ASGP (2025), vol. 95: 211–227

LATE JURASSIC (KIMMERIDGIAN) COMATULIDS (CRINOIDEA, COMATULIDA) FROM THE ŁÓDŹ DEPRESSION (CENTRAL POLAND)

Mariusz A. SALAMON (1*), Marcin KRAJEWSKI (2), Michał BUGAJSKI (3), Piotr OLCHOWY (2), Madani BENYOUCEF (4), Przemysław DEGÓRSKI (3) & Bartosz J. PŁACHNO (5)

1) Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Silesia in Katowice, Będzińska 60, 41-200 Sosnowiec, Poland; e-mail: paleo.crinoids@poczta.fm
2) Faculty of Geology, Geophysics and Environmental Protection, AGH University of Krakow, 30 Mickiewicza Av., 30-059 Kraków, Poland; e-mail: kramar@agh.edu.pl, piotr.olchowy@agh.edu.pl
3) Klub Miłośników Skamieniałości “Inkluzja”, Poland
4) Laboratory of Geomatics, Ecology and Environment, Mustapha Stambouli University of Mascara, DZ-29000 Mascara, Algeria; e-mail: benyoucefmada@gmail.com
5) Faculty of Biology, Institute of Botany, Department of Plant Cytology and Embryology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa Street 9, 30-387 Kraków, Poland; e-mail: bartosz.plachno@us.edu.pl
*) Corresponding author

Salamon, M. A., Krajewski, M., Bugajski, M., Olchowy, P., Benyoucef, M., Degórski, P. & Płachno, B. J., 2025. Late Jurassic (Kimmeridgian) comatulids (Crinoidea, Comatulida) from the Łódź Depression (Central Poland). Annales Societatis Geologorum Poloniae, 95: 211–227.

Abstract: Kimmeridgian carbonate facies from the southern margin of the Łódź Depression are rich in crinoid remains, dominated by stalked forms. Free-living comatulids (adult stemless crinoids), however, have remained largely undocumented in this area, with only a single specimen reported to date. Our newly collected material includes several dozen comatulid remains, primarily represented by centrodorsals. These specimens are assigned to Solanocrinites sp., Comatulina sp., Palaeocomaster cf. karsensis Radwańska, and Semiometra petitclerci (Caillet). In addition, stalked comatulids belonging to the family Thiolliericrinidae are documented, including Thiolliericrinus flexuosus Goldfuss and Solonaerium cf. sigillatum (Quenstedt), the latter two species being reported from Poland for the first time. This study also provides a review of the Kimmeridgian stalked crinoids (Isocrinida, Millericrinida, Cyrtocrinida) and Upper Jurassic comatulids previously recorded from Poland. The new occurrences originate from lower Kimmeridgian sponge-bivalve-oncoid biostromal limestones and marly limestones, as well as from thin-bedded marls and marly limestones. Within the epicontinental platform of the northern Tethyan shelf, these facies represent mid- to outer-platform transgressive successions. Their development was particularly pronounced during the late Oxfordian to early Kimmeridgian (up to the Hypselocyclum Zone) limestone-dominated platform stage and continued into the marl-dominated platform stage of the early Kimmeridgian (Hypselocyclum-Divisum zones).

Manuscript received 20 October 2025, accepted 22 November 2025