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

Abstract

AbstractThe 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 ofClaibornicardia paleopatagonica(Ihering, 1903), a widely distributed species occuring in the Jagüel, Roca and Salamanca formations (Neuquén, Río Negro and Chubut Provinces);RotundicardiaHeaslip, 1968, represented by the new speciesR.mariobrosorumn. 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 byKalelianew genus, which includesK.burmeisteri(Böhm, 1903) from the Salamanca and Roca formations (Río Negro and Chubut Provinces), which is related to the Paris Basin speciesK.multicostata(Lamarck, 1806) n. comb. andK.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 ofClaibornicardia,Rotundicardia, andCarditesin 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.