Zlichovian–Givetian bivalve fauna from the planktonic facies (Nandan Facies) of Nandan, Guangxi, South China

Abstract

A large amount of pteriomorphs of bivalve have been found in the Zlichovian–Givetian black mudstone-siltpelite in the trough in basin facies-zone of Luofu, Nandan, northwest Guangxi, South China. This fauna consists of 20 species, placed in 11 genera and 6 families, of which 1 family, 2 genera and 8 species are new. It has a very low diversity while compared with the contemperaneous fauna of Xiangzhou facies. This fauna is characterized by: a. Only 2 subclasses, the Pteriomorphia and Cryptodonta of 6 subclasses of Bivalvia were presented in the Nandan facies fauna; b. Among the occurred 6 families: Praecardiidae, Antipleuridae, Lunulacardiidae, Pterineidae, Posidoniidae, and Guangxiconchiidae, the Guangxiconchiidae (fam. nov.) is the most falourishing one. About 80% of individuals of bivalves belong to it. In contrast, the Pterineidae which was very flourish in the Xiangzhou facies, is represented by a small amount of specimens. In the generic level, the Guangxiconcha is mostly developed and distributed from Zlichovian to Givetian; c. This is a basically cosmopolitan fauna, and may compare with the contemperaneous bivalve fauna of the same facies of western Europe and North America. Among 11 genera of this fauna, 7 genera: Ptychopteria(Actinopteria), Cheiopteria, Pterochaenia, Posidonia, Lunulacardium and Buchiola are the cosmopolitan or basically cosmopolitan taxa, while Guangxiconcha, Nandannia and Opisthonia are the endemics to South China. 62% of the species are the endemics; d. This fauna is dominated by the small-sized, thin-shalled and fragile taxa. Except for Buchiola and Ptychopteria, most taxa are ornamented by fine concentrical line, or acrossed by very weakly radial line; e. About 54% of taxa and 90% of total individuals of this fauna may be the byssal attached epifauna, most of them may be the pseudoplanktonic bivalves.Seven bivalve zones of Zlichovian–Givetian of Nandan, Guangxi have been recognized, and compared with the associated tentaculitid zones.