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Abstract: A low diversity trace fossil assemblage is described from the Oligocene Sawahlunto Formation near Kandi, in the northwestern part of the Ombilin Basin in western Sumatra, Indonesia. This trace fossil assemblage includes six ichnogenera attributed to invertebrate infaunal and epifaunal activities (Arenicolites, Diplocraterion, Planolites, Monocraterion/Skolithos and Coenobichnus) and two ichnotaxa attributed to vertebrate activity (avian footprints: two species of Aquatilavipes). Arenicolites, Diplocraterion and Monocraterion/Skolithos record the suspension feeding activities of either arthropods (most likely amphipods) or vermiform organisms. Planolites reflects the presence of an infaunal deposit feeder. Coenobichnus records the walking activities of hermit crabs. Both the Coenobichnus and the avian footprints record the surficial detritus scavenging of epifaunal organisms within a subaerial setting. These traces occur within a fine-grained sandstone succession characterized by planar laminae and low-relief, asymmetrical, commonly mud-draped (locally bidirectional) ripples. The presence of traces attributable to suspension feeders implies deposition in a subaqueous setting. Their occurrence (particularly the presence of Arenicolites and Diplocraterion) in a sandstone bed characterized by mud-draped and bidirectional ripples implies emplacement in a tidally-influenced marine to marginal marine setting. Co-occurrence of these traces with well-preserved avian footprints (Aquatilavipes) further implies periodic subaerial exposure. Thus, it is most likely that the Sawahlunto Formation near Kandi records deposition within an intertidal flat setting. Definitive evidence of marine influences in the Oligocene interval of the Ombilin Basin implies a more complex tectono-stratigraphic history than has previously been implied. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Recent fieldwork in the Ombilin Basin of west-central Sumatra resulted in the discovery of two distinct types of avian footprints, both referable to the ichnogenus Aquatilavipes. The footprints were discovered in the Oligocene Sawahlunto Formation in a creek side outcrop near the Kandi Ombilin Mine. Aquatilavipes wallacei is a small species of Aquatilavipes (∼ 19 mm wide; 27 mm long) with elongate third digits, wide total divarication angles (120–150°) and inwardly curved peripheral digits. Aquatilavipes ichnospecies A are also small traces (average 21 mm wide; 31 mm long) with elongate third digits and straight to slightly outwardly curved peripheral digits. These traces are similar in morphology to those of small modern shorebirds such as rails (Rallidae), sandpipers (Scolapacidae) or plovers (Charadriinae). The Sawahlunto traces occur in very fine-grained to fine-grained sandstone characterized by low-relief current ripples, many of which exhibit mud-draping. A low diversity invertebrate trace fossil assemblage consisting of Arenicolites, Diplocraterion, Planolites, Monocraterion, Skolithos and Coenobichnus co-occurs with the bird footprints. This succession is interpreted as intertidal sand flats. Probe and peck marks preserved on the same bedding planes as the bird footprints support the interpretation that these birds occupied the Kandi intertidal flats for foraging purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Abstract: The fossil calvaria known as the Mojokerto child''s skull was discovered in 1936, but uncertainties have persisted about its paleoenvironmental context and geological age because of difficulties in relocating the discovery site. Past relocation efforts were hindered by inaccuracies in old base maps, intensive post-1930s agricultural terracing, and new tree and brush growth. Fortunately geologic cross sections and site photographs from 1936-1938—not fully utilized in past relocation fieldwork—closely circumscribe site geography and geology. These documents match the conditions at just one sandstone outcrop. It is situated on the southern margin of a topographic nose at the upper end of a ∼18m-wide gully (∼0663760m E, 9183430m N, UTM Zone 49M), ∼15m southeast of the Kumai et al. (1985) relocation. The relocated discovery bed is ∼3.3m of fossiliferous pebbly sandstone, a river-channel deposit cut into tuffaceous mudstone. The sandstone and mudstone beds correspond to original site descriptions. Pebbly sandstone is also found within the skull. The calvaria is well-preserved and taphonomically similar to large and fragile specimens found among several hundred vertebrate fossils excavated from the sandstone in 2001-2002. Since no well-preserved fossils were found intact at the surface of the sandstone, the good condition of the Mojokerto skull suggests that it was buried fully when discovered. The relocated hominin bed is the uppermost fluvial sandstone of a marine-deltaic sequence in the upper Pucangan Formation. The Mojokerto child probably died along the ancient seacoast, judging from the large extent of the deltaic facies and evidence that the calvaria experienced minimal transport. The relocated discovery bed is ∼20m stratigraphically above the horizon from which the widely cited 1.81±0.04Ma 40Ar/39Ar date for the skull (Swisher et al., 1994, Science 263, 1118) was obtained. Additional field and laboratory results will be required to determine the skull''s age. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

ABSTRACT—Fossil fishes were first collected from deposits of the Sangkarewang Formation of the Ombilin Basin in Sumatra, Indonesia, in the 1870s, but a comprehensive study of these fishes was not published until almost 50 years later. New material from these deposits was collected in 2009, which included a small anabantoid fish. This fish is not conspecific with any of the material described previously and is here named as a new genus and species. A phylogenetic analysis indicates that the new anabantoid is closely related toOsphronemusamong the taxa studied, and we place it in the family Osphronemidae. However, the new fish does not appear to belong to any of the named modern subfamilies, so we leave it incertae sedis in the family. Additionally, the osphronemid subfamilies are not recovered as a monophyletic group. The anabantoid named here and another previously described from the same locality are the only fossil anabantoids known. However, the age of the Sangkarewang Formation is not confirmed and has been variously attributed to Cretaceous, Palaeocene, Eocene, and Miocene, with Eocene being the presently favored estimate. Based on the presence of an anabantoid in these deposits, an Eocene age is reasonable and is not contradicted by the known fish fauna. http://zoobank.org/lsid:urn.lsid.zoobank.org:pub:53281C25-8E47-4C67-9952-A994B47F6656 SUPPLEMENTAL DATA—Supplemental materials are available for this article for free at www.tandfonline.com/UJVP [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]