Enigmatic, biogenically induced structures in Pleistocene marine deposits: A first record of fossil ambergris

Baldanza, Angela; Bizzarri, Roberto; Famiani, Federeico; Monaco, Paolo; Pellegrino, Roberto Maria; Sassi, Paola

doi:10.1130/g34731.1

Cited by 16 publications

(42 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…The passive movement of the ambergris mass in the intestinal tract can produce such structures as large striae and compression of rognons as described in modern ambergris masses (Clarke, 2006). Comparable features had not been reported in the paleontological and ichnological records, until the work of Baldanza et al (2013). The findings of squid beaks within cololites ( Figure 5.1-4) further support the connection with Recent ambergris masses, wherein squid beaks are conspicuous.…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 60%

“…The findings of squid beaks within cololites ( Figure 5.1-4) further support the connection with Recent ambergris masses, wherein squid beaks are conspicuous. Baldanza et al (2013) reported preliminary mineralogical data by FTIR analyses performed on the inner gray and outer red or yellow parts of cololites. The FTIR analysis showed a relatively low amount of aluminum silicates within the fossil structures, while the enclosing clay sediments showed a low content of CaCO 3 (<15%); the CaCO 3 in the cololites was interpreted as biogenecally precipitated due to local enrichment in organic matter (Castanier et al, 1999;Douglas, 2005).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Cetona ridge, due west). Since its evolution began during the early Pliocene, the Paglia graben mainly held a river-fed coastal marine sedimentation from late Pliocene to early Pleistocene (Ambrosetti et al, 1987;Mancini et al, 2004;Baldanza et al, 2011Baldanza et al, , 2013. Sediments vary from gravels and sands to silty clay deposits, both across and along the paleoshorelines, delineating a very digitate coastal environment.…”

Section: Geological and Stratigraphic Overviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Assemblages (Table 1) are largely dominated by epifaunal taxa of suspension feeders, with few infaunal taxa (Glans intermedia, Glossus humanus, and Venus multilamella). Species feeding on polychaeta organic compounds, carnivorous species, and chemosynthetic taxa (indicative of the sulphophilic stage) distinguish the molluscan fauna from Montemoro (Baldanza et al, 2013).…”

Section: Bargiano Sectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Fossil bromalites of cetaceans were previously unknown. Notably, fossilized ambergris, which represents the most distinctive among all kinds of fecal matter of sperm whales, had never been recognized until the work of Baldanza et al (2013) on the Bargiano section (southwestern Umbria, northern Apennine, Italy; Figures 1, 2). Preliminary results refer these structures to intestinal products of sperm whales living between 1.75 and 1.55 Ma, and they represent the only known example of sperm whale coprolites.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Ambergris cololites of Pleistocene sperm whales from central Italy and description of the new ichnogenus and ichnospecies Ambergrisichnus alleronae

Monaco

Baldanza

Bizzarri

et al. 2014

Palaeontologia Electronica

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Ambergrisichnus alleronae igen. et isp. nov. from early Pleistocene clay marine deposits of Umbria, central Italy is here described, and attributed to cololites (evisceralites) of sperm whales. This interpretation is supported by the following characteristics that are frequently identified in modern ambergris including: internal organization of concentric structures, external shape with converging striae and bulges (rognons), and inclusions of squid beaks. These cololites were deposited in a relatively deep (100-150 m) marine environment, and the large number of structures in a restricted area is plausibly ascribed to multiple death events of sperm whales. The description of A. alleronae igen. et isp. nov. is held by analysis of the taphonomic processes that took place after the sperm whale carcasses reached the seabed and led to fossilization. The analysis of benthic micro-and macrofauna found close to the studied structures provides supplementary data, which support the reconstruction of palaeoecological and palaeoenvironmental conditions comparable with those of the whale fall communities. This work increases knowledge of vertebrate coprolites. Moreover, this new information provides the data about the frequency of sperm whales in the Tyrrhenian Sea during the early Pleistocene, and raises new questions about the causes of this anomalous accumulation.

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 60%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Geological and Stratigraphic Overviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Bargiano Sectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Ambergris cololites of Pleistocene sperm whales from central Italy and description of the new ichnogenus and ichnospecies Ambergrisichnus alleronae

Monaco

Baldanza

Bizzarri

et al. 2014

Palaeontologia Electronica

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Fossil Evidence of Cetacean Biology

Marx¹,

Lambert²,

Uhen³

2016

Cetacean Paleobiology

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Piscivory in a Miocene Cetotheriidae of Peru: first record of fossilized stomach content for an extinct baleen-bearing whale

Collareta

Landini

Lambert

et al. 2015

Sci Nat

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Instead of teeth, modern mysticetes bear hairfringed keratinous baleen plates that permit various bulkfiltering predation techniques (from subsurface skimming to lateral benthic suction and engulfment) devoted to various target prey (from small invertebrates to schooling fish). Current knowledge about the feeding ecology of extant cetaceans is revealed by stomach content analyses and observations of behavior. Unfortunately, no fossil stomach contents of ancient mysticetes have been described so far; the investigation of the diet of fossil baleen whales, including the Neogene family Cetotheriidae, remains thus largely speculative. We report on an aggregate of fossil fish remains found within a mysticete skeleton belonging to an undescribed late Miocene (Tortonian) cetotheriid from the Pisco Formation (Peru). Micro-computed tomography allowed us to interpret it as the fossilized content of the forestomach of the host whale and to\ud identify the prey as belonging to the extant clupeiform genus Sardinops. Our discovery represents the first direct evidence\ud of piscivory in an ancient edentulous mysticete. Since among modern mysticetes only Balaenopteridae are known to ordinarily consume fish, this fossil record may indicate that part of the cetotheriids experimented some degree of balaenopteridlike engulfment feeding. Moreover, this report corresponds to one of the geologically oldest records of Sardinops worldwide, occurring near the Tortonian peak of oceanic primary productivity and cooling phase. Therefore, our discovery evokes a link between the rise of Cetotheriidae; the setup of modern coastal upwelling systems; and the radiation of epipelagic, small-sized, schooling clupeiform fish in such highly productive environments

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Enigmatic, biogenically induced structures in Pleistocene marine deposits: A first record of fossil ambergris

Cited by 16 publications

References 18 publications

Ambergris cololites of Pleistocene sperm whales from central Italy and description of the new ichnogenus and ichnospecies Ambergrisichnus alleronae

Ambergris cololites of Pleistocene sperm whales from central Italy and description of the new ichnogenus and ichnospecies Ambergrisichnus alleronae

Fossil Evidence of Cetacean Biology

Piscivory in a Miocene Cetotheriidae of Peru: first record of fossilized stomach content for an extinct baleen-bearing whale

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