Araucarian cone-scale complexes,newly found in Aptian Kitadani Formation of Tetori Group in Fukui Prefecture,Central Japan

This study reports on two forms of Araucarian cone-scale complexes from the Aptian Kitadani Formation of the Tetori Group in Fukui Prefecture, Central Japan. One of these has been identified as a new fossil species: Araucarites kitadaniensis Yabe et Yukawa sp. nov. This is the first known occurrence of Araucarian macrofossils from the Tetori Group, indicating that this group was substantially diverse during that time period. This finding concurs with previous palynological investigations at the site, supporting the hypothesis that Araucarian plants began to diversify during Aptian global warming.