The Neogene sedimentary basins of the Colombian Pacific coast were formed in forearc basins associated with the uplift of the Andes. In this area, some marine sequences remain unexplored and are marked by a lack of biostratigraphic information. Additionally, available high-resolution biostratigraphic and biochronologic data from this region are limited almost exclusively to open sea research conducted by the Integrated Ocean Drilling Programs (IODP). The Ladrilleros-Juanchaco section is a continuous and well-exposed marine terrigenous sedimentary sequence with abundant Miocene microfossils. Biostratigraphic and biochronologic studies with calcareous nannofossils, planktonic foraminifera and diatoms carried out there revealed the presence of seventeen astronomically calibrated and standard calcareous microfossil biohorizons as well as two tropical diatom biozones. Such information enabled the establishment of a chronologic framework between the Base of Praeorbulina glomerosa and Catinaster coalitus Base, corresponding to 16.27 and 10.79 Ma, respectively (Burdigalian-Tortonian). The proposed biozonation favoured the observation of a high correlation between low-latitude planktonic foraminifera and calcareous nannofossil bioevents whereas diatom biozones and calcareous nannofossil biohorizons are marked by variations since the lowest occurrence of diatoms around 12.2 Ma. Furthermore, by means of interpolating age between the Sphenolithus heteromorphus Top and Fohsella praefohsi Base bioevents, the fact that the Reticulofenestra pseudoumbilicus (>7 µm) Base common took place around 13.6 Ma is interpreted and correlated with other sites, therefore revealing that it can be considered a good bioevent for the base of the Serravallian in these tropical areas.

The byssate pectinid “Chlamys” actinodes (Sowerby, 1846) is an abundant and widely distributed species in the sedimentites of the Puerto Madryn Formation (late Miocene), exposed in the northeastern sector of the Patagonian region (Valdés Peninsule, Chubut Province). The exterior sculpture of this species is highly variable and the 2D geometric morphometric method herein performed enabled the recognition of two morphotypes that reflect differential development of shell-sculpture in response to variation of the hydraulic energy conditions in littoral settings. On one hand, a high-plicae morphotype is defined, represented by specimens with prominent coarse-sculptured shells inhabiting firm-sandy or shell-gravel substrates which developed in high energy environments of the lower shoreface recorded in the Transgressive Phase of the sequence. On the other hand, a low-plicae morphotype is recognised as consisting of fine-sculptured specimens associated to sandy substrates of the upper and middle offshore marine settings recorded in the Maximum Highstand Phase and placed immediately above the maximum flooding surface. In these facies, hydraulic energy conditions are restricted to mild tidal currents of much lower energy than those developed in the environments inhabited by specimens presenting coarse-sculptured shells.

The aim of this study is to describe and interpret the paleoenvironmental history of the San Matías Gulf (SMG), in northern Patagonia, Argentina, which is associated with possible biotic and abiotic changes that occurred during the late Quaternary. In this regard, a taphonomic (disarticulation, right/ left valve ratio, fragmentation, abrasion, teeth preservation) and paleoecologic (alpha diversity, species abundance, life habit, substrate preference, feeding mode) analysis of Amiantis purputata (the target species) and its accompanying faunal remains (the non-target species) in modern, Holocene and Pleistocene shell assemblages, was performed. The general trend of the SMG throughout the late Quaternary was that of a low energy environment with varying water energy intensity depending on the study area. Additionally, each study site contains different substrates marked by patches of sand and rock which would have also determined the presence of certain species and, in turn, the proportion of sandy and rocky patches may have changed over time thus leading to the development of different local paleocommunities. Therefore, this gulf presents a dynamic mosaic of environments over time. Its waters would have been sufficiently rich in nutrients to allow the development of the filter feeding fauna which dominated the late Quaternary, especially A. purpurata. Crepidula species, which feed in two distinct ways (herbivore and filter feeding), increased in proportion throughout the Holocene. These changes, among others, coincided with the Last Glacial Maximum, the final configuration of the SMG, the Climatic Optimum of the Holocene and the impact of humans in the area.

Circoporoxylon kotaense, a new species of fossil wood, is systematically described from the Jurassic Kota Formation, in the Pranhita-Godavari Basin, India. A review of the distribution of global records revealed that the genus is widely distributed in both the northern and the southern hemispheres and favoured clarifications regarding its palaeobiogeography. The distribution of the genus, ranging from the Jurassic to the Miocene, indicates that the limiting factor throughout the species existence was climate. The analysis of fossils in a palaeogeographic context suggests that the extinct genus preferred warm temperate climates.

The Budden Canyon Formation is a Cretaceous unit spanning the Valanginian—Turonian interval in northern California. This marine unit includes plant-fossiliferous near-shore sequences, with richest plant fossil occurrences in the Hauterivian—Aptian. The Lower Chickabally Member (Barremian—early Aptian, ca. 125 Ma) hosts a rich flora preserved anatomically in carbonate concretions, near the town of Ono. The material is dominated by conifers: wood, foliage, cones and dispersed seeds. We characterize the anatomy of a coniferous trunk. The wood exhibits axial and radial resin canals with thick-walled epithelial cells, distinct growth rings, and conspicuous early to late wood transition. Axial tracheids bear radial uniseriate and opposite biseriate pitting. Rays are uniseriate with biseriate portions, with scarce ray tracheids and taxodioid cross-field pitting. Traumatic resin canals form extensive tangential bands. The axial and radial resin canals indicate pinaceous affinities for the Ono wood, but several characters make it different from most extant Pinaceae. The specimen is most similar to Picea Dietrich, from which it differs in cross-field pitting. Among fossil Mesozoic genera, the Ono wood is similar to Palaeopiceoxylon Kräusel and Protocedroxylon Gothan, and to the Pinuxylon-Laricioxyion-Piceoxylon group, but is not entirely consistent with any of these genera. Pinaceous affinity of the Ono wood is consistent with presence in the Budden Canyon Formation of several types of pinaceous foliage and ovulate cones that are, however, not assignable to any extant genus in the family. Together, these indicate the presence in the unit of stem-group Pinaceae that await reconstruction as whole plants.

The first record of microforaminiferal linings from the early Pennsylvanian of Argentina is presented as consisting of Trochospiral Type I, Planospiral Type II and cf. Uniserial indet. (sensu Stancliffe) forms while associated with acritarchs, prasinophytes, freshwater algae, spores and pollen grains. Microforaminiferal linings and associated microflora were obtained from the well core YCF.CO3 borehole (interval of 850–851.5 metres below drill floor), which comprises the lower part of the Ordóñez Formation (Chacoparaná Basin). This association documents the development of estuarine or shallow marine environments in the western part of the basin during the Pennsylvanian (Bashkirian?). The origin of these environments was associated with the final phases (transgressions) of the Carboniferous glaciation of Gondwana, documented in the diamictites of the Ordóñez Formation.