GeolCarp_Vol55_No2_179

OSTRACODA FROM THE LOWER BADENIAN GRUND FORMATION 179

GEOLOGICA CARPATHICA, 55, 2, BRATISLAVA, APRIL 2004

179189

OSTRACODA FROM THE LOWER BADENIAN (MIDDLE MIOCENE)

GRUND FORMATION (MOLASSE BASIN, LOWER AUSTRIA)

IRENE ZORN

Geological Survey of Austria, Rasumofskygasse 23, A-1031 Wien, Austria; zorire@cc.geolba.ac.at

(Manuscript received June 5, 2003; accepted in revised form December 16, 2003)

Abstract: In the present study the ostracods from the Lower Badenian (Middle Miocene) Grund Formation of the

Molasse Basin in Lower Austria are investigated. Most of the material comes from the type area of Grund. A total of 61

species could be differentiated within the Grund Formation. The following taxa dominate the faunal spectrum:

Hemicytheridae (Aurila, Graptocythere, Grinioneis, Nonurocythereis, Pokornyella, Senesia, Tenedocythere, Urocythereis),

Cyamocytheridea derii (Zalányi, 1913), Cytheridea acuminata Bosquet, 1852 and Cytheridea paracuminata Kollmann,

1960. The ostracod assemblage reflects a shallow warm water environment with a water depth probably not exceeding

100 m. A part of the material is assumed to be re-deposited. Deep water elements are only represented by single speci-

mens of Krithe, Henryhowella and Pseudocytherura. The stratigraphic classification of an Early Badenian age for the

Grund Formation by means of Foraminifera can be supported mainly by the occurrence of Acanthocythereis hystrix

(Reuss, 1850). Many species are also known either from Karpatian or from younger Badenian sequences in Austria.

Furthermore a comparison between the ostracod contents of the formations of the former so-called Grund Beds is given

(Karpatian: Laa and Korneuburg Formations; Lower Badenian: Grund and Gaindorf Formations). The occurrence of

Loxoconcha vaisonna Carbonnel, 1969, Aurila larieyensis Moyes, 1965, Callistocythere karpatiensis Zorn, 1998 and

Neocyprideis aff. corbleuensis Ducasse, 1995 in the Karpatian formations is most useful to separate them from the

Badenian formations with the occurrence of Acanthocythereis hystrix (Reuss, 1850) and several species of Hemicytheridae.

Key words: Miocene, Badenian, Lower Austria, Molasse Basin, Grund Formation, biostratigraphy, paleoecology,

Ostracoda.

Introduction

Few publications deal with ostracods from the former so-

called Grunder Schichten or Grund Beds and especially

from the Grund Formation, which together with the coeval

Gaindorf Formation comprises the upper part of the Grunder

Schichten. These two formations stratigraphically belong to

the Lower Badenian (Roetzel et al. 1999; Rögl & Spezzaferri

2003; Spezzaferri 2004).

In his revision of the Miocene Hemicytheridae from Aus-

tria, Cernajsek (1971) described the following species from an

old wine cellar at Grund: Aurila angulata angulata (Reuss,

1850), A. cinctella (Reuss, 1850), A. galeata (Reuss, 1850), A.

punctata (Münster, 1830), A. similis (Reuss, 1850), A. trigo-

nella (Reuss, 1850), Urocythereis sp., Procythereis deformis

(Reuss, 1850) and P. sulcatopunctatus (Reuss, 1850). From

black-brown clay marls at Braunsdorf he mentioned Aurila

galeata (Reuss, 1850) and A. haueri (Reuss, 1850).

Preliminary results of the authors own studies (Zorn 1999)

on material from the area of Grund, Guntersdorf and

Galgenberg provided species of Acanthocythereis, Cnesto-

cythere, Cytheridea, Cyamocytheridea and Hemicytheridae.

The present study on ostracods is part of a joint investiga-

tion of the fauna from the type area of the Grund Formation at

Grund north of Hollabrunn in the Molasse Basin of Lower

Austria (Fig. 1). The excavations of nine sections were done

from 1998 to 1999 by the Institute of Paleontology of the Uni-

versity of Vienna. The studied sections are described in

Roetzel & Pervesler (2004). Sections G and F have been

analysed for ostracods. Additionally, samples from a wine cel-

lar at Windmühlberg 2 km NW of Grund and 900 m W of sec-

tions FH (leg. F. Rögl, Museum of Natural History, Vienna)

are included in the research. The geographical situation of the

localities and sections is shown in Fig. 1. The stratigraphy and

correlation of the Grund Formation are summarized in Æoriæ et

al. (2004).

A re-investigation of the material of Cernajsek (1971) from

Grund (sample CER 154) has also been carried out. The ostra-

cod specimens of the present study are deposited in the collec-

tions of the Geological Survey of Austria in Vienna under the

collection number 2002/26 (with subnumbers).

The ostracod fauna of the Grund Formation and its paleo-

ecological and biostratigraphic interpretation

Faunal spectrum

The sections F and G at Grund with 13 samples each and 4

samples from Windmühlberg were taken into consideration

concerning the ostracod studies. Several samples of sections F

and G (F-12, G-7, G-8, G-10) lack ostracods, 2 samples (F-3,

F-6) yield only indeterminable fragments or larvae. The ostra-

cod content of the other samples varies from 1 to 17 species.

In section F 22 species and in section G 32 species can be dis-

tinguished. Section G is not only more diverse in species but

richer in specimens as well. Also the preservation of the fos-

180 ZORN

sils is better in section G. A re-deposition of the bulk of speci-

mens in both sections cannot be excluded because of the gen-

erally bad preservation. Aurila angulata (Reuss, 1850), A. si-

milis (Reuss, 1850), Cyamocytheridea derii (Zalányi, 1913),

Cytheridea acuminata Bosquet, 1852 and Cytheridea

paracuminata Kollmann, 1960 are most common in both sec-

tions. In section G Callistocythere daedalea (Reuss, 1850),

Loxocorniculum hastatum (Reuss, 1850) and Senesia ex gr.

vadaszi (Zalányi, 1913) have to be mentioned.

Two samples from Windmühlberg are much more diverse

(W-1: 35 species, W-3: 20 species) than the samples from the

Grund sections and the preservation is better. Several species

occur that have not been found at Grund: Aurila trigonella

(Reuss, 1850), Costa aff. edwardsi (Roemer, 1838), Costa tri-

costata (Reuss, 1850), Cytheridea sp., Graptocythere polyp-

tycha (Reuss, 1850), Hemicytherura gracilicosta Ruggieri,

1953, Loxoconcha sp., Pseudocytherura sp., Pterygocythereis

calcarata (Bosquet, 1852), Semicytherura galea Stancheva,

1962, Semicytherura sp. 1, Tenedocythere sulcatopunctata

(Reuss, 1850) and Xestoleberis sp. 1 and 2 sensu Zorn 1998.

The distribution of the ostracod species within the samples of

the Grund sections G and F and from Windmühlberg can be

seen in Table 1.

Cernajsek (1971) studied the Hemicytheridae from an old

wine cellar at Grund. During the revision of this material

(sample CER 154) it turned out that the sample yields 26 spe-

cies, 5 of which are neither represented in sections F and G

nor at Windmühlberg. These are: Bairdia sp., Cytherella sp.,

Phlyctenophora arcuata sensu Reuss, 1850, Pontocythere

aff. cribrosa (Egger, 1858) and Verrucocythereis verrucosa

(Reuss, 1850). Concerning the Hemicytheridae which are al-

ready mentioned in the introduction, Urocythereis sp. turned

out to be U. kostelensis (Reuss, 1850). Senesia cinctella

(Reuss, 1850) could not be re-identified.

Fig. 1. Location map: Excavations at the type locality Grund and Windmühlberg wine cellars (inserted map).

Recently several old samples (leg. R. Weinhandl and R. Sie-

ber, Geol. Survey Austria) from the Grund Formation (area

GrundGuntersdorfGalgenberg) were studied in the scope of

the mapping program of the Geological Survey of Austria

(summary in Zorn 1999). Additional species which have not

been found in any of the samples mentioned above are Aurila

haueri (Reuss, 1850), Flexus reussianus Ruggieri, 1992,

Ghardaglaia pectinata (Héjjas, 1894), Heliocythere vejhonen-

sis (Procházka, 1893), Henryhowella asperrima (Reuss, 1850)

and Konarocythere inflata (Schneider, 1949). Summarizing

the different investigations 61 species can be documented for

the Grund Formation. They are listed in Table 2.

Paleoecology

The ostracod faunas of sections F and G reflect a shallow

water environment. This corresponds well with the results on

the molluscan assemblages in Zuschin et al. (2001, 2004) who

estimate a shelf environment with a water depth less than

100 m by the shell beds geometry of the tempestites. Only one

molluscan species was found in situ. Spezzaferri (2004) sup-

poses a deposition on the outer shelf for section G based on

foraminifers. A re-deposition is responsible for the Badenian

shallow water species. The stated warm paleoclimate for sec-

tion G on the basis of the foraminiferal research is supported

by the occurrence of the warm water ostracod taxa Acantho-

cythereis hystrix (Reuss, 1850) and Cytheretta.

In the rich fauna of Windmühlberg elements of the deeper

water occur. Krithe is an infraneritic to bathyal species and

Pseudocytherura and Pterygocythereis are stated to be infran-

eritic (Morkhoven 1963). The latter genus is also present in

sample 154 of Cernajsek (1971) from Grund. In an old sample

from Galgenberg one specimen of the infraneritic species

Henryhowella asperrima (Reuss, 1850) could be identified.

OSTRACODA FROM THE LOWER BADENIAN GRUND FORMATION 181

Table 1: Distribution of the ostracod species within the samples of the Grund sections G and F and from Windmühlberg.

Some ecological remarks on the ostracods from the coeval

Mühlbach Formation in Zorn (2003) can also be applied to the

Grund Formation and therefore shall not be repeated in this

paper.

Biostratigraphy

Many ostracod species which occur in the Grund Formation

are also known either from Karpatian or from younger Bade-

nian sequences in Austria. The presence of the following spe-

cies is restricted to the Badenian in the Central Paratethys:

Acanthocythereis hystrix (Reuss, 1850), Aurila angulata (Reuss,

1850), A. galeata (Reuss, 1850), A. haueri (Reuss, 1850), A.

opaca (Reuss, 1850), A. punctata (Münster, 1830), A. similis

(Reuss, 1850), Cytheridea acuminata Bosquet, 1852, Cnesto-

cythere lamellicosta Triebel, 1950, Olimfalunia spinulosa

(Reuss, 1850), Renicytherura textilis cornuta (Brestenská,

1978), Senesia trigonella (Reuss, 1850), Semicytherura galea

Stancheva, 1962, Tenedocythere sulcatopunctata (Reuss,

1850) and Urocythereis kostelensis (Reuss, 1850). Acantho-

cythereis hystrix (Reuss, 1850) is considered the index fossil

for the Lower Badenian (Jiøíèek 1983) but it prefers deeper

Grund

Section F

Section G

Wind-

mühlberg

Ostracod species

Samples

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 1 2 3 4

Acanthocythereis hystrix (Reuss, 1850)

x x

Aurila similis (Reuss, 1850)

x x

Aurila angulata (Reuss, 1850)

x x x x

x x

Aurila cicatricosa (Reuss, 1850)

Aurila galeata (Reuss, 1850)

x x

Aurila opaca (Reuss, 1850)

Aurila punctata (Münster, 1830)

x x x

Callistocythere canaliculata (Reuss, 1850)

Callistocythere daedalea (Reuss, 1850)

x x

Cnestocythere lamellicosta Triebel, 1950

x x

Cnestocythere truncata (Reuss, 1850)

x x

Costa aff. edwardsi (Römer, 1838)

Costa tricostata (Reuss, 1850)

Cyamocytheridea derii (Zalányi, 1913)

x x x

x x x x x

x x x x

Cytheretta ornata (Héjjas, 1894)

x x

Cytheridea acuminata Bosquet, 1852

x x x

x x

Cytheridea paracuminata Kollmann, 1960

x x

x x x

Cytheridea sp.

Cytheridea sp. indet.

x x x

Graptocythere polyptycha (Reuss, 1850)

x x

Graptocythere ungeri (Reuss, 1850)

x x x

x x

Grinioneis haidingeri (Reuss, 1850)

x x

Hemicyprideis dacica (Héjjas, 1894)

Hemicytherura gracilicosta Ruggieri, 1953

x x

Krithe cf. papillosa (Bosquet, 1852)

Leguminocythereis martonfii (Héjjas, 1894)

Loxoconcha punctatella (Reuss, 1850)

x x

Loxoconcha sp. 1 sensu Zorn, 1998

x x

Loxoconcha sp.

Loxocorniculum hastatum (Reuss, 1850)

x x x

x x

Neocyprideis (Miocyprideis) sp. indet.

Nonurocythereis seminulum (Seguenza, 1880)

Olimfalunia plicatula (Reuss, 1850)

x x

x x x

Olimfalunia spinulosa (Reuss, 1850)

x x

Paracytheridea triquetra (Reuss, 1850)

x x x

Pokornyella deformis (Reuss, 1850)

Pontocythere aff. curvata (Bosquet, 1852)

x x

Pontocythere longa (Reuss, 1850)

Pseudocytherura sp.

x x

Pterygocythereis calcarata (Bosquet, 1852)

x x

Renicytherura (N.) textilis cornuta (Brestenská, 1978)

Semicytherura galea Stancheva, 1962

x x

Semicytherura sp. 1

Semicytherura sp. 2

Senesia trigonella (Reuss, 1850)

Senesia ex gr. vadaszi (Zalányi, 1913)

x x x

x x

Tenedocythere sulcatopunctata (Reuss, 1850)

Urocythereis kostelensis (Reuss, 1850)

Xestoleberis tumida (Reuss, 1850)

x x x

Xestoleberis sp. 1 sensu Zorn, 1998

Xestoleberis sp. 2 sensu Zorn, 1998

inde

inabl

e f

inde

inabl

e f

and l

vae

raco

182 ZORN

Table 2: Distribution of the ostracod species within the formations of the former Grunder Schichten.

waters. A discussion of the biostratigraphical value of this spe-

cies in Austria can be found in Zorn (2003). Aurila similis

(Reuss, 1850) and Renicytherura textilis cornuta (Brestenská,

1978) are scarcely known in the Central Paratethys, but also

seem to be restricted to the Lower Badenian.

The presence of the foraminifers Praeorbulina glomerosa

circularis (Samples F-6, G-6, G-9) and Uvigerina macrocari-

nata (Samples G-10) as well as Bolboforma reticulata in the

Grund Formation allow a correlation with the Lower La-

genidae Zone of the Lower Badenian (Rögl et al. 2002; Spez-

zaferri 2004).

Comparison between the ostracod faunas of the former

Grunder Schichten

The former so-called Miocene Grunder Schichten or Grund

Beds of the Molasse and Korneuburg Basin in Lower Austria

are nowadays subdivided into four formations, two of which

Ostracod species

Formations

aa F

orm

ion

eubur

g F

orm

ion

und

ain

orm

ion

Ostracod species

Formations

aa F

orm

ion

eubur

g F

orm

ion

und

ain

orm

ion

Acanthocythereis hystrix (Reuss, 1850)

x x Krithe cf. papillosa (Bosquet, 1852)

Aurila angulata (Reuss, 1850)

x Krithe sp. 1

Aurila cicatricosa (Reuss, 1850)

x x Leguminocythereis martonfii (Héjjas, 1894)

Aurila galeata (Reuss, 1850)

x x Leptocythere sp. 1 sensu Zorn, 1998

Aurila haueri (Reuss, 1850)

x Loxoconcha punctatella (Reuss, 1850)

x x x

Aurila larieyensis Moyes, 1965

x x Loxoconcha vaisonna Carbonnel, 1969

x x

Aurila opaca (Reuss, 1850)

x Loxoconcha sp. 1 sensu Zorn, 1998

x x x

Aurila aff. opaca (Reuss, 1850)

x Loxoconcha sp. 2 sensu Zorn, 1998

Aurila punctata (Reuss, 1850)

x x Loxoconcha sp. 3 sensu Zorn, 1998

Aurila similis (Reuss, 1850)

x x Loxoconcha sp.

Bairdiidae

x x Loxocorniculum hastatum (Reuss, 1850)

x x x

Callistocythere canaliculata (Reuss, 1850)

x x Neocyprideis (Miocyprideis) sp. indet.

Callistocythere daedalea (Reuss, 1850)

x x x Neocyprideis (M.) aff. corbleuensis Ducasse, 1995

x x

Callistocythere karpatiensis Zorn, 1998

x x Neocytherideis linearis (Römer, 1838)

x x

Candonidae gen. et sp. indet.

x Neomonoceratina ex gr. helvetica Oertli, 1958

x x

Carinovalva aff. neuhofenensis (Witt, 1967)

x Nonurocythereis seminulum (Seguenza, 1880)

x x

Cnestocythere lamellicosta Triebel, 1950

x x Olimfalunia plicatula (Reuss, 1850)

x x x x

Cnestocythere truncata (Reuss, 1850)

x x Olimfalunia spinulosa (Reuss, 1850)

x x x

Costa cf. batei (Brady, 1866)

x Paracytheridea triquetra (Reuss, 1850)

x x x

Costa aff. edwardsi (Römer, 1838)

x x x Parakrithe sp.

Costa tricostata (Reuss, 1850)

x Phlyctenophora arcuata sensu Reuss, 1850

Cyamocytheridea derii (Zalányi, 1913)

x x x x Pokornyella deformis (Reuss, 1850)

Cyamocytheridea gracilis Zorn, 1998

x Pontocythere aff. cribrosa (Egger, 1858)

x x

Cytherella sp. 1 sensu Zorn, 1998

x Pontocythere aff. curvata (Bosquet, 1852)

Cytherella sp.

x Pontocythere lithodomoides (Bosquet, 1852)

x x

Cytherelloidea jonesiana (Bosquet, 1852)

x Pontocythere longa (Reuss, 1850)

Cytheretta ornata (Héjjas, 1894)

x x x Pontocythere sp. 1 sensu Zorn, 1998

Cytheridea acuminata Bosquet, 1852

x x Pseudocytherura sp.

x x

Cytheridea paracuminata Kollmann, 1960

x x x Pterygocythereis fimbriata (Münster, 1830)

x x

Cytheridea sp.

x Pterygocythereis calcarata (Bosquet, 1852)

x x

Cytheridea sp. juv.

x Renicytherura (N.) textilis cornuta (Brest., 1978)

Cytherois sp. 1 sensu Zorn, 1998

x x Semicytherura galea Stancheva, 1962

Cytheropteron sp.

x Semicytherura aff. inversa (Seguenza, 1880)

Cytherura teiritzbergensis Zorn, 1998

x Semicytherura sp. 1 (this paper)

Dorukella sp. 1 sensu Zorn, 1998

x Semicytherura sp. 2 (this paper)

Flexus reussianus Ruggieri, 1992

x Semicytherura sp. 1 sensu Zorn, 1998

Ghardaglaia pectinata (Héjjas, 1894)

x x x Semicytherura sp. indet.

x x

Graptocythere polyptycha (Reuss, 1850)

x x Senesia trigonella (Reuss, 1850)

Graptocythere ungeri (Reuss, 1850)

x x Senesia ex gr. vadaszi (Zalányi, 1913)

x x x x

Grinioneis haidingeri (Reuss, 1850)

x Tenedocythere sulcatopunctata (Reuss, 1850)

Heliocythere leobendorfensis Zorn, 1998

x Urocythereis kostelensis (Reuss, 1850)

Heliocythere vejhonensis (Procházka, 1893)

x Verrucocythereis verrucosa (Reuss, 1850)

Hemicyprideis dacica (Héjjas, 1894)

x Xestoleberis tumida (Reuss, 1850)

x x x x

Hemicytherura aff. videns (G.W. Müller, 1894)

x Xestoleberis sp.

Hemicytherura gracilicosta Ruggieri, 1953

x Xestoleberis sp. 1 sensu Zorn, 1998

x x

Henryhowella asperrima (Reuss, 1850)

x Xestoleberis sp. 2 sensu Zorn, 1998

x x x

Heterocythereis aff. albomaculata (Baird, 1838)

x Xestoleberis sp. 3 sensu Zorn, 1998

Konarocythere inflata (Schneider, 1949)

x x x

184 ZORN

stratigraphically belong to the Karpatian (Laa and Kor-

neuburg Formations), while the other two belong to the Lower

Badenian (Grund and Gaindorf Formations). The reader will

find a summary on the history of research of the Grunder

Schichten in Æoriæ et al. (2004). Almost 100 ostracod species

are distributed within the different formations. They are listed

in Table 2. Few species have been found in all formations:

Cyamocytheridea derii (Zalányi, 1913), Olimfalunia plicatula

(Reuss, 1850), Senesia ex gr. vadaszi (Zalányi, 1913) and Xe-

stoleberis tumida (Reuss, 1850).

Laa and Korneuburg Formation (Karpatian)

Ostracods from the Laa Formation in the Molasse Basin are

documented from the type locality Laa an der Thaya. On the

basis of foraminifers and nannoplankton Spezzaferri & Æoriæ

(2001) classified the sediments of Laa an der Thaya as being

deposited in a water depth not exceeding 200 m with cool wa-

ter conditions. In Rögl et al. (1997) 20 ostracod species are

mentioned. Most of these species are also represented in the

more diverse ostracod fauna of the coeval Korneuburg Forma-

tion in the Korneuburg Basin. Zorn (1998) described 48 spe-

cies, which reflect a shallow water environment with tempo-

rary brackish water influence. The infraneritic facies of the

Laa Formation is only indicated by the occurrence of Pterygo-

cythereis and Krithe. The latter and Cytherelloidea jonesiana

(Bosquet, 1852) only ocur in the Laa Formation. Ostracods

from the Laa Formation will be figured in a forthcoming pa-

per in the scope of the re-edition of the Karpatian stratotype.

Several species are only known from the Korneuburg For-

mation, e.g. Aurila aff. opaca (Reuss, 1850), Carinovalva aff.

neuhofenensis (Witt, 1967), Costa cf. batei (Brady, 1866),

Cyamocytheridea gracilis Zorn, 1998, Cytherura teiritzber-

gensis Zorn, 1998, Heliocythere leobendorfensis Zorn, 1998,

Heterocythereis aff. albomaculata (Baird, 1838). Species

which are distributed in both Karpatian formations, but not in

the Grund and Gaindorf Formations are: Aurila larieyensis

Moyes, 1965, Callistocythere karpatiensis Zorn, 1998,

Cytherois sp. 1, Loxoconcha vaisonna Carbonnel, 1969, Neo-

cyprideis (Miocyprideis) aff. corbleuensis Ducasse, 1995,

Neocytherideis linearis (Römer, 1838) and Pontocythere

lithodomoides (Bosquet, 1852).

The author agrees with the opinion of Gross (2002) that

Callistocythere aff. canaliculata (Reuss, 1850) from the Kor-

neuburg Formation belongs to C. daedalea (Reuss, 1850),

which is also present in the Laa and Grund Formations. The

smooth specimens of Olimfalunia from the Korneuburg Ba-

sin, which in Zorn (1998) were provisionally placed in the

sculptured species O. plicatula (Reuss, 1850), because of the

presence of intermediate specimens with the smooth species

O. spinulosa (Reuss, 1850), are placed in O. spinulosa in this

study for better faunal comparison. A detailed systematic in-

vestigation and comparison of more material of the two spe-

cies could help to clear up the problem.

Pterygocythereis sp. from the Korneuburg Basin (Zorn

1998) herein is assumed to belong to P. calcarata (Bosquet,

1852). This species is also present in the Grund Formation.

The specimens of Pterygocythereis from the Laa Formation

and especially from the Mühlbach Formation show more

spines on the shell surface for which they were assigned to P.

fimbriata (Münster, 1830). As it is demonstrated in Gross

(2002) the separation of the two mentioned species and the re-

cent species Pterygocythereis jonesi (Baird, 1850) is still not

clear because more studies on their intraspecific variability are

necessary. Xestoleberis aff. pilosella (Reuss, 1850) from the

Korneuburg Formation turned out to be a male specimen of

Xestoleberis tumida (Reuss, 1850) (see Gross 2002).

The Karpatian formations of the former Grunder Schicht-

en can be separated from the Badenian formations mainly by

the occurrence of Loxoconcha vaisonna Carbonnel, 1969, Au-

rila larieyensis Moyes, 1965, Callistocythere karpatiensis

Zorn, 1998 and Neocyprideis aff. corbleuensis Ducasse, 1995.

Furthermore Cyamocytheridea gracilis Zorn, 1998, Helio-

cythere leobendorfensis Zorn, 1998 and Cytherura teiritzber-

gensis Zorn, 1998 only occur in the Korneuburg Formation.

The species Cytheridea paracuminata Kollmann, 1960,

Cyamocytheridea derii (Zalányi, 1913) and Senesia ex gr. va-

daszi (Zalányi, 1913) have their first occurrence in the Karpa-

tian but the first two have a stratigraphic range up to the Bade-

nian and the last to the Sarmatian.

Grund and Gaindorf Formations (Lower Badenian)

The ostracod assemblages of the Badenian Grund and

Gaindorf Formations (Molasse Basin) show evident differ-

ences compared to the Laa and Korneuburg Formations. The

ostracods from the Gaindorf Formation were recently investi-

gated by Zorn (1999, 2003). Thirty species, which represent

elements of the lower infralittoral to the circalittoral, can be

distinguished. The ostracod fauna of the coeval Grund Forma-

tion consists of 61 species including most of the species of the

Mühlbach Formation. Cytheropteron sp., Neomonoceratina

ex gr. helvetica Oertli, 1958, Parakrithe sp., Pterygocythereis

fimbriata (Münster, 1830), Semicytherura sp. indet. and

Xestoleberis sp. occur in the Mühlbach, but not in the Grund

Formation. Cytheropteron, Parakrithe and Xestoleberis sp.

are also not known from the Karpatian formations.

On the basis of the comparison of the material from the

Gaindorf Formation with the material from the Korneuburg

Basin and the Grund Formation, the following species must

be added to the fauna reported in Zorn (2003): Mühlbach: Au-

rila galeata (Reuss, 1850), NNW Gaindorf: Costa aff. ed-

wardsi (Römer, 1838), Loxoconcha sp. 1 sensu Zorn, 1998,

Loxocorniculum hastatum (Reuss, 1850), Pseudocytherura

sp., Semicytherura sp. indet.; type locality SE Gaindorf: Xes-

toleberis sp. 2 sensu Zorn, 1998 and Xestoleberis sp. In Zorn

(2003) Aurila albicans (Ruggieri, 1958) is stated to occur in

the Gaindorf Formation. Within the material of Cernajsek

(1971) the rare species Aurila similis (Reuss, 1850) could be

studied. It is very similar to the first species and it is stated to

occur in Grund. The material from the Gaindorf and Grund

Formations herein is assigned to A. similis (Reuss, 1850) until

the differences between the two species and Aurila galeata

(Reuss, 1850) are cleared.

The Hemicytheridae are much more diverse in the Grund

Formation than in the other formations. Their occurrence is

typical for shallow water environments. Deep water elements

are especially Krithe cf. papillosa (Bosquet, 1852) and Henry-

188 ZORN

howella asperrima (Reuss, 1850). These two and the follow-

ing species are restricted to the Grund Formation: Aurila an-

gulata (Reuss, 1850), A. haueri (Reuss, 1850), A. opaca (Reuss,

1850), Cytherella sp., Cytheridea sp., Flexus reussianus Rug-

gieri, 1992, Grinioneis haidingeri (Reuss, 1850), Helio-

cythere vejhonensis (Procházka, 1893), Hemicyprideis dacica

(Héjjas, 1894), Hemicytherura gracilicosta Ruggieri, 1953,

Leguminocythereis martonfii (Héjjas, 1894), Loxoconcha sp.,

Phlyctenophora arcuata sensu Reuss, 1850, Pokornyella

deformis (Reuss, 1850), Pontocythere aff. curvata (Bosquet,

1852), P. longa (Reuss, 1850), Renicytherura textilis cornuta

(Brestenská, 1978), Semicytherura galea Stancheva, 1962,

Semicytherura sp. 12, Senesia trigonella (Reuss, 1850),

Tenedocythere sulcatopunctata (Reuss, 1850), Urocythereis

kostelensis (Reuss, 1850) and Verrucocythereis verrucosa

(Reuss, 1850).

A high diversity of ostracods and especially of the Hemi-

cytheridae generally is characteristic of the Badenian in the

Central Paratethys. The first occurrence of many Hemi-

cytheridae species is valuable for the identification of the

Badenian, but very probably it is not applicable for subdivid-

ing the Badenian (see Brestenská & Jiøíèek 1978; Gross

2002). The presence of the following species, which have

been found in the Grund and Gaindorf Formations, is restrict-

ed to the Badenian in the Central Paratethys: Acanthocythere-

is hystrix (Reuss, 1850), Aurila similis (Reuss, 1850), A. gale-

ata (Reuss, 1850), A. punctata (Münster, 1830), Cytheridea

acuminata Bosquet, 1852, Cnestocythere lamellicosta Trie-

bel, 1950 and Olimfalunia spinulosa (Reuss, 1850). The same

is also true for Aurila angulata (Reuss, 1850), A. haueri (Reuss,

1850), A. opaca (Reuss, 1850), Renicytherura textilis cornuta

(Brestenská, 1978), Senesia trigonella (Reuss, 1850), Semi-

cytherura galea Stancheva, 1962, Tenedocythere sul-

catopunctata (Reuss, 1850) and Urocythereis kostelensis (Reuss,

1850), which have been found in the Grund Formation. Acan-

thocythereis hystrix (Reuss, 1850) is the index fossil for the

Lower Badenian (Jiøíèek 1983). Aurila similis (Reuss, 1850)

and Renicytherura textilis cornuta (Brestenská, 1978) are

scarcely known in the Central Paratethys but also seem to be

restricted to the Lower Badenian.

Conclusion

The Grund Formation yields 61 ostracod species. Hemi-

cytheridae (Aurila, Graptocythere, Grinioneis, Nonuro-

cythereis, Pokornyella, Senesia, Tenedocythere, Urocythere-

is), Callistocythere daedalea (Reuss, 1850), Cyamocytheridea

derii (Zalányi, 1913), Cytheridea acuminata Bosquet, 1852,

Cytheridea paracuminata Kollmann, 1960, Loxocorniculum

hastatum (Reuss, 1850) and Senesia ex gr. vadaszi (Zalányi,

1913) are most common.

The ostracod assemblage reflects a shallow warm water en-

vironment with a water depth probably not exceeding 100 m.

Deep water elements are only represented by single speci-

mens of Krithe cf. papillosa (Bosquet, 1852), Henryhowella

asperrima (Reuss, 1850) and Pseudocytherura sp.

Very probably parts of the ostracod material especially at

the Grund excavations have been re-deposited as the bad state

of preservation reflects.

The stratigraphic classification of an Early Badenian age for

the Grund Formation can be supported mainly by the occur-

rence of Acanthocythereis hystrix (Reuss, 1850). Many spe-

cies are also known either from Karpatian or from younger

Badenian sequences in Austria. Aurila similis (Reuss, 1850)

and Renicytherura textilis cornuta (Brestenská, 1978) are

scarcely known in the Central Paratethys, but also seem to be

restricted to the Lower Badenian.

The occurrence of Loxoconcha vaisonna Carbonnel, 1969,

Aurila larieyensis Moyes, 1965, Callistocythere karpatiensis

Zorn, 1998 and Miocyprideis aff. corbleuensis Ducasse, 1995

in the Karpatian formations of the former Grunder Schicht-

en is most useful to separate them from the Badenian forma-

tions with the occurrence of Acanthocythereis hystrix (Reuss,

1850) and several species of Hemicytheridae.

Acknowledgments: The author is grateful to Reinhard Roet-

zel (Geological Survey of Austria, Vienna), Fred Rögl (Muse-

um of Natural History, Vienna) and Stjepan Æoriæ and col-

leagues (Institute of Paleontology of the University of

Vienna) for placing the ostracod material at her disposal and

for discussions. The present investigation is part of the FWF-

Project P-13743-BIO (Austrian Science Foundation, project

leader: Johann Hohenegger). Many thanks are due to Helga

Priewalder (Geological Survey of Austria, Vienna) for her

help at the scanning electron microscope and the digital im-

age acquisition system.

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