First record of the puzosiine ammonite genus Pachydesmoceras from the Middle and Upper Turonian of Poland

Two gigantic individuals of the puzosiine ammonite genus Pachydesmoceras, from uppermost Middle and lower Upper Turonian strata in central and southwest Poland, are described and illustrated as the first examples of this genus to be recorded from Poland. Specific identification is problematic because of internal mould preservation and deformation to various extent; in addition, comparative material from other European localities is lacking. Representatives of Pachydesmoceras are typical of the Tethyan Realm; records from the European and Northwest Pacific provinces in the Boreal Realm are few. Both Polish specimens are referred to as P. cf. pachydiscoide Matsumoto.

► Taxonomical and stratigraphic studies on two gigantic ammonites from Middle and Upper Turonian of Poland. ► Both Polish specimens are tentatively referred as P. cf. pachydiscoide. ► We presented an overview of large and giant Cretaceous ammonites from Poland. ► Comparison of P. cf. pachydiscoide with large-sized European puzosiines is widely discussed. ► Presence of morphological variation of Pachydesmoceras pachydiscoide has been described and illustrated.