Cretaceous Research (1986)

Cretaceous Research (1986) 7,

7, 303-305
303-305

Review
Book Review
Venezuelan Ammonites
Venezuelan Ammonites on Display
Display
0. Renz
O. Renz 1982:
1982: The
The Cretaceous
Cretaceous ammonites
ammonites of of Venezuela.
Venezuela. 132
132 pp.,
pp., 91
91 figs.,
figs., 40
40
pls. Edited
pIs. Edited by by Maraven,
Maraven, subsidiary
a subsidiary of
of Petroleos
Petroleos de
de Venezuela,
Venezuela, S.A.S.A.
Limited edition
Limited edition of
of 400
400 copies
copies printed
printed by
by Birkhtiuser
Birkhauser Graphisches
Graphisches Unterneh-
Unterneh-
men AF,
men AF, Basel,
Basel, Switzerland.
Switzerland. ISBN 3-7643-1364-1.
ISBN 3-7643-1364-1. Price
Price SF
SF 126.00;
126.00; DMDM
149.00.
149.00.

Otto Renz's
Otto Renz’s book book on on thethe Cretaceous
Cretaceous ammonites
ammonites of
of Venezuela
Venezuela is is one
one of of the
the
most important
most important monographs
monographs on the
on the Cretaceous
Cretaceous palaeontology
palaeontology and and biostrati-
biostrati-
graphy of
graphy of South
South AmericaAmerica published
published in
in recent
recent years.
years. TheThe book
book was was notnot
extensively
extensively advertised
advertised by the
by the publishers,
publishers, only only 400 400 copies
copies having
having beenbeen
printed. The
printed. The fact fact thatthat itit is notnot partpart of of a monograph
monograph series series with
with a regular
regular
distribution
distribution subscribers
to subscribers and libraries
and libraries also
also contributes
contributes to to a lack
lack of of
knowledge of
knowledge of its
its existence.
existence. Therefore,
Therefore, although it
although it appeared
appeared somesome years
years ago,
ago, a
review today
review today in Cretaceous
Cretaceous ResearchResearch appears appears well well justified.
justified.
The increasing
The increasing economic economic constraints
constraints on
on basic
basic research
research areare probably
probably the the
most important
most important underlying
underlying factor in
factor in the
the piecemeal
piecemeal publication
publication of of research
research
papers that
papers that wewe see see all
all too
too much
much of of today.
today. There There are are few
few palaeontologists
palaeontologists that that
can actually
can actually sit sit down
down uninterrupted
uninterrupted for years
for years andand work
work their
their way
way systemati-
systemati-
cally through
cally through a large large collection
collection of fossils
of fossils to to produce
produce a comprehensive
comprehensive
monograph. Otto
monograph. Otto Renz Renz is apparently
apparently one one of of the
the lucky
lucky fewfew and
and his
his research
research hashas
also been
also been backed
backed by by an an oil
oil company
company (Maraven (Maraven S.A.
S.A. inin Caracas).
Caracas). TheThe vastvast
collections
collections of ammonites
of ammonites brought
brought together
together over over a number
number of of years
years by by
geologists of the former
geologists of the former Compania Compafiia Shell de Venezuela
Compafiia Shell de Venezuela were put at Renz's were put at Renz’s
disposal and
disposal and supplemented
supplemented with material
with material from from other
other sources
sources andand from
from his his
own collections in Venezuela. The result is
own collections in Venezuela. The result now available in comprehensive, now available in a comprehensive,
lavishly illustrated
lavishly illustrated and beautifully
and beautifully produced
produced volume volume that that isis a veritable
veritable
treatise on
treatise on the
the Cretaceous
Cretaceous ammonite faunas
ammonite faunas of of Venezuela.
Venezuela.
To be
To be specific,
specific, the the book
book deals
deals withwith only only mid-Cretaceous
mid-Cretaceous ammonites,
ammonites, i.e. i.e.
Aptian-Coniacian
Aptian-Coniacian (in the
(in the sensesense of of the the former
former IGCP IGCP project
project “Mid-
"Mid-
Cretaceous
Cretaceous Events”).
Events"). Lowermost
Lowermost and uppermost
and uppermost Cretaceous
Cretaceous marine
marine rocks
rocks
are developed
are developed in facies facies thatthat are are unfavourable
unfavourable to to ammonite
ammonite preservation.
preservation.
Information
Information on the
on the Santonian
Santonian to to Maastrichtian
Maastrichtian faunas
faunas cancan bebe found
found in, in, for
for
example, Renz's
example, Renz’s (1981)(1981) reviewreview of of the
the Cretaceous
Cretaceous of
of Venezuela.
Venezuela.
During the
During the Cretaceous,
Cretaceous, Venezuela was
Venezuela was partpart ofof aa vast
vast basin
basin extending
extending east east
of the
of the Andes
Andes from from Trinidad
Trinidad and northern
and northern VenezuelaVenezuela acrossacross the
the Cordillera
Cordillera
Oriental of
Oriental of Colombia,
Colombia, Ecuador Ecuador and and into
into southwestern
southwestern Peru.
Peru. The
The Cretaceous
Cretaceous
of this
of this area
area is one one of of the
the most
most complete
complete and and palaeontologically
palaeontologically interesting
interesting
sections in
sections in thethe world
world (Biirgl,
(Biirgl,
(BurgI, 1953). The
1953). The EarlyEarly Cretaceous
Cretaceous ammonites
ammonites
described in the
described the book
book derive
derive from from various
various parts parts of of Venezuela,
Venezuela, whereas
whereas the the
Late Cretaceous
Late Cretaceous ammonites
ammonites are all
are all from
from western
western Venezuela
Venezuela (the (the Perija
Perija
01956671/86/030303+03 +03 $03.00(0
0195-6671/86(030303 $03.00/O 0 1986 Academic
© 1986 Academic Press
Press Inc.
Inc. (London)
(London) Limited
Limited
304
304 Book
Book Review
Review

Range,
Range, the the Andes,
Andes, and and thethe Maracaibo
Maracaibo Platform). Platform). The Venezuelan ammonites
The Venezuelan ammonites
closely related
are closely related to Colombian
Colombian and Peruvian
and Peruvian faunas, which, until
faunas, which, until the the
appearance
appearance of this book, were the better documented
of this book, were the better documented of the northwestern
of the northwestern
South American
South American faunas. faunas. AfterAfter the the permanent
permanent merging
merging of of the
the Central
Central and and
South Atlantic,
South Atlantic, in TuronianTuronian times, influence
times, influence of of South
South Atlantic
Atlantic faunas
faunas can can
also be
also be noted
noted in Venezuela.
Venezuela.
In addition
In addition to systematic
systematic descriptions
descriptions of ammonites
of ammonites there
there is is a wealth
wealth of of
geological
geological and stratigraphical
and stratigraphical information
information in the
in the book,
book, which which is is well
well
illustrated
illustrated with maps,
with maps, chartscharts and and ribbon ribbon diagrams.
diagrams. The
The book book gives,
gives, or or
attempts to give,
attempts give, answers
answers to many many of of thethe stratigraphical
stratigraphical questions
questions raisedraised as as a
result of
result of earlier
earlier descriptions
descriptions of Venezuelan
of Venezuelan ammonites. ammonites.
The ammonites
The ammonites are are described
described in in a stratigraphically
stratigraphically ascending
ascending order order and, and,
the Aptian
for the Aptian and and Albian,
Albian, also also by by region.
region. This This brings
brings about about the the inevitable
inevitable
effect that
effect that many
many generagenera occur occur at two two or or even
even threethree places
places in in the
the book.
book. In In all,
all,
221 species
221 species and and subspecies
subspecies are described
are described (referred to
(referred to 8383 genera);
genera); a truly truly
impressive account,
impressive account, but but these
these areare nevertheless,
nevertheless, as the author says,
the author says, “. . . only
" ... only a
small proportion
small proportion of of the
the total
total number
number of of species
species which which flourished
flourished duringduring that that
time [early
time [early Aptian
Aptian to late late Coniacian)."
Coniacian] .” Of Of the
the taxa
taxa described,
described, 34
34 are
are Aptian,
Aptian,
79 Albian,
79 Albian, 8 Cenomanian,
Cenomanian, Turonian (12
71 Turonian (12 new),
new), and and 29 29 Coniacian
Coniacian (1 (1 new).
new).
Much
Much of the
of the material
material comes
comes from
from the
the La
La Luna
Luna Formation
Formation of of
Turonian-Coniacian
Turonian-Coniacian age, which
age, which is the the most
most important
important source source rock rock forfor oil
oil in
in
Venezuela. In
Venezuela. In addition,
addition, a new new species
species of of Benueites
Benueites is is described
described on on the
the basis
basis of of
material from
material from Trinidad.
Trinidad.
The ammonites
The ammonites of of the
the Andes
Andes region region are are generally
generally well well preserved,
preserved, parti- parti-
cularly in the
cularly the concretion
concretion zones zones of of thethe Chejende
Chejende and and Timbetes
Timbetes Members Members of of
the La
the La LunaLuna Formation.
Formation. This material
This material allows allows the study of
the study of ontogenetic
ontogenetic
development,
development, which is of
which of great
great taxonomic
taxonomic importance
importance in
in ammonites.
ammonites. To To
work with
work with such such well-preserved
well-preserved material
material demands
demands a great
great deal deal of of self-
self-
discipline from
discipline from the the palaeontologist
palaeontologist order to
in order to avoid
avoid a preservational
preservational bias bias inin
taxonomy. It
taxonomy. It is important
important that that thethe taxonomy
taxonomy should should be be based
based primarily
primarily on on
criteria that
criteria that areare observable
observable not not only
only in in exceptionally
exceptionally well
well preserved
preserved material.
material.
Otherwise
Otherwise we maymay end end up with with preservational
preservational species, a problem
species, problem that that is is
apparent, for
apparent, for example,
example, among among nannofossil
nannofossil workers (Perch-Nielsen,
workers (Perch-Nielsen, 1979).
1979).
can bejudged
As can be judged from from the the book,
book, OttoOtto Renz Renz has has quite
quite ably
ably avoided
avoided this this pitfall,
pitfall,
since his
since his taxonomy
taxonomy is largely largely based
based on on broad
broad features
features observable
observable on on the
the outer
outer
whorls.
whorls.
Every ammonite
Every ammonite worker worker who who pioneers
pioneers in in a geographical
geographical area
area isis bound
bound to to
present some
present some results
results that that do not not fit the the current
current concepts.
concepts. It It would
would be be unwise
unwise
label these
to label these as "misidentifications"
“misidentifications” or "the
or “the result
result of of poor
poor stratigraphical
stratigraphical
control”. Migration
control". Migration does does occur
occur in in Cretaceous
Cretaceous ammonites,
ammonites, homeomorphy
homeomorphy is is
not only
not only common
common but but a major
major taxonomic
taxonomic problem, etc.
problem, etc. For For example,
example, how how
many people
many people wouldwould have have accepted
accepted Stoliczkaia
Stoliczkaia and Vascoceras
and lrascoceras as Cenomanian
Cenomanian
twenty years
twenty years ago?
ago? It It is against
against this this background
background that
that one one should
should view view Otto Otto
Renz’s records
Renz's records of of early
early Cenomanian
Cenomanian Niceforoceras
Niceforoceras (p. 68),
(p. 68), Turonian
Turonian Eu- Eu-
calycoceras
calycocerus (p. (p. 64),
64), late
late Cenomanian
Cenomanian or early
or early Turonian
Turonian Romaniceras (p.
Romunicerus (p. 6969
and PI.
and Pl. 21),
2 1), and
and latest
latest early
early Turonian
Turonian Euomphaloceras
Euomphulocerus (Kanabiceras)
(Kunubicerus) (p.
(p. 117).
117).
The large
The large number
number of of apparently
apparently odd stratigraphical
odd stratigraphical records
records in in the
the bookbook
should be
should be taken
taken as a stimulus
stimulus to to further
further investigation.
investigation.
number of
A number of taxa
taxa recently
recently described
described by by Etayo
Etayo SernaSerna (1979)
(1979) from from central
central
 Book
Book Review
Review 305
305

Colombia
Colombia also occur
also occur in Venezuela
Venezuela and Renz
and Renz places
places manymany of of these
these in in
synonymy with
synonymy with already
already established
established taxa taxa from
from other
other parts
parts ofof the
the world.
world. This This
illustrates the
illustrates the very
very nature
nature of of taxonomic
taxonomic work work - revision,
revision, and and further
further revision.
revision.
The taxonomic
The taxonomic descriptions
descriptions are very
are very brief,
brief, andand particularly
particularly the
the new
new species
species
would have
would have benefitted
benefitted from from diagnoses
diagnoses and and more
more ampleample comparisons
comparisons with
with
related species.
related species.
Sexual dimorphism
Sexual dimorphism has been
has been indicated
indicated amongst amongst representatives
representatives of
of the
the
Turonian Watinoceras
Turonian Wirtinoceras and Benueites. It
and Benueites. It is interesting
interesting note that
to note that Renz
Renz has has
found no evidence
found evidence of of such
such dimorphism
dimorphism his material.
in his material. The The proportions
proportions of of
the alleged
the alleged "morphs"
“morphs” are very
are very unequal
unequal and and their
their stratigraphical
stratigraphical ranges
ranges are are
also different
also different in the the Venezuelan
Venezuelan material.
material. Renz's Renz’s monograph
monograph also provides
also provides
further evidence
further evidence of of Benueites
Benueites beingbeing a typically
typically palaeo-equatorial
palaeo-equatorial genus.
genus. It It is
is
abundant in Venezuela,
abundant Venezuela, Trinidad
Trinidad and Tarfaya,
and Tarfaya, but less
but less common
common or or even
even
absent in the
absent the southern
southern part part ofof the
the eastern
eastern Andes Andes and and in in the
the South
South Atlantic
Atlantic
basins of
basins of Brazil.
Brazil.
The book
The book is boundbound in hardback,
hardback, large large format
format (A4) (A4) and and printed
printed on on gloss>
glossy
paper. The
paper. The combination
combination of beautifully
of beautifully preserved
preserved specimens,
specimens, excellent
excellent
photographic
photographic work and
work and superior
superior printing
printing qualityquality is the the outstanding
outstanding physical
physical
feature of this book. One would then expect
feature of this book. One would then expect a similarly high technical quality
similarly high technical quality
of the text, but here the standard causes concern. There are simply too man)
of the text, but here the standard causes concern. There are simply too many
errors that irritate the reader, whether printer’s errors or Zupsus calami. Man?
errors that irritate the reader, whether printer's errors or lapsus calami. Many
slips can
slips can be be traced
traced to Spanish
Spanish influence
influence (Calicoceras, Mitiloides, etc.),
(Calicoceras, Mitiloides, etc.), others
others
obscure handwriting
to obscure handwriting (Iuiquet, for
(luiquet, for ]uignet!).
Juignet!).
Juignet!). There are
There are some
some errors
errors in in the
the
data on
data on types,
types, authorship
authorship and year;
and year; thisthis is wellwell illustrated
illustrated by by the
the different
different
headings of
headings of Dufrenoyia
Dufrenoyia (cL (cf. pp.
(cf. pp. 1818 and
and 23), Puzosia (cf.
23), Puzosia (cf. pp.
pp. 34,
34,43,43, and
and 74),
74),
and Knemiceras
and Knemiceras (d. (cf. pp.
(cf. pp. 32 32 and
and 46),
46), respectively.
respectively. OtherwiseOtherwise the the text
text reads
reads
well, although
well, although it is by by necessity
necessity quite
quite condensed.
condensed.
These criticisms
These criticisms can, can, perhaps,
perhaps, be be regarded
regarded as as chiefly
chiefly cosmetic
cosmetic and and do do not
not
detract from
detract from the the overall
overall impression
impression of of a truly
truly spectacular
spectacular contribution
contribution to to our
our
knowledge of
knowledge of the
the Cretaceous
Cretaceous ammonites
ammonites of
of the
the southern
southern hemisphere.
hemisphere. The The
price of
price of the
the book
book is attractive
attractive and and should
should not not keep
keep anyone
anyone withwith a keen
keen interest
interest
mid-Cretaceous
in mid-Cretaceous ammonites from
ammonites from getting
getting his his own
own personal
personal copy.
copy. Accord-
Accord-
ing to the
ing the "Acknowledgments"
“Acknowledgments” there
there is is also
also a Spanish
Spanish edition,
edition, a comme-
comme-
ndable initiative
ndable initiative to widenwiden the the distribution
distribution in
in a scientific
scientific world
world that
that isis not
not yet
yet
totally English-speaking.
totally English-speaking.

References
References
Burgl, H.
Biirgl,
Bi.irgl, H. 1963.
1963. Die
Die rhythmische
rhythmische Bewegungen
Bewegungen der der Kreidegeosynklinale
Kreidegeosynklinale der der Ostkordillere
Ostkordillere Kolumbiens.
Kolumbiens.
Geologische Rundschau
Geologische Rundschau 53, 53, 706-731.
706-731.
Etayo-Serna,
Etayo-Serna, F. 1979.
F. 1979. &nation
Zonation of of the
the Cretaceous
Cretaceous ofof central
central Colombia
Colombia by ammonites. Public&ones
by ammonites. Publicacione.'
Publicacione.,
Geoldgicas Especiales
Geol6gicas Especiales de1del Zngeominas
Ingeominas 2, 1-186, [Pls.
2,1-186, [Pis. l-151.
[PIs. 1-15].
Perch-Nielsen,
Perch-Nielsen. K. 1979.
K. 1979. Calcareous
Calcareous nannofossils
nannofossils from
from the
the Cretaceous
Cretaceous between
between the
the North
North Sea
Sea and
and the
the
Mediterranean.
Mediterranean. In: Aspekte
In: Aspekte der der Kreide
Kreide Europas (Ed. J.J. Wiedmann),
Europas (Ed. 223-272. International
Wiedmann), 223-272. International Union
Union of
of'
Geological Sciences,
Geological Sciences, Series
Series A A 6.
6. E.
E. Schweizerbart’sche
Schweizerbart'sche Verlagsbuchhandlung,
Verlagsbuchhandlung, Stuttgart.
Stuttgart.
Rem, O.
Renz, 0. 1981.
1981. Venezuela.
Venezuela. In: Aspects
In: Aspects ofof mid-Cretaceous
mid-Cretaceous regional
regional geology
geology (Eds.
(Eds. R.
R. A.A. Reyment
Reyment 8i &
P. Bengtson),
P. Bengtson), 197-220,
197-220, 22 fold-outs.
fold-outs. London:
London: Academic
Academic Press.
Press.

Peter
Peter Bengtson
Bengtson
Paleontologiska
Paleontologiska museet,
museet,
Box
Box 558.
558,
S-751
S-75I 2222 Uppsala,
Uppsala,
Sweden
Sweden