Ladinian ammonoids from the Balaton Highland (Hungary). II. Veszprémfajsz

Abstract

Recent collecting of the Király Hill at Veszprémfajsz yielded a well-preserved Longobardian (upper Ladinian) fossil as­semblage from the red nodular limestone of the Buchenstein Formation in the northeastern part of the Balaton High­land. At the previously unknown fossil site about 230 well-preserved ammonite specimens were collected and 33 taxa were identified. Besides the well-known upper Ladinian genera (Megaphyllites, Epigymnites, Proarcestes, Monophyl­lites), several Arpadites and Protrachyceras species appeared in large numbers. The presence of Argolites species is also characteristic, although this genus is barely found at the nearby Katrabóca II site. We recognized and described three new genera (Pinterites, Paranolcites, Katrabocaites), one of which, the Katrabocaites, contains new species, as well. These new data significantly expand our knowledge on the upper Ladinian ammonites of the Mediterranean region. The taxo­nom­ic studies of the ammonite assemblage and its comparison with faunas of Alpine and Dinaric sites provides a more detailed picture of the relationship between the different habitats of the western Neotethys as well as an opportunity to refine the biostratigraphic division of the Ladinian stage.