Terrestrial Gastropoda from the Pleistocene of Beni Saf, NW Algeria

Abstract

A study of the terrestrial gastropods of the Pliocene-Quaternary succession of the Beni Saf sea cliff, NW Algeria, at the Playa Port locality, is presented herein. The sedimentary succession is subdivided into four lithostratigraphic units, on the basis of their lithologic and biogenic contents: the three first units (A, B and C) are of marine origin; the last unit (D) is of continental origin and includes three beds yielding terrestrial gastropod fossils, which form laterally traceable horizons. Herein, we describe the section's lithology, present stratigraphical considerations regarding its age and thoroughly described its terrestrial gastropod fossil fauna. In total, 13 species are reported here from Beni Saf: 2 caenogastropods (family Pomatiidae) and 11 stylommatophorans (family Achatinidae and superfamily Helicoidea). The sedimentological data indicate that the depositional setting at Beni Saf was a dune system flanked by wadi floodplains deposits (snail levels); the ecological preferences of the gastropods largely agrees with this scenario.