REVISION OF THE OSTRACODE SUBGENUS PALEOBLITACYTHEREIS BENSON, 1977

The genus Oblitacythereis, type species Oblitacythereis (Oblitacythereis) mediterranea Benson, 1977, and the subgenera Oblitacythereis and Paleoblitacythereis are well defined by Benson (1977), who designated Carinocythereis ruggierii Russo, 1966 as type species of Paleoblitacythereis. The specimens figured and described as Carinocythereis ruggierii by Benson (1977), however, clearly differ from Russo's species, and coincide well with Oblitacythereis sp. 3 Russo & Bossio, 1976, as stated by Bonaduce & Russo (1985). As a consequence of this misidentification the subgenus Paleoblitacythereis is subject to uncertainty and potential instability. The type species designated by Benson should be considered as a new nominal species and Carinocythereis ruggierii Russo, which actually belongs to Paleoblitacythereis, should be revised. The study of well-preserved specimens from some Miocene formations in southern Italy prompts the author to propose herein a systematic revision of the Italian representatives of the subgenus Paleoblitacythereis. Three species are discussed. These are: Oblitacythereis (Paleoblitacythereis) ruggierii (Russo, 1966), Oblitacythereis (Paleoblitacythereis) bossioi n. sp. ( = Oblitacythereis sp. 3 Russo & Bossio, 1976), here proposed as the new nominal type species of Paleoblitacythereis and, finally, Oblitacythereis (Paleoblitacythereis) apula n. sp., described as new. The systematic notes of each species are given with the bio-chronostratigraphical distribution resulting from the present study together with some palaeoecological remarks.&nbsp

MIDDLE MIOCENE OSTRACODS FROM THE SALENTINE PENINSULA

The ostracod faunas of the S. Caterina and S. Maria al Bagno sections (Salentine Peninsula, Apulia) were studied. These sections comprise the lower and middle levels of the Pietra Leccese formationand range collectively from the uppermost Burdigalian or the lower Langhian to the middle Serravallian. Forty-one species, belonging to twenty-seven genera were identified. Nineteen species known previously are illustrated and discussed; six (Carinocythereis messapica n. sp., Celtia multicostata n. sp., Cytherella obesa n. sp., Cytherella polygonalis n. sp., Cytherella salentinensis n. sp. and Cytherelloidea ? rectangularisn. sp.) are described as new, and two are left in open nomenclature. The stratigraphic distribution of a remarkable number ofshelf ostracod species,known previously from the Upper Miocene upwards, includes also part of the Middle Miocene.&nbsp

LATE MIDDLE PLEISTOCENE COOL NON-MARINE MOLLUSC AND SMALL MAMMAL FAUNAS FROM LIVORNO (ITALY)

New stratigraphic data (exposed sections and boreholes) allowed a detailed reconstruction of the northern sector of the "Terrazzo di Livorno" (Central Italy). A new unit, called "Corea formation" was discovered and correlated to marine isotope stage (MIS) 6 and to its transition to MIS 5. This formation comprises, at its base, fluvial gravels and sands followed by fine-grained alluvial plain deposits. Non-marine molluscs, small mammals and pollen allow a reconstruction of the environment present during the deposition of the alluvial plain deposits. The environment was mainly an open space, though sparse woodlands should have been present. The non-marine fauna shows features intermediate between typical interglacial and glacial assemblages described so far in Italy. Worth of note is the presence of Orcula dolium and Vallonia enniensis, which now inhabit northern Italy. These findings improve our knowledge on the biogeography of Quaternary non-marine faunas of Central Italy. Stable isotopes data on land snail shells, freshwater shells and pedogenic carbonates showed that climate conditions were cooler than today (possibly 1-2°C less) with a significant amount of C4 vegetation, in an environment with moderately dry conditions