The family Carditidae (Bivalvia) in the early Danian of Patagonia (Argentina)

The first systematic analysis of the Danian carditids of Patagonia is presented, which includes four genera—one new genus and the first records of three other genera in South America. They consist of Claibornicardia paleopatagonica (Ihering, 1903), a widely distributed species occuring in the Jagüel, Roca and Salamanca formations (Neuquén, Río Negro and Chubut Provinces); Rotundicardia Heaslip, 1968, represented by the new species R. mariobrosorum n. sp., which is restricted to the Roca Formation (Río Negro Province); Cardites feruglioi (Petersen, 1846) (Roca and Lefipán formations, Río Negro and Chubut Provinces); and by Kalelia new genus, which includes K. burmeisteri (Böhm, 1903) from the Salamanca and Roca formations (Río Negro and Chubut Provinces), which is related to the Paris Basin species K. multicostata (Lamarck, 1806) n. comb. and K. pectuncularis (Lamarck, 1806) n. comb. ‘Venericardia’ iheringi (Böhm, 1903), a species known only from internal molds, is described and regarded as a carditid with uncertain affinities. The presence of Claibornicardia, Rotundicardia, and Cardites in Patagonia constitutes the most ancient record of these genera and confirms biogeographical connections previously established between the Danian Argentinian and North American/European fossil faunas.Fil: Perez, Damián. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales ; ArgentinaFil: del Río, Claudia Julia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales ; Argentin

<i>Mytilus antiquorum</i> J. Sowerby, 1821, and other Pliocene mussels (Mollusca, Bivalvia) from the southern North Sea Basin

Mytilus antiquorum J. Sowerby, 1821, is recorded from the Coralline Crag Formation of East Anglia (UK) and the Lillo Formation ( Oorderen, Kruisschans and Merksem members) of the Antwerp area (Belgium). The species is diagnosed on the basis of newly collected material and differentiated from modem European mussel species. The presence of M. antiquorum in the southern North Sea Basin is restricted to the Middle (Piacenzian) and early Late Pliocene (Gelasian). A possible occurrence of the species in the latest Pliocene of northern Greenland is discussed. A second Middle- Late Pliocene North Sea Basin species, tentatively referred to as M. edulis forma giganteus Wood, 1874, is diagnosed and discussed. The systematic status of this species remains unresolved. In the Late Pliocene, a third mussel species occurs in the area, tentatively identified as Mytilus ?trossulus Gould, 1850