New brachiopod family Arzonellinidae (Terebratulida) from the Early Jurassic (Sinemurian) of Montenegro, southern Europe, Mediterranean Province

Abstract

ABSTRACT The systematic position of the Early Jurassic brachiopod genus Arzonellina (Sulser) based on new material from Montenegro assigned to Arzonellina stachei (Bittner) and the type species Arzonellina exotica (Sulser), known from southern Switzerland, are discussed. Based on the unusual internal characters, hitherto unknown in detail, the new family Arzonellinidae is erected within the order Terebratulida. An emended diagnosis for the genus Arzonellina is given. The external and internal characters of Arzonellina stachei (Bittner) are described; the specimens came from talus blocks of white recrystallised limestone (rudstones) from Smokovac, southern Montenegro. Arzonellina was originally described from Arzo in the Southern Swiss Alps; the Dinaric Carbonate Platform of Montenegro can now be added to its palaeobiogeographic distribution, with both occurrences located on the Apulian microplate. Associated fauna at both Arzo and Smokovac point to a Sinemurian age for Arzonellina.