Balanomorphs from late Upper Pleistocene and Holocene caves in northern Spain, with a new genus and species, and their palaeoclimatological implications

Abstract

Sampling in archaeological caves in northern Spain, within levels dated between ca. 23,000 and 3500cal BP, revealed the presence of six species of sessile cirripedes. A new genus and a new species are described in the Lower Magdalenian (ca. 18,000cal BP). Titobustillobalanus tubutubulus gen. nov., sp. nov. is characterised by parietes permeated by a single row of secondary small tubes between primary and secondary inner lamina and a sheath with tubes and cells. For each of the other five species, the current geographic distribution and ecologic data are given. A change of fauna is noticed from the Upper Magdalenian (ca. 14,500cal BP) indicating global warming.