The currently defined Global Stratotype Section and Point for the Campanian/Maastrichtian boundary at Tercis (France) lacks any belemnite record. However, the detailed correlation of Tercis with the Kronsmoor section in northern Germany has enabled recognising this boundary in terms of belemnite stratigraphy close to the first appearance datum (FAD) of Belemnella obtusa Schulz, 1979. Originally, the FAD of the genus Belemnella Nowak, 1913 (e.g. of Belemnella lanceolata (von Schlotheim, 1813)) has been widely used for defining the base of the traditionally understood Maastrichtian stage in the Boreal Realm. Belemnella appeared almost contemporaneously across a significant portion of epicontinental Europe in what is now considered topmost Campanian and dominated the lower Maastrichtian belemnite assemblages, co-occurring with Belemnitella d’Orbigny, 1840 and rare Fusiteuthis Kongiel, 1962. It disappeared in Western and Central Europe during the mid-Maastrichtian, and as a consequence, the FAD of Belemnitella junior Nowak, 1913 served as a biomarker defining the base of the upper Maastrichtian substage. It is only at the end of the Maastrichtian that the genus Neobelemnella Naidin, 1975 became abundant, replacing Belemnitella steadily from the east to the west as the dominating species. The factors underlying those remarkable shifts in belemnite assemblages remain uncertain, but various environmental elements, especially water depth and temperature, in addition ocean currents, and oceanic chemical composition are considered influential.

The geographical and stratigraphical distribution of the heteromorph ammonite genus Diplomoceras within the North-West Pacific Province is briefly reviewed. Although Diplomoceras ranks amongst the more important, globally distributed taxa during the latest Cretaceous, its precise stratigraphical range still is uncertain. Moreover, the status of the various species assigned to this genus is a matter of debate; for instance, two commonly cited forms, Diplomoceras cylindraceum and D. notabile, are considered to be conspecific by some authors, but treated as discrete taxa by others. The majority of records of species of Diplomoceras are from Maastrichtian strata; however, several late Campanian finds bring some discrepancy into the discussion about their biostratigraphical significance. Here we record new specimens from the upper Maastrichtian Kokuy Unit, refer them to Diplomoceras cylindraceum and briefly consider the geographical, biostratigraphical and taxonomic issues surrounding the genus Diplomoceras.

The first isolated and well-preserved phalanx (autopodial element) of a generically and specifically indeterminate (probably xenopsarian) plesiosaur from the Maastrichtian type area (south-east Netherlands) is described and illustrated. Morphological features of this bone, such as the articular subchondral surfaces, allow it to be distinguished from phalanges of co-occurring mosasaurs (Mosasauridae, Squamata) and could imply rapid growth in plesiosaurs, similar to that observed in extant leatherback turtles. The large size of the phalanx indicates that it originates either from a large juvenile or from a paedomorphic individual. The paucity of plesiosaur remains in biocalcarenites of late Maastrichtian age in the Maastrichtian type area could be explained by the shallow settings, in which these strata were deposited, which may not have offered suitable ecological resources conducive to abundant plesiosaur inhabitation. Presumably, the lack of steep continental slopes in the type Maastrichtian, at which oceanic upwelling of cold, nutrient-rich water supported a higher prey density for pelagic predators such as plesiosaurs, may have inhibited plesiosaur occupation. Rather, decomposing floating carcasses may have been the source of dissociated elements of plesiosaurs in this area, such as isolated teeth, vertebrae and the autopodial element described here.

Brachiopods from the lower upper Maastrichtian (Upper Cretaceous) white chalk succession exposed at Chełm (eastern Poland) comprise Lingula cretacea, Isocrania costata, Cryptoporella antiqua, Cretirhynchia sp., Neoliothyrina sp., Carneithyris sp., Terebratulina chrysalis, T. faujasi, T. longicollis, Terebratulina spp., Gisilina sp., Bronnothyris bronni, Magas chitoniformis, Leptothyrellopsis polonicus and ?Aemula sp. This assemblage is relatively poor in terms of taxonomic diversity and specimen abundance and is dominated by stratigraphically long-ranging species. It is best comparable to that from the micromorphic brachiopod Rugia tenuicostata–Meonia semiglobularis Zone as distinguished in the white chalk successions of Denmark and northern Germany, although this zone is usually placed in the upper lower Maastrichtian. The Chełm succession represents a relatively deep-water and ‘benthos-poor’ variety of white chalk deposited in the Boreal Chalk Sea of Europe. The brachiopod assemblage studied is typical of such a habitat, having been controlled largely by the low availability of minute skeletal substrates suitable for brachiopod settlement.

The historically important mosasaur fossil (known as ‘le grand animal fossile des carrières de Maestricht’) has been known as Mosasaurus hoffmanni for almost two centuries now. Recently, it has been proposed to amend the spelling of the species name, by adding a second ‘i’ to the species epithet. We present historical evidence to the contrary, and recommend, following article 33.2.3.1 of the ICZN, to retain the specific epithet hoffmanni.

A mandible of a Late Cretaceous sea turtle with affinities to Ctenochelys is reported from the Maastrichtian type area of the Netherlands. The triangular mandible has a well-developed symphyseal ridge surrounded on both sides by large, concave areas on the triturating surface. It represents the first potential occurrence of Ctenochelys from the Maastrichtian type area. This finding increases the diversity of the turtle fauna known from the Maastrichtian type area.

Fossil material from the Maastrichtian part of the Scollard Formation is identified as belonging to an acanthomorph fish. An articulated specimen, preserved in part and counterpart, is a member of the paracanthopterygian order Percopsiformes, based on it having a full neural spine on the second preural centrum and two epurals in the caudal skeleton (both paracanthopterygian characters), as well as six branchiostegal rays and an anterodorsal excavated margin on the opercle (percopsiform characters). We name this as a new genus and species, Lindoeichthys albertensis. A phylogenetic analysis with no prior constraints recovered a single most-parsimonious tree with the new taxon placed as the sister group to a clade containing the Palaeocene Montana genus Mcconichthys + Percopsidae. However, this analysis did not recover the traditional percopsiforms (including Aphredoderidae and Amblyopsidae) as monophyletic. A second analysis, in which we constrained the traditional members of the Percopsiformes to be monophyletic, resulted in the new species being placed as the sister group to Percopsis. The articulated percopsiform specimen from the Pisces Point locality allows isolated dentaries from vertebrate microfossil localities to be identified as being from a member of that group. These isolated elements first appear in the late Campanian Judith River Group of Alberta and the Kaiparowits Formation of Utah, documenting that percopsiform fishes were present in the Western Interior of North America at least 75 Ma ago.

The Maastrichtian-Palaeogene series of the Western High Atlas and Meseta Basins in Morocco are particularly rich in palygorskite. The present work is aimed at clarifying the genesis of palygorskite from the interbedded facies and gaining an understanding of their relationships with the depositional environment. The mineralogical characteristics of palygorskite from these series were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and electron microscopy (SEM/TEM). The palygorskite content and microstructure show large geographical and stratigraphical variations in the deposits studied. The palygorskite occurrence is directly related to palaeobathymetry, since it is the dominant clay mineral in shallow marine and restricted environments. According to the morphology of palygorskite crystallites, four types of textures were distinguished. These types of palygorskite are polygenetic, formed by chemical precipitation, by the recrystallization of smectite clays or reworked by wind or water from sub-aerial environments. The difference between the two studied sub-basins with respect to palygorskite occurrence is attributed to the palaeomorphology of the hinterlands, to the tectonic differentiation and to the physical-chemical conditions of seawater.

The Maastrichtian–Danian benthic foraminiferal diversity and assemblages through sequence stratigraphy were studied at Dakhla Oasis, Egypt. Benthic foraminifera numbers (BFN), high-flux species and characteristic benthic foraminiferal species and genera distribution are also incorporated to assess palaeobathymetry, palaeoenvironment and palaeoproductivity. All these proxies are then taken together to construct a sea-level curve and interpreted in terms of regional tectonics, climate and eustasy. Data suggest a remarkably highly equitable benthic environment deposited in a brackish littoral and/or marsh setting with moderate (?) to low oxygen conditions and reduced salinity (oligotrophic), possibly due to increased precipitation and terrestrial runoff. The interrupted dominance of calcareous forms and high-organic-flux species suggests occasional marine incursions and high palaeoproductivity, due to local upwelling. The inferred sea-level curve replicates the global eustatic curve and suggests that the curve is more influenced by the prevailing climate and global eustasy rather than by regional tectonics. The post-Cretaceous–Palaeogene boundary displays improvement in the environment in terms of diversity and number of species and specimens, with a marked reduction in the abundance of high-organic-flux species during early Paleocene (Danian) time, indicating a shift from a more mesotrophic open marine environment to much reduced oligotrophic conditions.

Presented are the first formal descriptions of mosasaur remains of Maastrichtian age from the Danish mainland (Jylland, Sjælland); just two taxa are recognised, viz. Mosasaurus cf. hoffmanni and Plioplatecarpus sp. Recent finds include an association of skeletal fragments, inclusive of a single marginal tooth crown, from within 10 metres or so of the K/T boundary near Holtug, Stevns Klint (Sjælland, eastern Denmark), here assigned to Plioplatecarpus sp. A brief review of previous records of Danish mosasaurs is added.

The Late Cretaceous echinoid genus Echinogalerus König, 1825 is remarkably diverse in the Maastrichtian type area (SE Netherlands and adjacent parts of NE Belgium and western Germany). So far, five species have been recognised, namely E. belgicus (Lambert, 1898), E. minutus (Smiser, 1935), E. muelleri (Schlüter, 1902), E. pusillus Lambert, 1911 and E. vetschauensis (Schlüter, 1902), which occur from the base of the Lower Maastrichtian (E. belgicus, E. pusillus, E. muelleri) up to the K/T boundary (E. minutus). Echinogalerus muelleri, which has the longest stratigraphical range, is the most diverse, while E. pusillus is the smallest echinoid in the area, reaching maximum lengths of 4.5 mm. Comparisons with other species of Echinogalerus described in the literature have now led to the recognition of three tentative infrageneric alliances. It is argued that the ordinal position of Echinogalerus (Holectypoida or Cassiduloida) cannot be evaluated as long as many species are still insufficiently known and two genera, from the Maastrichtian of northern Germany and Denmark, intermediate between the two orders, remain undescribed.

Three durophagous mosasaur species are represented by isolated teeth in the Upper Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) phosphatic beds of Morocco. Globidens phosphaticus nov. sp. is characterised mainly by a strong heterodonty, with mid-posterior teeth being bulbous, irregularly oval in crosssection, and having an inflated posterior surface, a large eccentric located and recurved apical nubbin, vertical sulci on medial and lateral faces, no carinae and an enamel surface covered by anastomosing ridges. Teeth of Prognathodon currii are broad and tall, straight cones, slightly swollen at the base, and with two serrated carinae. These two taxa have been collected from all the phosphatic series (lower to upper Maastrichtian) in the Ganntour Basin (Morocco). Globidens phosphaticus nov. sp. is probably also represented at other Maastrichtian phosphatic sites along the southern margin of the Mediterranean Tethys. Prognathodon currii was previously known only from the Upper Cretaceous phosphates of Negev. Of the third taxon, Carinodens belgicus, only a single tooth (now lost) is known from the Oulad Abdoun Basin (Morocco); this is low, swollen, laterally compressed and bicarinate with a large apical nubbin. Previous records of this species include Europe and Brazil.

This contribution deals with the dual spelling of the terminal Cretaceous Stage, the Maastrichtian or Maestrichtian. From a historical point of view and in agreement with the recommendations of the International Stratigraphic Guide (1st and 2nd editions) only Maestrichtian is justified. Nevertheless, the spelling Maastrichtian is proposed, or equivalents in other languages, because stratigraphic names should employ the spelling of place names in the country of their origin and, to be realistic, because Maastrichtian has been well established by its use in an overwhelming majority of the publications which have appeared during the last decades.

Onshore Maastrichtian strata in the United Kingdom are limited to a few small, isolated blocks of chalk floating within glacial sediments on the Norfolk coast. Isolated outcrops of Campanian and Maastrichtian chalks used to be available around Norwich but the majority of these exposures are now badly degraded. Offshore, in the North Sea Basin, there are complete chalk successions that range throughout the Upper Cretaceous and Lower Cenozoic. There is a limited succession of Maastrichtian chalks exposed on the north coast of Northern Ireland below the Cenozoic flood basalts. In the Western Approaches Basin, Maastrichtian and Danian chalks are known from exploration wells and core samples. West of the United Kingdom a number of DSDP/ODP boreholes have penetrated the Upper Cretaceous succession.

Beginning in the Cenomanian, in southeast England, the whole of the Upper Cretaceous is within the chalk facies, possibly one of the longest intervals of relatively stable environment in the geological record. The Foraminiferida of the chalk have been studied for more than a hundred years and therefore the fauna is exceptionally well known and fully documented. Fifty years ago, the benthonic Foraminiferida were identified as having the potential to provide a viable zonation of the chalk facies and we now have precise, cross-basinal correlation using these taxa.

The planktonic fauna is restricted by both palaeolatitude and water depth. The latter appears to be the most influential as the faunas from onshore are more limited than those recorded from the deeper waters of the North Sea Basin and the Atlantic Margin. Even with this restricted fauna, however, it is still possible to develop a general correlation with the standard Tethyan zonation based on planktonic taxa.

We report the discovery of a new species of marine reptile, a mosasaur, from the Upper Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) of The Netherlands. Prognathodon saturator sp. nov. is represented by an almost complete skull and much of the postcranial skeleton, and is one of the largest mosasaurs discovered to date. The stout skull and extremely massive jaws are more powerfully built than in any other known mosasaur. Bite marks, the partial disarticulation and scattering of the skeleton, and the presence of associated teeth of Squalicorax and Plicatoscyllium suggest extensive scavenging by sharks.

Two isolated mosasaur teeth, one from the upper Campanian of Piotrawin, the other from the upper Maastrichtian at Nasilów (Wisla River valley, central Poland), recently described as Plioplatecarpinae sp. A and Plioplatecarpinae sp. B, respectively, are reassigned to the tylosaurine genus Hainosaurus Dollo, 1885. The present record thus adds to the list of Hainosaurus species known to date from elsewhere in Europe (Sweden, Belgium and England).

The inner Atlantic Coastal Plain of New Jersey reveals exposures of fossiliferous Maastrichtian and Danian deposits. Recent fossil discoveries in this interval are here reported, and placed in the context of Cretaceous/Tertiary (K/T) faunal changes. The exposure at the Inversand Pit at Sewell (New Jersey) is the last active marl mine in the region, and stands as an important reference section for the many significant discoveries of vertebrate fossils produced by the marl mining industry at its zenith. Changes in planktonic populations across the K/T boundary are related to Maastrichtian/Danian marine ecosystem community reorganisation, by demonstrating changes in abundance of dominant marine invertebrates in successive fossil assemblages. Marine invertebrates with non-planktotrophic larval stages were briefly the commonest fossils preserved in the Danian sediments of this region. Late surviving examples of Cretaceous fauna now restricted to the Indo-Pacific region may imply biogeographic changes linked to the K/T mass extinction event.

In the extended type area of the Maastrichtian Stage (southern Limburg, the Netherlands; provinces of Limburg and Liège, Belgium; Aachen area, Germany), the pachydiscid Pachydiscus (P.) neubergicus (von Hauer, 1858) ranks amongst the rarer species of Campanian-Maastrichtian ammonites. To date, just four specimens are known, which show P. (P.) neubergicus in this area to have been confined to the Vijlen Member (Intervals 0–6, Gulpen Formation). This would correspond to the basal sumensis Zone to the lower cimbrica Zone, or tegulatus/junior Zone, depending on placement of the Lower/Upper Maastrichtian boundary. Material available has been collected in recent years at the CBR-Lixhe (Liège, Belgium) and ENCI-Maastricht bv (Maastricht) quarries as well as from outcrop 62D-26 at Vijlenerbosch (Vijlen, the Netherlands). Records of P. (P.) neubergicus, the proposed index for the base of the Maastrichtian Stage, from elsewhere in Europe (northern Spain, SW France, Austria, Denmark, Bulgaria), suggest it to have been fairly long-ranging and show local first occurrences to have been diachronous.

Remains of Late Cretaceous birds are rare, which is especially true for Europe and the type area of the Maastrichtian Stage (southeast Netherlands, northeast Belgium) in particular. In the present paper, we record new remains (isolated tarsometatarsus and radius) that document the presence of both enantiornithine and ornithurine birds in the Maastrichtian area. These fossils, although fragmentary, are important in view of their stratigraphic age: all bird remains discovered to date in the Maastricht area are amongst the youngest ’non-modern’ avians known, originating from strata deposited less than 500,000 years prior to the end of the Cretaceous Period.

Mosasaur taxa currently known from Campanian-Maastrichtian strata in the Liège-Limburg (SE Netherlands, NE Belgium) and Mons (southern Belgium) basins are listed and briefly discussed and their stratigraphic ranges indicated. Recently published and/or ongoing work on coleoid and ammonoid cephalopods in these areas allows tie points between NW Europe and the United States (Western Interior, Gulf Coast, Atlantic Seaboard) to be established. Future studies need to refine the resultant, rather crude, scheme. The ultimate aim is a more robust picture of mosasaur taxonomy, biostratigraphy and palaeobiogeography, and a detailed evaluation of migratory patterns across the Atlantic.