In 1913 Fritz FRECH
published the first volume of the Fossilium Catalogus, Ammoneae Devonicae. This
first volume was comparatively modest in its size. FRECH managed to give an
overview of the Devonian ammonoid diversity in only 42 pages. The bibliography
he assembled is only two pages long and contains 40 references, in contrast
to the 38 bibliography pages with more than 650 references in this new edition.
FRECH’s volume of the Fossilium Catalogus did not contain all the known
Devonian ammonoid species of that time. Nevertheless, it reflected the state
of research in this field and is therefore a valuable historic document. It
provides an example of the immense increase in knowledge of a significant fossil
group during the twentieth century.
In the new Fossilium Catalogus presented here, numerous illustrations were included
in the text in order to meet the various needs of a larger public with a diverse
background. They are intended to clarify morphological and phylogenetic relationships,
to facilitate identification of genera, as well as to make the volume less monotonous.
Additionally, tables with the most important characters of the genera and higher
taxonomic hierarchies will probably make it a useful tool for ammonoid specialists,
stratigraphers, fossilcollectors as well as motivated laymen to identify Devonian
ammonoids. This is especially important, as many Devonian ammonoid species represent
reliable index fossils.
This volume, of course, cannot claim completeness. The authors’ attention
was focused on documenting the state-of-the-art of the first half of the year
2002, and will certainly soon require supplements.
Dieter KORN, Christian KLUG, Tübingen 2002