Collections

In February 2026, the 18^th International Symposium Early and Lower Vertebrates was held at the ESEF de Berrechid - Université Hassan 1er near Casablanca (Morocco). 108 persons were registered and during the five days of presentations, 1 talk by the honorary speaker John long, 11 keynotes and 70 normal and lightning talks were presented by researchers from most continents. This volume is dedicated to the meeting’s topic, i.e. the phylogeny, anatomy and other palaeobiological questions related to Palaeozoic vertebrates but also younger fish and amphibians.

In February 2026, the 18^th International Symposium Early and Lower Vertebrates was held at the ESEF de Berrechid - Université Hassan 1er near Casablanca (Morocco). 108 persons were registered and during the five days of presentations, 1 talk by the honorary speaker John long, 11 keynotes and 70 norm ...

This topical collection comprises scientific articles derived from contributions presented at the RCMNS workshop hosted by JURASSICA from 5–7 September 2025. The meeting focused on the history of Neogene continental ecosystems (23–3 million years ago) in Europe and Asia and was organised under the framework of the Regional Committee for Mediterranean Neogene Stratigraphy (RCMNS). The workshop brought together 40 researchers from Turkey, Moldova, Romania, Greece, Italy, Spain, Germany, Slovakia, Poland, Switzerland, and Argentina, fostering a diverse international platform for collaboration and exchange. This collection includes a selection of presented 24 talks, 5 posters, in which researchers examined how climate and tectonics, alongside other ecological drivers affected ecosystem dynamics and biodiversity evolution during the Neogene.

This topical collection comprises scientific articles derived from contributions presented at the RCMNS workshop hosted by JURASSICA from 5–7 September 2025. The meeting focused on the history of Neogene continental ecosystems (23–3 million years ago) in Europe and Asia and was organised under the f ...

The Symposium on Turtle Evolution took place at the University of Fribourg, Switzerland, from June 26–28, 2024. Over the course of three days, experts from across the globe presented their research on turtle evolution with a particular outlook on paleontology. The present special volume is a collection of articles resulting from work presented at the symposium.

The Symposium on Turtle Evolution took place at the University of Fribourg, Switzerland, from June 26–28, 2024. Over the course of three days, experts from across the globe presented their research on turtle evolution with a particular outlook on paleontology. The present special volume is a collect ...

In 1924, Prof. Bernhard Peyer from the University of Zurich, Switzerland, began to excavate the exceptionally preserved fossils of the Ladinian ‘Grenzbitumenzone’ at Monte San Giorgio, Ticino. Over the decades, complete skeletons of many marine and non-marine vertebrates were discovered and described. Monte San Giorgio is the first Triassic black shale Fossillagerstaette that became world-renowned, which led to the recognition by the UNESCO as a world heritage site. With this volume we want to (1) commemorate the centennial of the excavations, (2) demonstrate how the discoveries from Monte San Giorgio triggered global research on similar black shale deposits in many parts worldwide and (3) show how research continues today. Articles, which are linked with the topic ‘Triassic Konservatlagerstaetten and their fossils’ (not only Monte San Giorgio) are welcome. Topics covered in this volume, always related with Triassic Konservatlagerstaetten are: evolution; systematics of vertebrates, invertebrates, microfossils, plants; revisions of groups; description of new taxa and occurrences; stratigraphy; palaeoecology; taphonomy; functional & constructional morphology, morphometrics; biomechanics; history of research on Triassic conservation deposits; etc. We have waivers if no funding is available for full Open Access publication.

In 1924, Prof. Bernhard Peyer from the University of Zurich, Switzerland, began to excavate the exceptionally preserved fossils of the Ladinian ‘Grenzbitumenzone’ at Monte San Giorgio, Ticino. Over the decades, complete skeletons of many marine and non-marine vertebrates were discovered and describe ...

Santiago Roth (1850-1924) emigrated to Argentina as a child and became a self-taught palaeontologist. Roth is, after Agassiz, the most significant natural scientist from Switzerland to become a main figure in the Americas.  Each year, thousands of visitors admire the giant ground sloth (Megatherium) in the Zoological Museum of the University of Zurich. Despite their popularity, the vast mammals finds that Roth deposited in Swiss collections remained mostly unstudied—until recently. Ongoing research efforts on Roth's fossils in Swiss collections have been enhanced by financial support from SwissCollNet and Swiss SNF. This special issue marks a collection of comprehensive studies of unique collections mainly in Zurich of diverse groups of mostly but not only mammals - in commemoration of Roth’s legacy, one century after his death.

Santiago Roth (1850-1924) emigrated to Argentina as a child and became a self-taught palaeontologist. Roth is, after Agassiz, the most significant natural scientist from Switzerland to become a main figure in the Americas.  Each year, thousands of visitors admire the giant ground sloth (Megatherium) ...

The present topical collection unites contributions dedicated to the study of the fossil record of a newly discovered site Jradzor in Armenia. The sedimentary succession reflects a depositional history of volcanogenic origin which has been dated as the second half of the Pliocene Epoch (4.3-3.1 Ma). During the catastrophic volcanic eruptions, the entire vertebrate fauna has found a dramatic death being trapped in hot pyroclastic density currents. The fossil record found in volcaniclastic and other sedimentary rocks is represented by different vertebrate groups including fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds and both large and small mammals. Further, a diatom flora from the lacustrine base of the section and vegetation based on phytolith record from the covering volcaniclastic and catena deposits will be studied. The Jradzor site provides a unique and so far, missing Pliocene record for the South Caucasus – a region at the crossroads of three continents Africa, Asia and Europe. The site will enable understanding of palaeobiogeographic relationships at small- (regions) and large-scale (continents). Please note that this Topical Collection was initiated when the journals was still published with Springer and articles published with Springer can be accessed here:  https://www.springeropen.com/collections/JFR 

The present topical collection unites contributions dedicated to the study of the fossil record of a newly discovered site Jradzor in Armenia. The sedimentary succession reflects a depositional history of volcanogenic origin which has been dated as the second half of the Pliocene Epoch (4.3-3.1 Ma). ...