The faunal structure of a mid‐Cretaceous rudist reef core Article

COLLINS, LS. (1988). The faunal structure of a mid‐Cretaceous rudist reef core . Lethaia, 21(3), 271-280. 10.1111/j.1502-3931.1988.tb02079.x

cited authors

  • COLLINS, LS

authors

abstract

  • The macrofaunal distribution of the mid‐Cretaceous El Abra Limestone reef core is quantified from two measured sections in Taninul Quarry, San Luis Potosi, central Mexico. The faunal structure is transitional between typical Lower Cretaceous reefs dominated by corals with low‐density rudist bivalve packing; and densely‐packed, rudist‐dominated Upper Cretaceous reefs. The macrofauna is predominantly associations of unconnected individuals of caprinid rudists, with a low diversity of other shelly mollusks and corals. An examination of the alternation of paleocommunities defined by the dominant caprinid taxa reveals no pattern of biotic succession within the reef core. Large‐scale sedimentologic features of mud and debris content, coupled with rudist growth type, suggest that paleocommunities may have been physically controlled. Copyright © 1988, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved

publication date

  • January 1, 1988

published in

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

start page

  • 271

end page

  • 280

volume

  • 21

issue

  • 3