I am a retired Professor of Geology and author of numerous scientific publications, particularly in the fields of palaeontology and evolutionary biology, as well as having written (and continue to do so) books on the wildlife of KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa). My biographical details are cited in many international works. I grew up in the Rhodesian bush and have been a keen naturalist all my life. I am an accomplished artist and have sold many water colours as well as designing and illustrating my published books. Deep concern for the rampant destruction of the African bush and its wildlife, prompted me to introduce the Ihlathi Series - a series of books designed to create a greater public awareness of the biodiversity, and threats, to the wildlife of KZN, based on the belief that We conserve only what we love, We love only what we understand, We understand only what we are taught I am particularly concerned with taxonomic ineptitude of biologists in all fields who do not understand the purpose of, or the fundamental (Darwinian) principles behind the classification of living organisms. Especially perturbing is the use of cladograms, PAUP and molecular evidence as a basis for taxonomic re-arrangement, without appreciating these methodologies are fundamentally flawed.
KurzfassungJüngste Berichte über das Vorkommen vonVascoceras undNigericeras im Cenoman werden übe... more KurzfassungJüngste Berichte über das Vorkommen vonVascoceras undNigericeras im Cenoman werden überprüft und auf Fehlbestimmung oder stratigraphisch fragwürdige Einordnung zurückgeführt. Phylogenetische Beziehungen machen es wahrscheinlich, daß beide Gattungen ausschließlich turonischen Alters sind. FürVascoceras diartianus (d’Orbigny) aus dem obersten Cenoman wirdProvascoceras nov. gen., für die obercenomanePseudotissotia inopinata Kennedy & BaylissKennediella nov. gen. aufgestellt. Die zuletzt genannte neue Gattung wird als Abkömmling vonAcompsoceras angesehen, das mitPseudotissotia aus dem Turon nidus zu tun hat. — Es wird eine verfeinerte Zonengliederung des Turons vorgeschlagen.AbstractRecent records ofVascoceras andNigericeras from the Cenomanian are reviewed and considered to be based upon mis-identification and/or questionable stratigraphic evidence. Phylogenetic relationships suggest that both these genera are wholly Turonian. The new genusProvascoceras is erected for the uppermost CenomanianVascoceras diartianus (d’Oreigny) whilst the Upper CenomanianPseudotissotia inopinata Kennedy & Bayliss is shown to be an homoeomorphous offshoot ofAcompsoceras, unrelated to the Turonian genus, for which the new genusKennediella is proposed. A refined zonal subdivision of the Turonian Stage is proposed.
Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie - Abhandlungen, 2019
The kossmaticeratid ammonite Kaiparaites was on its inception synonymized by its author (Matsumot... more The kossmaticeratid ammonite Kaiparaites was on its inception synonymized by its author (Matsumoto 1955) with Natalites (Collignon 1954). However, close comparison of the type species of these two genera shows them to be morphologically and stratigraphically distinct. Whereas Santonian Natalites shares the flexed constrictions of late Turonian–Coniacian Kossmaticeras, the straight constrictions of late Campanian – Maastrichtian Kaiparaites are shared with Caledonites, Gunnarites, Grossouvrites and Jacobites. Consequently, Kaiparaites is resurrected from the synonymy of Natalites and demonstrates that, under phylogenetic consideration, characters first thought to be of prime taxonomic significance actually turn out to be secondary. Since treatment of Natalites as a subgenus of Kossmaticeras emphasizes primitive characters, it is returned to generic rank, as is Santonian Karapadites although, for those who find use for subgenera, the latter can be treated as a subgenus of Natalites.
A B S T R A C T A new species of Linotrigonia, L. nibelaensis sp. nov., is described from the m i... more A B S T R A C T A new species of Linotrigonia, L. nibelaensis sp. nov., is described from the m id-C am panian of the St Lucia Form ation. T he relationship of Linotrigonia to Oistotrigonia is discussed and it is sug gested they are best treated as distinct genera. Linotrigonia is believed to be a southeast African endem ic, currently restricted to the late Cretaceous.
KurzfassungDie GattungPisotrigonia Van Hoepen hat Seitenpriorität über die besser bekannte Gattun... more KurzfassungDie GattungPisotrigonia Van Hoepen hat Seitenpriorität über die besser bekannte GattungRinetrigonia Van Hoepen; sie ist daher ihr älteres Synonym. Es wird gezeigt, daß die GattungPisotrigonia aus einem Komplex eng verwandter Arten besteht, die vom unteren Tithon bis zum Maastricht reichen. Sie ist daher phyletisch von ihrem SchwestertaxonPterotrigonia getrennt. WährendPterotrigonia kosmopolitisch verbreitet ist, hatPisotrigonia eine ausgeprägt gondwanische Verbreitung. Die Unterfamilie Pterotrigoniidae wird neu analysiert; eine neue Art,Pisotrigonia laevkosta, wird aus dem Ober-Alb (cristatum-Zone) von Zululand beschrieben.AbstractThe genusPisotrigonia Van Hoepen has page priority over the better-knownRinetrigonia Van Hoepen, of which it is thus a senior synonym. It is shown to comprise a closely allied plexus of species, ranging from Lower Tithonian to Maastrichtian, and thus phyletically distinct from its sister taxonPterotrigonia. Moreover, whereasPterotrigonia is cosmopolitan,Pisotrigonia has a distinctly Gondwanic distribution. The subfamily Pterotrigoniinae is reassessed and a new species,Pisotrigonia laevkosta, is described from the Upper Albian (Cristatum Zone) of Zululand.
KurzfassungJüngste Berichte über das Vorkommen vonVascoceras undNigericeras im Cenoman werden übe... more KurzfassungJüngste Berichte über das Vorkommen vonVascoceras undNigericeras im Cenoman werden überprüft und auf Fehlbestimmung oder stratigraphisch fragwürdige Einordnung zurückgeführt. Phylogenetische Beziehungen machen es wahrscheinlich, daß beide Gattungen ausschließlich turonischen Alters sind. FürVascoceras diartianus (d’Orbigny) aus dem obersten Cenoman wirdProvascoceras nov. gen., für die obercenomanePseudotissotia inopinata Kennedy & BaylissKennediella nov. gen. aufgestellt. Die zuletzt genannte neue Gattung wird als Abkömmling vonAcompsoceras angesehen, das mitPseudotissotia aus dem Turon nidus zu tun hat. — Es wird eine verfeinerte Zonengliederung des Turons vorgeschlagen.AbstractRecent records ofVascoceras andNigericeras from the Cenomanian are reviewed and considered to be based upon mis-identification and/or questionable stratigraphic evidence. Phylogenetic relationships suggest that both these genera are wholly Turonian. The new genusProvascoceras is erected for the uppermost CenomanianVascoceras diartianus (d’Oreigny) whilst the Upper CenomanianPseudotissotia inopinata Kennedy & Bayliss is shown to be an homoeomorphous offshoot ofAcompsoceras, unrelated to the Turonian genus, for which the new genusKennediella is proposed. A refined zonal subdivision of the Turonian Stage is proposed.
Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie - Abhandlungen, 2019
The kossmaticeratid ammonite Kaiparaites was on its inception synonymized by its author (Matsumot... more The kossmaticeratid ammonite Kaiparaites was on its inception synonymized by its author (Matsumoto 1955) with Natalites (Collignon 1954). However, close comparison of the type species of these two genera shows them to be morphologically and stratigraphically distinct. Whereas Santonian Natalites shares the flexed constrictions of late Turonian–Coniacian Kossmaticeras, the straight constrictions of late Campanian – Maastrichtian Kaiparaites are shared with Caledonites, Gunnarites, Grossouvrites and Jacobites. Consequently, Kaiparaites is resurrected from the synonymy of Natalites and demonstrates that, under phylogenetic consideration, characters first thought to be of prime taxonomic significance actually turn out to be secondary. Since treatment of Natalites as a subgenus of Kossmaticeras emphasizes primitive characters, it is returned to generic rank, as is Santonian Karapadites although, for those who find use for subgenera, the latter can be treated as a subgenus of Natalites.
A B S T R A C T A new species of Linotrigonia, L. nibelaensis sp. nov., is described from the m i... more A B S T R A C T A new species of Linotrigonia, L. nibelaensis sp. nov., is described from the m id-C am panian of the St Lucia Form ation. T he relationship of Linotrigonia to Oistotrigonia is discussed and it is sug gested they are best treated as distinct genera. Linotrigonia is believed to be a southeast African endem ic, currently restricted to the late Cretaceous.
KurzfassungDie GattungPisotrigonia Van Hoepen hat Seitenpriorität über die besser bekannte Gattun... more KurzfassungDie GattungPisotrigonia Van Hoepen hat Seitenpriorität über die besser bekannte GattungRinetrigonia Van Hoepen; sie ist daher ihr älteres Synonym. Es wird gezeigt, daß die GattungPisotrigonia aus einem Komplex eng verwandter Arten besteht, die vom unteren Tithon bis zum Maastricht reichen. Sie ist daher phyletisch von ihrem SchwestertaxonPterotrigonia getrennt. WährendPterotrigonia kosmopolitisch verbreitet ist, hatPisotrigonia eine ausgeprägt gondwanische Verbreitung. Die Unterfamilie Pterotrigoniidae wird neu analysiert; eine neue Art,Pisotrigonia laevkosta, wird aus dem Ober-Alb (cristatum-Zone) von Zululand beschrieben.AbstractThe genusPisotrigonia Van Hoepen has page priority over the better-knownRinetrigonia Van Hoepen, of which it is thus a senior synonym. It is shown to comprise a closely allied plexus of species, ranging from Lower Tithonian to Maastrichtian, and thus phyletically distinct from its sister taxonPterotrigonia. Moreover, whereasPterotrigonia is cosmopolitan,Pisotrigonia has a distinctly Gondwanic distribution. The subfamily Pterotrigoniinae is reassessed and a new species,Pisotrigonia laevkosta, is described from the Upper Albian (Cristatum Zone) of Zululand.
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