Reply to discussion of “Permian—Triassic vertebrate footprints from South Africa: Ichnotaxonomy,producers and biostratigraphy through two major faunal crises” by Marchetti,L., Klein,H., Buchwitz,M., Ronchi,A., Smith,R.M.H., DeKlerk,W.J., Sciscio,L., and Groenewald,G.H. (2019)

Our recent comprehensive review of the Permian-Early Triassic tetrapod tracksites from South Africa includes a revision of the ichnotaxonomy and the incorporation of a large quantity of new material. The paper also discusses, in light of the revised ichnotaxonomy and palaeontology of several sites, trackmaker attribution and the biostratigraphy of Permian-Early Triassic tetrapod tracks. Precise information about the fossiliferous localities was provided where possible and when sites were relocated. Three footprint associations were described (FA I-III) and highlight their potential stratigraphic value. The youngest (FA III) was recognized at four different localities and is likely Induan in age. A recent comment by Gastaldo and Neveling (2019) regarded one of these FA III localities, the Bethel tracksite, which received criticism for its unclear geographic placement and its stratigraphic position. Further comments included a discussion of the possible palaeoecological interpretation of this tracksite. In replying to these queries, we provided more precise geographic and stratigraphic information, confirming the occurrence of this tracksite ~15 m above the faunal transition which we consider to be currently coinciding with the Permian-Triassic boundary (PTB). Palaeoecological inferences are herein further clarified.     

Sinkhole hazards prediction at Ghor Al Haditha, Dead Sea, Jordan: “Salt Edge” and “Tectonic” models contribution—a rebuttal to “Geophysical prediction and following development sinkholes in two Dead Sea areas, Israel and Jordan, by: Ezersky, M.G., Eppelbaum, L.V., Al-Zoubi,A.3, Keydar S., Abueladas, A-R., Akkawi E., and Medvedev, B.”

Mikhail Ezersky et al. have published the article “Geophysical prediction and following development sinkholes in two Dead Sea areas, Israel and Jordan” (February 2013) in which the paper “Salt karst and tectonics: sinkholes development along tension cracks between parallel strike-slip faults, Dead Sea, Jordan” published by Closson D, Abou Karaki N, Hallot F in 2009 (Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 34(10), 1408–1421) is questioned. In this short paper, we propose some clarifications and discuss the criticisms of these authors.     

Braciana jelaskai n. gen., n. sp., a new larger benthic foraminifer from the Upper Cretaceous (Santonian?–lower Campanian) of the Dinaric-Hellenic realm

A new larger benthic foraminifer is described as Braciana jelaskai n. gen., n. sp. from lower Campanian shallow-water foraminiferal wackestones to packstones of the island of Brač, Croatia. The Late Cretaceous Braciana is roughly homeomorphic to the Liassic taxa Lituolipora (type-species L. polymorpha Gušić & Velić) and Paleomayncina Septfontaine (type-species Mayncina termieri Hottinger). The generic differences to these taxa and other allied forms are discussed. Braciana jelaskai was confused with Pseudocyclammina sphaeroidea Gendrot in the literature with occurrences in the Santonian(?) of Slovenia and Greece.