科研之友
微信
新浪微博
Facebook
分享链接
摘要
A late Miocene (6-6.5Ma; Kapitean and latest Tongaporutuan stages) fossil leaf locality is situated at Mataora in the southern Coromandel Peninsula of the North Island, New Zealand (latitude 37 degrees S). It includes well-preserved remains of a new genus and species of conifer, Mataoraphyllum miocenicus, considered to be a phyllodinous Taxaceae. Other conifers include a new species of Phyllocladus, P. palmerii, and a small scale-leafed Podocarpaceae. There are five angiosperms, including a small-leafed Epacridaceae species, Myrsine waihiensis sp. nov., (Mysinaceae) Pseudopanax (Araliaceae), and two of unknown affinity. The relatively small leaf size, low biodiversity and taxonomic content suggest low, open vegetation under a relatively cool but wet climate; current subalpine to upper forest limit vegetation is a close analogy. The fossil assemblage indicates that mean annual temperatures may have been cooler at 37 degrees S than today for the late Miocene.
- 出版日期2011
