REVISION OF THE OSTRACODE SUBGENUS PALEOBLITACYTHEREIS BENSON, 1977

Abstract

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.