. warreni, and Fig. 6 that of 6". nodosus, Museum specimen No. 3653, University of Chicago. SCAPHITES WARRENI— Meek. Proc. Acai>. Nat. Sci. of Phila., p. 185. i860. (PI. XXII, Fig. 1 and PI. XXIII, Fig. 5. Mus. No. P 5940.) Revised and Enlarged Description. " Shell medium size, trans- versely subovate, moderately compressed, inner volutions nearly cir- cular, closely involute, and composing a little more than one-half the bulk; deflected body portion longer than the diameter of the involute portion and rather more proportionally than the inner turns; surface costate and without proper nodes; costae small on the inner whorls, where they do not differ materially in size, but on the body part some, usually every third or fourth one, become more prominent than the others, and extend entirely across from the inner side to and over the periphery, in passing upon which they bifurcate, or give off branches and assume, with these, a uniform size. The aperture !I!XX BTAJS ^O ^!0lTAHAjqx3 3tihi/;>jo'»w di-i<,nrovjnn-[ •Ufmiboq .1 Tji'-I '-■"'■ Apr. 1899. Palkontology of Upper Cretaceous Series — Logan. 211 is oval in form with a smooth periphery; it is turned inward toward the coil of the shell. " Septa are provided with moderately broad lobes and sinuses. The siphonal lobe is longer than wide, and bears two rather promi- nent lateral branches, each of which is unequally bifid, and digitate. The first lateral sinus is about the size of the siphonal lobe and has approximately the same width at the base; it is divided at its extremity into two unequal lobes both of which are bifid, the one nearest the siphonal lobe having its lobes again subdivided; first lat- eral lobe, about the size of the siphonal lobe, divided at its extremity into two tripartite lobes each of which is digitate; second lateral sinus shallow, divided into two rounded lobes each of which is slightly indented; second lateral lobe tripartite, central division not divided, other two bifid; third lateral sinus small bifid; remaining portion of septa not visible." Suturally our type is very closely allied to S. ventricosus Meek, and it is quite probable if they do not belong to the same species that they are varieties of the same species. The specimen here described is much larger than Meek's type of S. warreni, but it has the same general form. It resembles the former species in aperture and suture, and the latter in body shape and costae. It is the belief of the writer that .9. warreni, S. wyomingensis and S. ventricosus are varieties of the same species. PRIONOTROPIS WOOLGARI— Meek. U. S. Geol. Survey of the Territories, Vol. IX, p. 455. 1867. (PI. XXIV, Figs. 1 to 6. Mus. No. P 5931.) Further collecting and study of this form may reveal a new species. A comparison of the suture of P. woolgari with the suture of the form here figured and placed provisionally in the above species reveals many differences. However, these differences may be only such as exist between the young and the adult individuals of the same species. As the sutural differences seem to be the only well marked ones the original description will be given here and the reader asked to make the comparison of the figures. "Shell attaining a medium size, more or less compressed dis- coidal, the outer turn being proportionally more convex (including nodes) than those within; each volution embracing about one-fifth of the next within, and having its umbilical margin slightly indented by 212 Field Columbian Museum — Geology, Vol. i. the uncovered nodes forming the inner of the two outer rows on the suc- ceeding volution within; umbilicus about equaling the greatest dorso- ventral diameter of the last turn. Young examples, half an inch to one inch in diameter, with costae linear, closely arranged, of nearly uniform size, and manifesting scarcely any tendency to develop nodes but already showing the forward curve of their outer ends well denned, while the peripheral keel is low, narrow and simple, and the furrow on each side shallow. At a somewhat larger size, costae usually more or less unequal in size, the larger ones now beginning to develop the two nodes at their outer curved ends, and to become a little more prominent and compressed at their inner extremities, while the rather more prominent keel begins to develop its crenate outline, and the nodes nearest to assume their compressed form and parallel arrangement. On attaining to two and one-half to three inches in diameter, costae, nodes and keel become more prominent, the latter being strongly compressed and deeply and largely scal- loped, with divisions rounded in outline; while at this stage of growth the periphery, as seen in profile, would seem to be very deeply sul- cated on each side of the keel, but this is due to the prominence of the row of nodes on either side of the same. Costae, when the shell has attained a diameter of four inches much depressed in the middle, with the nodes at their inner ends thicker and more obtuse, and those nearest the keel more depressed or nearly obsolete, while those of the third series, near by, become much enlarged and produced obliquely outward as short, thick, spine-like projections. Soon the outer compressed nodes disappear, and the keel is only represented by separated, low, elongated nodes; and when the shell has attained a diameter of seven inches, the costae are more distant, greatly ele- vated, compressed, and almost wing-like, but still retain a large, prominent, subtrigonal node or projection at their outer ends, and again become, as it were, pinched up at their inner extremities, which do not quite reach the umbilical margin. "Septa moderately close together; siphonal lobe longer than wide with three or four short branches on each side, the two terminal of which are largest, more or less nearly parallel, and merely serrated; first lateral sinus broader than the siphonal lobe, more or less deeply divided into two subequal branches with short, irregular branchlets and digitations; first lateral lobe somewhat longer than the siphonal, and tripartite, with short, irregular branchlets and digitations occa- sionally in small specimens, with the middle terminal branch propor- tionately broad and so deeply sinuous at the end as to impart more nearly the appearance of a bipartite arrangement of the whole; sec- Apr. 1899. Paleontology of Upper Cretaceous Series — Logan. 213 ond lateral sinus nearly resembling one of the divisions of the first, and in the adult with merely a number of marginal digitations; sec- ond lateral lobe little more than one-third as long, and from one- third to one-half as wide as the first, generally tripartite at the end, but sometimes in large specimens, bipartite on one side of the shell, the divisions being very simple and short, or serrated; third lateral sinus very small and merely bilobate, or in large specimens digi- tate along the margins; third lateral lobe hardly half as long as the second, and in small specimens merely tridentate at the end." The suture, shown in Fig. 2, PI. XXIV, is from a specimen evi- dently much larger than any seen by Meek. The diameter of the sep- tate portion is more than two inches and although the non-septate part is not known it is probably at least three inches in diameter. The specimens here figured were collected from the Blue Hill shales of the Benton, in Osborne County, Kansas. THE GENUS OSTREA. The genus Ostrea has many representatives in the strata of the Cretaceous System, although the entire system comprises a part only of its geological range. Its distribution was as wide as the distribu- tion of the genus to-day plus its distribution in the epicontinental seas. A few species are common to Asia, Europe, Africa and North America. Five species are common to Africa, Europe and North America. Fifteen species found in Africa are also found in Europe. One species not found in Europe is common to Africa and North America. The Lower Cretaceous seas furnished the greatest abund- ance of species and individuals. During middle Upper Cretaceous times the waters of the Ameri- can epicontinental seas were too clear or lacked some characteristic conducive to the life of Ostreae, for few species or individuals are present in the strata except a very small form which was probably able to adjust itself to the environments. This species, Ostrea con- gesta, is one of the best known and most widely distributed of the genus. It is remarkable also for its abundance. Probably the greatest beds of fossil Ostrea in existence are in the Lower Cretaceous strata of Texas. .There beds of almost pure 214 Field Columbian Mijseum — Geology, Vol. i. shells several feet in thickness, having a meagre arenaceous matrix, are traceable for miles. Farther north in Kansas they still form the most abundant types. OSTREA BELOITI, n. sp. (PI. XXV, Figs. 7 and 8. Mus. No. P 5944.) Shell thin, oblong, moderately capacious, and possessing more than ordinary symmetry. Beaks are long and sharply pointed; fit- ting closely. Lower valve deep; area broad, triangular, with rounded borders, possessing a slight depression in the posterior-central por- tion; posterior border, rounded ; anterior border, pointed ; dorsal border, slightly concave, nearly straight; ventral border, convex. Upper valve, flat or slightly convex transversely; in general out- line it is very similar to the lower valve; area much the same, perhaps a little shorter. Muscular impression in both valves, sub-central and indistinct. Surface not rough or but little imbricated. Dimensions — Length, 45mm.; width, 25mm.; height, 8mm. The species occurs in the Lincoln Marble horizon of the Benton. It is not abundant and has been collected from two localities only. The specimen here described was collected from an outcrop on the Solomon river in the Kansas area. FASCIOLARIA sp. (PI. XXV, Figs. 1 and 3. Mus. No. P 5941.) Shell a little more than moderate size, stout fusiform; spire con- sisting of three rather convex volutions. The body whorl large and possessing in the central region a flat area; whorl merging into a rather short canal which is slightly curved; last whorl (body) and canal more than equalling the length of the spire. Surface ornamen- tation not distinct in specimen, hence the difficulty of determining the species. Several fragmentary specimens which probably belong to the genus Fasciolaria were collected by the writer from the septaria of the Blue Hill shales (Benton). The material is in such a condition as not to warrant specific determination. They are figured and men- tioned only for the purpose of making our literature as complete as possible and with the hope that in the future better material may be obtained through the suggestion of the presence of such forms. J'V . j m : . I Explanation of Plate XXV. Fasciolaria, sp. (Mus. No. P 5941.) Fig. 1. Cast of a small specimen. Fig. 3. Cast of a larger specimen. Fusus, sp. (Mus. No. P 5942.) Fig. 2. Cast of small specimen. Fig. 5. Cast of type specimen. Figs. 4 and 6. Views of an indeterminable Gastropod. OSTREA BELOITI, ft. Sp. (Mus. No. P 5944.) Fig. 7. Interior view of left valve. Fig. 8. Interior view of right valve. ^IELD COLUMBIAN MUSEUM. GEOLOGY, PL. XXV. LIBRARY UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS URBAN A LIBRARY UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS URBANA FIELD COLUMBIAN MUSEUM. GEOLOGY, PL. XXVI. Explanation of Plate XXVI. ASTROCCENIA CONICA, tt. Sp. (Mus. No. P 5946.) Fig. 1. A longitudinal section of type. Fig. 2. A transverse section of type. Fig. 3. A fragment of corallum — type. PSEUDO-PERNA WILSONI, tt. Sp. (Mus. No. P 5945-) Fig. 4. Exterior view of left valve. Fig. 5. Interior view of left valve. .IVXX 3TAJS *=*0 HOITAMAJSXB A Apr. 1899. Paleontology of Upper Cretaceous Series — Logan. 215 FUSUS sp. (PI. XXV, Figs. 2 and 5. Mus. No. P 5942.) The shells of these specimens are entirely absent and a specific determination is not warranted upon evidences such as are presented by casts alone. The reader is asked to compare the figures of these specimens with the figures of Fusus staminea, Conrad. The forms rep- resented here were found associated with Rostellites, and the above described species. ' ASTROCCENIA CONICA, n. sp. (PI. XXVI, Figs. 1, 2 and 3. Mus. No. P 5946.) Corrallum tuber-like, about the size of a medium-sized orange; corallets inversely conical, not greater than 8mm. in diameter, calices of the corallets of moderate depth, six sided but not always distinctly so, with moderately thin interstices but bordering each other; colu- mella distinct but not prominent; intersection of dissepiments and septae forming prominent carinae; vertical septae extending more than half the distance to the columella, the secondary ones only about half the length. Specimen somewhat weathered so that generic charac- ters are doubtful. This specimen is interesting as being the only species of coral as yet described from the Benton of the Interior Cretaceous. It was collected by the writer from the Lincoln Marble horizon on Rattle- snake creek in Mitchell County, Kansas. PSEUDO-PERNA WILSONI, n. sp. (PI. XXVI, Figs. 4 and 5. Mus. No. P 5945.) Shell thin, capacious, triangular in general outline with short beaks turned slightly toward ventral border, and fitting closely. Lower valve thick on the margins, thin centrally: not as capacious as upper valve and nearly flat on the adhering surface; fluted on margin in some specimens, and lacking the symmetry of outline noted in upper valve; ventral border possessing a triangular excursion near the central portion; dorsal border, concave; posterior border, convex. Upper valve, flat or nearly so on postero-ventral wing, convex in general; ventral margin in region of beak crossed by slight ridges of 216 Field Columbian Museum — Geology, Vol. i. muscular attachment; area small and depressed; muscular impression prominent and possessing fine striae concentrically arranged; dorsal border convex; ventral border nearly straight, somewhat wavy; pos- terior border concave; shell becoming very thin at the margins; exte- rior surface, marked by fine wavy concentric lines of growth which are cut transversely by slight depressions or partings of the shell; interior smooth, corneous. Dimensions — Length, 38mm.; width, 42mm.; height, 10mm. This species occurs in the Hesperonis beds of the Niobrara. It was collected from the outcrops on the Smoky Hill river in the Kansas area. LIBRARY UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS URBANA