Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 151 (1999) 191–208

A late Messinian brackish water ostracod fauna of Paratethyan aspect

from Le Vicenne Basin (Abruzzi, central Apennines, Italy)
E. Gliozzi *
Centro di Studio per il Quaternario e l’Evoluzione Ambientale, C.N.R., c=o Dip. Scienze della Terra,
Università degli Studi di Roma ‘La Sapienza’, P. le A. Moro, 5-00185 Roma, Italy
Received 28 March 1996; revised version received 27 January 1997; accepted 30 November 1998

Abstract

In the lower portion of the sedimentary succession of the Le Vicenne Basin (Abruzzi, central Italy) 8 m of siltitic clays
crop out, which bear a rich ostracod association in which the following fourteen taxa have been collected: Candona (Camp-
tocypria) cf. C. (C.) venusta (Zalányi), Candona (Camptocypria) sp., Leptocythere idonea Mandelstam, Markova, Rozyeva
and Stepanajtys, Leptocythere multituberculata (Livental), Leptocythere palimpsesta (Livental), Leptocythere propinqua
(Livental), Euxinocythere (Maeotocythere) praebaquana (Livental), Tyrrhenocythere pontica (Livental), Tyrrhenocythere
ruggierii Devoto, Cyprideis agrigentina Decima, Cyprideis aff. C. tuberculata (Méhes), Loxoconcha eichwaldi Livental,
Loxoconcha sp. and Loxoconcha cf. L. ludica Olteanu. The composition of the ostracod fauna shows a remarkable
Paratethyan influence (ten species out of twelve are characteristic of the Paratethys domain and, among those, Leptocythere
multituberculata, Leptocythere idonea and Loxoconcha cf. L. ludica are recorded for the first time in Italy). On the basis of
comparison with similar ostracod assemblages found in the Mediterranean Basin (Spain, Corsica, France, Greece), the Le
Vicenne association has been referred to the Loxoconcha djaffarovi Zone (Carbonnel, 1978), correlated with the uppermost
Messinian. During this time-interval the Mediterranean Basin was characterized by several isolated shallow water brackish
basins which reproduced the environmental conditions existing in the Paratethyan domain during the Neogene. The
existence of these widespread brackish water-bodies favoured the westward migration of the Paratethyan ostracod faunas
and their colonization of the Western Tethys domain.  1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Keywords: lacustrine; ostracods; late Messinian; Lago-Mare; palaeobiogeography; systematics

1. Introduction the Messinian (Carbonnel, 1978). In this time-inter-

The ostracod fauna coming from the Le Vicenne
Basin (Abruzzi, central Apennines) is characterized
by a strong Paratethyan component as it was al-
ready evidenced by Devoto (1967). This compo-
nent is known to become prevalent in the whole
Western Tethys ostracod assemblages at the end of
Ł Tel.:C39 06 4456634; Fax: C39 06 4468632; E-mail:
gliozzi@gea.geo.uniroma1.it
val the Mediterranean Basin underwent a peculiar
palaeogeographic and palaeoenvironmental setting,
which cancelled for a few hundred thousand years
the geographical and environmental barriers between
Paratethys and Western Tethys and favoured the
westward migration of some shallow water ostracods
pertaining to the Paratethyan bioprovince.
Ostracod assemblages with Paratethyan affinities
were distributed in the whole Mediterranean Basin at

0031-0182/99/$ – see front matter  1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
PII: S 0 0 3 1 - 0 1 8 2 ( 9 9 ) 0 0 0 2 3 - 1
192 E. Gliozzi / Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 151 (1999) 191–208
 E. Gliozzi / Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 151 (1999) 191–208 193

the end of the Miocene (Krstic and Stancheva, 1990)
but have been scarcely studied in detail: in Italy
systematical studies dealing with this biofacies have
been undertaken only by Grékoff and Molinari, 1963
and Devoto (1967, 1968, 1969) and in the Western
Tethys particularly by Carbonnel (1978) (see Gliozzi
et al., in press, for details and references). In the
present paper, the taxonomy and the autoecology of
the ostracod fauna collected at the Le Vicenne Basin
(Abruzzi, central Apennines, Italy) are discussed as
well as its geographical and chronostratigraphical
distribution. Since the majority of the collected taxa
are characteristic of the Paratethyan bioprovince, it
has been necessary to refer their chronostratigraphi-
cal distribution to the chronostratigraphy of the dif-
ferent Paratethyan domains (i.e. Central Paratethys
with the Dacic Basin, and Eastern Paratethys with
the Euxine and Caspian basins) (Fig. 1A). Updated
Paratethyan chronostratigraphies and correlation at-
tempts between the different basins can be found in
the papers of Archambault-Guezou (1976), Feijfar
and Heinrich (1986), Marinescu (1995), Papaianopol
and Marinescu (1995), Popov (1996), Popov et al.
(1996), and Nosovskiy (1996).
2. Geological setting
The Le Vicenne succession is located in the
homonymous basin in the Marsica sector (Abruzzi)
of the central Apennines (Fig. 1B). It crops out not
continuously for about 400 m along the N–S rim
of an escarpment and the strata gently dip towards
SSW. The section has a total thickness of about
50 m (see Cipollari et al., 1999a). From the base
to the top, it consists of: (1) well cemented poly-
genic conglomerates with arenaceous reddish ma-
trix, characterized by low textural maturity; (2) well
rounded clast conglomerates, with intercalations of
siltitic–clayey levels bearing oligo–mesohaline mol-
luscs and ostracods; (3) at the top, the succession
is closed by poorly rounded conglomerates with
fragmentary marine molluscs heteropic with fine-
grained calcarenites and limestones bearing small
globigerinids (Fig. 1C).
The geometry of the deposits, which uncon-
formably overlie the deformed Meso–Cainozoic sub-
stratum, is referable to an open syncline with an E–
W axis, probably due to a light compressional defor-
mation during the orogenic event which affected
the whole Marsica region during the Messinian
Lago-Mare=early Pliocene. This setting, together
with regional data concur to define the Le Vicenne
Basin as a thrust-top basin (Cipollari et al., 1999a).
The ostracods studied in the present paper have
been recovered from eight samples collected at every
metre from the sandy–clayey intercalations in the
basal portion of the well rounded conglomerates of
the Le Vicenne section.
3. The Paratethyan-influenced Lago-Mare
ostracod biofacies
The detailed systematic study reported in Ap-
pendix A indicates that the assemblage collected
at Le Vicenne is definitely Paratethyan-influenced:
ten species out of twelve (C. cf. C. (C.) venusta,
L. idonea, L. multituberculata, L. palimpsesta, L.
propinqua, E. (M.) praebaquana, T. pontica, T. rug-
gierii, L. eichwaldi, and L. cf. L. ludica) are well
known in the Paratethyan domain where they are
recorded mainly from the Pontian (C. (C.) venusta
and L. eichwaldi from the Pannonian) to the Dacian
(except for L. eichwaldi which is limited to the Pon-
tian and L. palimpsesta, L. multituberculata and L.
propinqua which are still living in the Caspian Sea);
one species (C. agrigentina) is characteristic of the
Mediterranean domain and is widespread in all the
Western Tethys during the Lago-Mare event (Van

Fig. 1. (A) Structural sketch map of the circum-Mediterranean orogenic belt with the uppermost Messinian–Lower Pliocene extension
of the Paratethyan basins (dashed areas) and with the location of the sites quoted in the text. Legend: a D Vera Basin; b D DSDP Site
372 (Leg 42A); c D St. Ferréol, les Anlavaux (Rhone Basin); d D Aléria Basin; e D Belforte, Roccastrada; f D Castell’Arquato, Casa
Giovanni Bello; g D Cura di Vetralla; h D Formignano; i D Maccarone; j D Le Vicenne; k D C. Ciucco; l D Roccacaramanico; m D
Eraclea Minoa; n D Mt. Medvenica; o D Corfou; p D Obrevoc; q D Pejnovic; r D Strimon Basin; s D Karhetiana; t D Prahova district;
u D Kos; v D DSDP Site 375 (Leg 42A); w D DSDP Site 376 (Leg 42A); x D Samsun. (B) Structural sketch map of central Italy with
the location of Le Vicenne Basin. (C) Stratigraphical log of the Le Vicenne succession with the location of the analysed samples.
194 E. Gliozzi / Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 151 (1999) 191–208
Harten, 1990); one species (C. aff. C. tuberculata) is,
up to now, recorded only in Italy, and, therefore, it
seems to be an endemic Italian form.
It is important to emphasize that the presence of
L. idonea at Le Vicenne represents the first record of
this species in Italy, while L. multituberculata and L.
cf. L. ludica are registered for the first time both in
Italy and in the Western Tethys.
Paratethyan-influenced ostracod assemblages
similar to the one recognized at Le Vicenne have
been reported in the Western Tethys by Carbon-
nel (1978) which stresses their potential biostrati-
graphical value. Re-defining the Loxoconcha djaf-
farovi Zone created by Sissingh (1972, 1976) on the
Karhetiana Section (Crete, Greece) (s in Fig. 1A),
Carbonnel correlates it with the top of the plank-
tonic foraminiferal zone N17=base of the N18,
that corresponds to the very end of the Messinian,
on the base of micropalaeontological analyses of
several Mediterranean sections in the Vera Basin
(Spain) (a in Fig. 1A), Aléria Basin (Corsica) (d in
Fig. 1A), Rhone Basin (St. Ferréol, les Anlavaux) (c
in Fig. 1A) and in Italy [Castell’Arquato (Emilia) (f
in Fig. 1A), Maccarone (Marche) (i in Fig. 1A), C.
Ciucco (Abruzzi) (k in Fig. 1A)].
To these well dated sections, it is possible to
add some other Italian localities where Loxoconcha
djaffarovi has been recorded together with a few
other species pertaining to the typical assemblage of
the Loxoconcha djaffarovi Zone: several localities in
Tuscany (Bossio et al., 1993, 1996) and in Abruzzi
(Patacca et al., 1991). All these localities are re-
ferred, on the basis of the geological setting, to the
post-evaporitic Messinian, therefore confirming the
chronostratigraphic position of the Loxoconcha djaf-
farovi Zone proposed by Carbonnel (1978) (Fig. 2).
The ostracod association collected at Le Vicenne
lacks L. djaffarovi, but ten species out of the fourteen
collected forms (C. (C.) venusta, Candona (Caspiol-
la) sp., E. (M.) praebaquana, L. propinqua, L. ido-
nea, L. palimpsesta, T. pontica, T. ruggierii, L. eich-
waldi and Loxoconcha sp.) belong to the assemblage
of the Loxoconcha djaffarovi Zone as re-described
by Carbonnel (1978). Moreover, the sedimentary
succession of the Le Vicenne Basin is characterized
in the lower portion by a Lago-Mare biofacies and
in the upper part by a marine biofacies (made up
by small globigerinids), correlated, using regional
data, with the Early Pliocene transgressive event
(Cipollari et al., 1999b); so it seems reasonable, also
from a geological point of view, to correlate the
lower portion of the Le Vicenne succession bearing
the Paratethyan-influenced ostracofauna with the up-
permost Messinian. Thus, the Le Vicenne ostracod
assemblage represents a further record of the oc-
currence of the Loxoconcha djaffarovi Zone in the
Italian Peninsula.
The relevance of the Paratethyan-influenced fau-
nas in the Western Tethys (Palaeo-Mediterranean)
domain has already been underlined by several au-
thors (Grékoff and Molinari, 1963; Devoto, 1967;
Benson, 1976, 1984; Carbonnel, 1978). From a
palaeogeographical point of view it emphasizes a
unique moment of the history of the Mediterranean
Basin (late Messinian) during which a temporary
isolation from the Atlantic Ocean, following the
closure of the Betic and Rif straits, occurred (Wei-
jermars, 1988). Subsequently the Messinian salin-
ity crisis event (Hsü et al., 1977), the hyper-
haline Palaeo-Mediterranean waters were diluted
to oligo–mesohaline conditions by an intensive
runoff (McCulloch and De Deckker, 1989) linked
to more humid global climatic conditions and this
fact caused the break-off of the ecological bar-
rier which, until that moment, had prevented the
penetration in the Palaeo-Mediterranean of ostra-
cods of the Paratethyan bioprovince via the con-
nection at present located in correspondence with
the Marmara Sea. As a consequence of the salin-
ity crisis, the autochthonous Palaeo-Mediterranean
ostracofaunas were severely impoverished (Benson,
1976) (more than 40% turnover in marine species
from the Messinian to the Pliocene, Benson, 1984),
and the Paratethyan contingent became predominant
in the Palaeo-Mediterranean ostracod assemblages of
the uppermost Messinian also if it was represented
only by few species in comparison with the potential
of the Paratethyan bioprovince. Taking into account
the Paratethyan guests recognized at Le Vicenne in
the present paper, in Spain and France by Carbonnel
(1978) and in several other Palaeo-Mediterranean
localities (Gliozzi et al., in press; Cipollari et al.,
1999b), the Paratethyan contingent can be evaluated
at around 25 species in comparison with the more
than 150 species which were living in the Dacic and
Euxine basins during the late Pontian and the early
 E. Gliozzi / Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 151 (1999) 191–208 195

Fig. 2. Range chart of the ostracods collected at Le Vicenne with their distribution in the Western Tethys, in Italy, in the Western and
Central Paratethys and in the Eastern Paratethys. Asterisks indicate species still living in the Caspian Sea. Magnetostratigraphy from
Baksi (1993), nannoplankton zones from Martini (1971), planktic foraminiferal zones from Blow (1969) and Iaccarino (1985).

Dacian. It is possible to estimate the percentage of
Paratethyan guests at around 16%. It is reasonable to
think that this percentage will increase when more
taxonomical studies on other uppermost Messinian
deposits will be performed but not in such a way to
alter the present speculation. Nevertheless, although
this eastern contamination cannot be defined as a
relevant event from a biogeographical point of view,
probably for the existence of minor palaeoecological
barriers which could be understood only with a de-
tailed study on the autoecology of each Paratethyan
species, it represents a very important stratigraphical
196 E. Gliozzi / Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 151 (1999) 191–208
marker which leads the recognition of the uppermost
Messinian in the whole Mediterranean Basin.
4. Conclusions
The analysis of the ostracod assemblage collected
at Le Vicenne underlined the importance of ostracods
as a valuable tool for the stratigraphy and the palaeo-
geographic reconstruction of the Palaeo-Mediter-
ranean area at the end of the Messinian. In fact, the
quasi-instantaneous migration of the Paratethyan os-
tracod contingent in the Palaeo-Mediterranean, due
to its isolation from the Atlantic Ocean and to the
subsequent global climatic oscillation towards more
humid conditions, seems to testify the only real
connection between Parathetys and Western Tethys
since their separation occurred during the latest Bur-
digalian (Hámor, 1988).
Acknowledgements
I am grateful to N. Krstic for the useful dis-
cussions, to R. Whatley and J. Rodrı́guez Lázaro
which revised the manuscript, improving it with pre-
cious suggestions, and to L. Cabrera and Saez which
edited it carefully. Thanks to Mrs. L. Angeloni for
the technical support. S.E.M. photos were taken with
the Cambridge Stereoscan 250 and ORTEC System
5000 (Centro di Studio per il Quaternario e l’Evolu-
zione Ambientale, C.N.R.) with the help of Mr. A.
Mancini.
Appendix A. Systematics
A.1. Methodology
Clay–siltitic samples were disaggregated in a hydrogen per-
oxyde solution (20%), washed with current water using a 125
µm mesh sieve and dried. About 100 g of each dried sieved
sample were observed under the stereomicroscope (6–50 ð)
and ostracods were hand-picked, measured and determined. Pho-
tographs were made with a Cambridge Stereoscan 250 and
ORTEC System 5000. The frequencies of each species have been
obtained by counting the number of valves recovered in each 100
g sample analysed. Some species are represented by very few
valves, sometimes only by one, particularly the Leptocytheridae.
Also these species were determined, in some cases with doubt,
for their stratigraphical and=or palaeogeographical relevance be-
cause the Le Vicenne ostracod assemblages represent, up to the
present, perhaps the most diversified Lago-Mare ostracofauna of
Italy.
All the specimens are stored in Gliozzi’s ostracod collec-
tion (G.O.C. 18 and 19 at the C.S. Quaternario e Evoluzione
Ambientale, C.N.R., Roma).
A.2. Systematics
Subclass Ostracoda Latrerelle, 1806
Order Podocopida Muller, 1894
Superfamily Cypridacea Baird, 1845
Family Candonidae Kaufmann, 1900
Subfamily Candoninae Kaufmann, 1900
Genus Candona Baird, 1845
Subgenus Camptocypria Zalanyi, 1929
Candona (Camptocypria) cf. C. (C.) venusta (Zalanyi, 1929)
(Plate IIb)
1929 Stenocypris venusta Zalányi, pp. 72–73, text-figs. 33–34.
1963 Candona cf. venusta (Zalányi), Grekoff and Molinari, p. 2,
pl. 1, fig. 1.
1965 Stenocypris venusta Zalányi, Stancheva, p. 22, pl. 2, fig. 8.
1972 Candona (Caspiolla) venusta (Zalányi), Sokac, p. 47, pl.
20, figs. 7–13.
1976 Candona (Caspiolla) venusta (Zalányi), Hanganu and Pa-
paianopol, p. 64, 65, 68, pl. 5, fig. 6.
1978 Caspiolla venusta (Zalányi), Carbonnel, p. 111, pl. 1, figs.
13–14.
1980 Candona (Caspiolla) venusta (Zalányi), Freels, p. 51, pl.
7, figs. 7–10.
1986 Candona (Caspiolla) venusta (Zalányi), Olteanu, p. 57.
1992 Caspiolla venusta (Zalányi), Patacca et al., p. 426.
Material. Le Vicenne sample 1 (LV1): 4 fragmentary adult and
juvenile valves; LV5: 1 decalcified carapace (for the location of
the samples inside the Le Vicenne section, see Fig. 1C).
Remarks. The collected valves are very fragmentary. Only two
of them are sufficiently complete to allow the depiction of
the outline that seems comparable to that of C. (C.) venusta
(Zalányi).
According to Krstic and Stancheva (1990) the subgenus Cas-
piolla Mandelstam, 1960 (new spelling of the genus Caspiella
Mandelstam, 1956), to which the species C. (C.) venusta was
previously referred, is preoccupied and must be replaced by
Camptocypria Zalanyi, 1929 following the informal opinion of
the International Zoological Nomenclature Commission.
Geographical and chronostratigraphical distribution. Hanganu
and Papaianopol (1976) signal the species C. (C.) venusta in the
late Pontian and in the Dacian (both Getian and Parscovian) of
the Prahova district (Dacic Basin) (t in Fig. 1A), while Olteanu
(1986) records C. (C.) venusta from the late Pannonian to Pon-
tian of the Dacic Basin. The species occurs also in the Pontian
of Mt. Medvednica (Croatia) (n in Fig. 1A) (Sokac, 1972) and in
the late Pontian of Obrebovoc and Pejinovic (Serbia) (p and q in
Fig. 1A) (Zalanyi, 1929). Stancheva (1965a) records it from the
 E. Gliozzi / Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 151 (1999) 191–208
middle Pontian of Bulgaria and Freels (1980) reports this species
from the Late Miocene of Samsun (Turkey, southern border of
the Euxinic Basin) (x in Fig. 1A).
In the western Tethys Carbonnel (1978) signals the species in
the late Messinian of France (Rhone Basin) (c in Fig. 1A) and
Spain (Vera Basin) (a in Fig. 1A).
In Italy, C. (C.) venusta has been recovered from the late
Messinian of Maccarone (Marche) (i in Fig. 1A) and Roc-
cacaramanico (Abruzzi) (l in Fig. 1A) (Carbonnel, 1978; Patacca
et al., 1991) and from the surroundings of Cura di Vetralla
(Latium) (g in Fig. 1A) (Gliozzi, unpubl. data), while it is doubt-
fully recorded by Grékoff and Molinari (1963) from the latest
Messinian of Castell’Arquato (Emilia) (f in Fig. 1A).
Candona (Camptocypria) sp.
Material. LV1: 10 fragmentary adult and juvenile valves; LV5: 3
fragmentary juvenile valves; LV6: 1 juvenile valve.
Remarks. Several fragmentary adult and juvenile valves, refer-
able to Candona (Camtocypria), were recovered in three levels
of the Le Vicenne section. The material does not allow any
specific attribution also if it is possible to recognise a certain
similarity with the specimen pictured by Carbonnel (1978, pl. 1,
fig. 15), referred by him to Caspiolla sp. 1.
Abundant valves of a Candona (Camptocypria) very similar
to those of Le Vicenne have been recovered in Italy in the late
Messinian of Cura di Vetralla (Latium) (g in Fig. 1A) (Gliozzi,
unpublished data).
Superfamily Cytheracea Baird, 1850
Family Leptocytheridae Hanai, 1957
Genus Leptocythere Sars, 1925
All the following Leptocytheridae are referred, by several
authors such as Hanganu and Papaianopol (1976), Carbonnel
(1978), and Olteanu (1986, 1995), to the genus Amnicythere
Devoto, 1965 created as a subgenus of Leptocythere on the
basis of peculiar differences in the external ornamentation of
the carapace, in the hinge structure and in the marginal pore
canal pattern, and subsequently raised at the rank of genus by
Stancheva (1968) and accepted by the majority of the East-
ern European palaeontologists. On the contrary, Whatley and
Maybury (1981) do not accept as valid the genus Amnicythere.
According to them, in fact, this genus is questioned because in
its diagnosis Devoto emphasizes the importance of the secondary
reticulate ornamentation which, actually, is observable also in
true Leptocythere species. In this paper the more general attri-
bution to genus Leptocythere is retained waiting for a general
systematic review of the Paratethyan Leptocytheridae.
Leptocythere idonea Mandelstam, Markova, Rozyeva and
Stepanajtys, 1962 (Plate Ia)
1962 Leptocythere idonea Mandelstam, Markova, Rozyeva and
Stepanajtys
1978 Amnicythere idonea (Mandelstam, Markova, Rozyeva and
Stepanajtys), Carbonnel, p. 112, pl. 1, fig. 18; pl. 2, figs.
4–5.
197
Material. LV6: 1 adult right valve; length 0.52 mm; height 0.25
mm.
Remarks. The single valve collected at Le Vicenne has been
referred to L. (A.) idonea on the basis of the comparison with the
specimen figured in Carbonnel, 1978.
Geographical and chronostratigraphical distribution. L. idonea
is known from the Pliocene of Turkmenistan (Caspian Basin)
(Mandelstam et al., 1962). In the western Tethys Carbonnel
(1978) records this species from the latest Messinian of Corsica
(Aléria Basin) (d in Fig. 1A), Spain (Vera Basin) (a in Fig. 1A)
and France (Rhone Basin) (c in Fig. 1A). The specimen collected
at Le Vicenne is the first record of this species in Italy.
Leptocythere multituberculata (Livental, 1929) (Plate IIa)
1929 Cythere multituberculata Livental, p. 14, pl. 1, figs. 36–38.
1962 Leptocythere multituberculata (Livental), Mandelstam et
al., p. 299, pl. 37, fig. 6.
1965 Leptocythere multituberculata (Livental), Stancheva, p.
24–25, pl. 1, fig. 3.
1969 Leptocythere ? multituberculata (Livental), Gramann, p.
498, pl. 34, fig. 12.
1972 Leptocythere multituberculata (Livental), Sokac, p. 71, pl.
32, figs. 14–15 (cum syn.).
1975 Leptocythere (Amnicythere?) multituberculata (Liv.),
Krstic, p. 216, pl. 3, fig. 15.
1986 Leptocythere multituberculata (Livental), Papaianopol and
Olteanu, pp. 76, 79–80, pl. 5, fig. 1.
1986 Leptocythere multituberculata (Livental), Olteanu, p. 58.
1995 Amnicythere multituberculata (Livental), Olteanu, p. 290,
pl. 16, figs. 1–8.
Material. LV5: 1 adult left valve and 1 instar; length 0.84 mm;
height 0.40 mm.
Remarks. Only two valves referable to the genus Leptocythere
have been identified as L. multituberculata on the basis of the
comparisons with the specimens figured by Olteanu, 1995.
Geographical and chronostratigraphical distribution. The
species is known in the Paratethys from the Pontian of the
Caspian Basin (Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Caucasus) (Mandel-
stam et al., 1962), from the early Pontian of the Pannonic Basin
(Olteanu, 1995), from the late Pontian to the Dacian (particu-
larly in the early Dacian) of the Dacic Basin [Romania (Olteanu,
1995; Papaianopol and Olteanu, 1986) and Bulgaria (Stancheva,
1965b)] and from the Pontian of Croatia (Sokac, 1972) and
Serbia (Krstic, 1975).
L. multituberculata is herein recovered for the first time for
both Italy and Western Tethys. Gramann (1969) records it from
the Choumnikon Beds (Pontian) of the Strimon Basin (eastern
Macedonia) (r in Fig. 1A).
Ecology and palaeoecology. L. multituberculata is still living in
the Caspian Sea (Gofman, 1966 in Sokac, 1972) from 10 to 800
m (but with maximum frequency above 100 m), in waters with
salinities between 11.5 and 13.5‰. It seems to prefer muddy
bottoms.
Leptocythere palimpsesta (Livental, 1929) (Plate Ie–f)
1929 Cythere palimpsesta Livental, p. 15, pl. 1, figs. 3–4.
198 E. Gliozzi / Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 151 (1999) 191–208

PLATE I

(a) Leptocythere (Amnicythere) idonea, right valve in external view (LV5).

(b) Euxinocythere (Maeotocythere) praebaquana, right valve in external view (LV5).
(c) Leptocythere (Amnicythere) propinqua, right valve in external view (LV5).
(d) Loxoconcha eichwaldi, right valve in external view (LV1).
(e–f) Leptocythere (Amnicythere) palimpsesta, right valve in (e) external.
(f) internal views (LV5).
(g) Loxoconcha cf. L. ludica, right valve in external view (LV6).
(h) Loxoconcha sp., right valve in external view (LV3).

1929 Cythere andrusovi Livental, p. 16, pl. 1, figs. 6–7.
1929 Cythere picturata Livental, p. 16, pl. 1, fig. 5.
1929 Cythere saljanica Livental, p. 17, pl. 1, figs. 8–10.
1962 Leptocythere palimpsesta (Livental), Mandelstam et al.,
pp. 196–197, pl. 31, figs. 3–4.
1963 Leptocythere? lacunosa (Reuss), Grekoff and Molinari, p.
3, text-fig. 1, pl. 2, figs. 3–4.
1965 Leptocythere palimpsesta (Livental), Stancheva, pp. 23–
24, pl. 3, fig. 3.
1971 Leptocythere palimpsesta (Livental), Krstic, p. 397.
1972 Leptocythere palimpsesta (Livental), Sokac, p. 69, pl. 32,
fig. 3.
1975 Leptocythere (Amnicythere) palimpsesta (Livental), Krstic,
p. 215, pl. 2, figs. 4–6.
 E. Gliozzi / Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 151 (1999) 191–208
1976 Amnicythere palimpsesta (Livental), Hanganu and Papa-
ianopol, text-fig. 2.
1978 Amnicythere palimpsesta (Livental), Carbonnel, pp. 112–
113, pl. 2, fig. 14.
1995 Amnicythere palimpsesta (Livental), Olteanu, p. 291, pl.
18, figs. 8–9.
Material. LV1: 1 adult left valve; LV2: 1 adult carapace; LV4:
2 adult right valves and 1 juvenile right valve; LV6: 2 adult
carapaces, 1 adult left valve and 1 juvenile left valve; length
0.54–0.57 mm; height 0.30–0.32 mm.
Geographical and chronostratigraphical distribution. The
species is known from the Pontian and the Plio–Pleistocene
of the Caspian Basin (Azerbaijan, Caucasus and Turk-
menistan)(Mandelstam et al., 1962), from the Pontian (and spo-
radically from the Getian) of the Dacic Basin (Olteanu, 1995;
Stancheva, 1965b) and from the Pontian of Mt. Medvednica
(Croatia) (n in Fig. 1A) (Sokac, 1972).
In the western Tethys L. palimpsesta is recorded from the
latest Messinian of Corsica (Aléria Basin) (d in Fig. 1A), France
(Rhone Basin) (c in Fig. 1A) and Italy [C. Ciucco (Abruzzi) (k in
Fig. 1A), Castell’Arquato and Casa Giovanni Bello (Emilia) (f in
Fig. 1A)] (Grékoff and Molinari, 1963; Krstic, 1971; Carbonnel,
1978).
Ecology and palaeoecology. L. palimpsesta is still living in
the Caspian Sea (Gofman, 1966) from 25 to 180 m of depth,
spanning a salinity range of 12.50–13.50‰ and a temperature
range around 10–14ºC; it prefers silty, sandy or coarse substrate
(Gofman, 1966);
Leptocythere propinqua (Livental, 1929) (Plate Ic)
1929 Cythere propinqua Livental, p. 20, pl. 1, figs. 21–22.
1962 Leptocythere propinqua (Livental), Mandelstam et al., p.
201, pl. 31, fig. 18.
1972 Leptocythere cymbula (Livental), Sokac, p. 69, pl. 32, figs.
7–9.
1978 Amnicythere propinqua (Livental), Carbonnel, p. 113, pl.
2, fig. 1.
1995 Amnicythere propinqua (Livental), Olteanu, p. 298, pl. 24,
figs. 1, 3, 6; pl. 36, fig. 12.
Material. LV5: 1 adult right valve; length 0.48 mm; height 0.29
mm.
Remarks. Leptocythere propinqua was considered synonymous
with Leptocythere cymbula (Livental) by Schornikov (1966) and
by Sokac (1972), but these authors gave the priority to the
latter name. According to the International Code of Zoologi-
cal Nomenclature (I.C.N.Z.) the name propinqua should have
priority over the name cymbula, having been described firstly
by Livental (1929) (respectively at pp. 20 and 21). However,
Agalarova et al. (1961) consider the taxon cymbula as a variety
of Leptocythere propinqua, and, more recently, these two species
have been considered as valid, independent taxa (Yassini and
Ghahremann, 1976; Carbonnel, 1978; Olteanu, 1995). According
to Olteanu (1995) L. propinqua shows slight morphological dif-
ferences in comparison with L. cymbula in the hinge structure
and in the marginal pore canals.
199
Geographical and chronostratigraphical distribution. In the
Paratethys the species is recorded from the Pliocene and Pleis-
tocene of Turkmenistan (Mandelstam et al., 1962), from the
Parscovian of the Dacic Basin (Olteanu, 1995) and from the
Pontian of Mt. Medvednica (Croatia) (n in Fig. 1A) (Sokac,
1972).
In the western Tethys Carbonnel (1978) has shown its pres-
ence in the latest Messinian of Corsica (Aléria Basin) (d in
Fig. 1A) and of Italy, in the sediments outcropping at C. Ciucco
(Abruzzi) (k in Fig. 1A).
Ecology and palaeoecology. L. propinqua lives at present in the
Caspian Sea where it can be found most frequently between 10
and 15 m (but also down to 100 m) and under salinity conditions
from 7.5 to 13.5‰ (with an optimum around 12–12.5‰). It
seems to prefer silty–sandy bottoms.
On the coast of the Pahlavi Lagoon (Iran), Yassini and
Ghahremann (1976) report the presence of L. cymbula in the
channels connecting the lagoon with the Caspian Sea, in waters
with salinities between 4 and 6‰.
Genus Euxinocythere Stancheva, 1968
Subgenus Maeotocythere Stancheva, 1968
Euxinocythere (Maeotocythere) praebaquana (Livental) Suzin,
1956 (Plate Ib)
1956 Leptocythere praebaquana (Livental) Suzin, p. 88, pl. 2,
figs. 19–21.
1956 Leptocythere praebacuana Livental (sic), Agalarova, p.
105, pl. 11, fig. 31a.
1963 Callistocythere ex gr. bendovanica (Livental), Grekoff and
Molinari, p. 4, pl. 1, figs. 6–8.
1967 Leptocythere praebacuana (Livental) (sic), Agalarova, p.
100, pl. 12, figs. 1–7.
1971 Leptocythere (Amnicythere) praebaquana (Livental),
Krstic, p. 397.
1975 Leptocythere? (Maeotocythere) praebaquana (Liv. in Ag.
et al.), Krstic, p. 218, pl. 2, figs. 7–8.
1977 Leptocythere praebaquana (Livental), Krstic, p. 397
1978 Maeotocythere praebaquana (Livental), Carbonnel, pp.
113–114, pl. 2, figs. 2–3.
1991 Amnicythere praebaquana (Livental), Patacca et al., p. 424
1995 Amnicythere praebacuana (Livental) (sic), Olteanu, p. 290,
pl. 16, fig. 2.
Material. LV5: 1 right adult valve; length 0.34 mm; height 0.18
mm.
Geographical and chronostratigraphical distribution. In the
Paratethys E. (M.) praebaquana is recorded from the
Kimmerian–Pontian of the Caspian Basin (Agalarova, 1956,
1967), from the Pontian–Getian of the Dacic Basin (Olteanu,
1995) and from the Pontian (Portaferrian) of the Pannonian
Basin (Krstic, 1971).
In the western Tethys this species has been collected from the
latest Messinian of Corsica (Aléria Basin) (d in Fig. 1A), Spain
(Vera Basin) (a in Fig. 1A), France (Rhone Basin) (c in Fig. 1A)
and Italy [Castell’Arquato and Casa Giovanni Bello (Emilia) (f
in Fig. 1A); C. Ciucco (Abruzzi) (k in Fig. 1A)] (Krstic, 1971;
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PLATE II
 E. Gliozzi / Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 151 (1999) 191–208
Carbonnel, 1978) and from the post Messinian salinity crisis
deposits of Roccacaramanico (Abruzzi) (l in Fig. 1A) (Patacca et
al., 1991).
Family Hemicytheridae Puri, 1953
Subfamily Hemicytherinae Puri, 1953
Genus Tyrrhenocythere Ruggieri, 1955
Tyrrhenocythere pontica (Livental) in Agalarova et al., 1961
(Plate IIc–l; Plate IIId)
1961 Cythereis pontica Livental in Agalarova et al.
1967 Hemicytheria pontica (Livental), Devoto, p. 35.
1969 Tyrrhenocythere ballesioi Carbonnel, pp. 154–156, pl. 13,
figs. 11–13.
1969 Tyrrhenocythere cf. pignatti Ruggieri, Gramann, pp. 501–
503, pl. 36, figs. 6–7.
1976 Tyrrhenocythere ballesioi Carbonnel, Guernet et al., p. 66,
pl. 1, figs. 12–13.
1977 Tyrrhenocythere pontica (Livental) in Agalarova et al.,
Krstic, pp. 396, 400, pl. 2, figs. 1–2.
1978 Tyrrhenocythere pontica (Livental), Carbonnel, p. 116, pl.
2, fig. 17.
1982 Tyrrhenocythere pontica (Livental), Olteanu, pp. 53–54,
pl. 6, figs. 1–2, pl. 8, figs. 24–25.
1989 ‘Hemicytheria’ pontica (Livental), Olteanu and Vekua, p.
69, text-figs. 6–8; pl. 2, figs. 1–4.
1989 ‘Tyrrhenocythere’ pontica (Livental), Olteanu and Vekua,
p. 69, text-figs. 6–8, pl. 1, fig. 1, pl. 2, figs. 5–7.
1995 Tyrrhenocythere pontica (Livental), Olteanu, p. 301, pl. 25,
fig. 8.
Material. LV1: 1 carapace, 4 adult left valves, 6 adult right
valves, 61 instars; LV2: 1 adult right valve, 6 instars; LV3: 3
carapaces, 2 adult left valves, 6 instars; LV4: 1 adult left valve, 1
instar; LV5: 3 carapaces, 1 adult left valve, 2 adult right valves,
39 instars; LV6: 1 adult left valve, 12 instars; LV7: 1 carapace;
length 0.79–0.89 mm; height 0.48–0.54 mm.
Remarks. Devoto (1967) referred Livental’s species to the genus
Hemicytheria Pokorny, 1955 on the basis of the morphologically
simple and straight (instead of fasciculated) radial pore canals
PLATE II
(a) Leptocythere (Amnicythere) multituberculata, left valve
in external view (LV5).
(b) Candona (Camptocypria) venusta, fragmentary left valve
in external view (LV1).
(c–l) Tyrrhenocythere pontica.
(c) Left juvenile valve in external view (LV1).
(d–e) Right valves in external view (LV5 and LV1).
(f) Left valve in external view (LV1).
(g) Carapace in dorsal view (LV3).
(h) Left valve in external view (LV2).
(i) Right valve in internal view (LV1).
(l) Left valve in internal view (LV1).
201
of some specimens collected from the Messinian of Roccastrada
(Tuscany, central Italy). Olteanu and Vekua (1989) showed that T.
pontica is represented by two morphotypes probably linked with
the decrease of salinity: the ‘Tyrrhenocythere’ morphotype, with
fasciculated marginal pore canals and the ‘Hemicytheria’ mor-
photype with straight and simple radial pore canals, which occur
in the adult stages only under unstable ecological conditions.
Geographical and chronostratigraphical distribution. In the
Paratethys domain T. pontica occurs from the Portaferrian (middle
Pontian) to the Getian (early Dacian) of the Caspian Basin (Azer-
baijan), of the Euxinic Basin (south Ukraine and Kerch Penin-
sula) and of the Dacic Basin (Romania and Bulgaria) (Krstic,
1977). Gramann (1969) reports this species (as T. cf. pignatti)
from the Pontian of the Chouchmnikon Beds (Strimon Basin, east-
ern Macedonia) (r in Fig. 1A) and Guernet et al. (1976) signal it
from the latest Miocene or Early Pliocene of the island of Kos
(the Dodecanese, Greece) (u in Fig. 1A). Besides, it is signalled as
very frequent in the Quaternary of the Danube delta.
In the western Tethys the species is recorded from the latest
Messinian of Corsica (Aléria Basin) (d in Fig. 1A), France
(Rhone Basin) (c in Fig. 1A) (Carbonnel, 1978) and Italy [Casa
Giovanni Bello, Emilia (f in Fig. 1A) and Roccastrada, Tuscany
(g in Fig. 1A)] (Devoto, 1967; Krstic, 1977).
Ecology and palaeoecology. The living species Tyrrhenocythere
amnicola (Sars) inhabits mesohaline waters (9–13‰) but also
tolerates low salinities, down to 1‰. Generally it is found at
depths ranging 0–30 m (Krstic, 1977). Tyrrhenocythere sicula
(Brady), considered synonymous with T. amnicola by Krstic
(1977), is reported from the Issyk-Kul’ Lake (Kazakhstan) rang-
ing between 0.75 and 50 m and more (Bronshtein, 1947) and
from the Caspian Sea down to 200 m (highest frequency above
30 m) and under salinity conditions of 12–13‰ [Yassini and
Ghahremann, 1976 as T. scitula (sic)].
According to Krstic (1977) fossil forms of the genus
Tyrrhenocythere lived in shallow waters with an estimated salin-
ity of 5–15‰.
Tyrrhenocythere ruggierii Devoto, 1967 (Plate IIIa–c)
1967 Tyrrhenocythere ruggierii Devoto, pp. 31–35, text-figs.
5–8.
1968 Tyrrhenocythere ruggierii Devoto, Devoto, p. 403.
1969 Tyrrhenocythere ruggierii Devoto, Devoto, p. 20.
1969 Tyrrhenocythere cf. ruggierii Devoto, Gramann, p. 503,
pl. 36, fig. 8.
1978 Tyrrhenocythere ruggierii Devoto, Carbonnel, p. 116, pl.
2, fig. 18.
?1982 Tyrrhenocythere aff. ruggierii Devoto, Olteanu, p. 54, pl.
1, figs. 1–6.
Material. LV1: 1 adult left valve, 1 adult right valve; LV2: 2
adult right valves, 1 adult left valve; LV3: 1 carapace; LV5: 1
carapace, 1 adult right valve, 1 adult left valve, 9 instars; LV7: 1
adult left valve, 1 adult right valve; length 0.86–0.89 mm; height
0.54 mm.
Remarks. According to Krstic (1977), T. ruggierii is probably
synonymous with T. truncata (Schneider) and, under this name,
she gives a wide distribution from the Caspian Basin to Western
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PLATE III
 E. Gliozzi / Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 151 (1999) 191–208
Tethys. This interpretation is not accepted by Carbonnel (1978)
and Olteanu (1982) who consider it as a valid species.
Geographical and chronostratigraphical distribution. Tyrrheno-
cythere ruggierii has been collected from the latest Messinian
of Spain (Vera Basin) (a in Fig. 1A), Corsica (Aléria Basin) (d
in Fig. 1A) and Italy [Le Vicenne (j in Fig. 1A) and C. Ciucco
(k in Fig. 1A) (Abruzzi)] (Devoto, 1967, 1968, 1969; Carbon-
nel, 1978). Gramann (1969) reports a doubtful record of this
species from the Chouchmnikon Beds of the Strimon Basin (r in
Fig. 1A) in eastern Macedonia (Pontian age). The sole records
from the Paratethys is that of Olteanu (1982) who reports T. aff.
ruggierii from the mid and late Pontian of the Dacic Basin.
Ecology and palaeoecology. See ‘Ecology and palaeoecology’ of
T. pontica.
Family Cytherideidae Sars, 1925
Subfamily Cytherideinae Sars, 1925
Genus Cyprideis Jones, 1857
Cyprideis agrigentina Decima, 1964 (Plate IIIe–h; Plate IVa–
c; e)
1964 Cyprideis pannonica agrigentina Decima, p. 108, pl. 6,
figs. 4a–8b, pl. 7, figs. 1a–10, pl. 8, figs. 1a–2, pl. 14,
figs. 16–21.
1967 Cyprideis pannonica cf. agrigentina Decima, Devoto, p.
30.
1968 Cyprideis cf. pannonica agrigentina Decima, Gramann,
p. 508, pl. 35, figs. 6–7.
1968 Cyprideis pannonica cf. agrigentina Decima, Devoto, p.
403.
1969 Cyprideis pannonica cf. agrigentina Decima, Devoto, p.
20.
?1969 Cyprideis torosa (Jones), Carbonnel, p. 78, pl. 12, figs.
14–15.
1976 Cyprideis agrigentina Decima, Vismara Shilling et al., p.
291, text-figs. 11.12–11.15.
1978 Cyprideis pannonica Méhes, Benson, p. 778, pl. 2, figs.
4–8.
1988 Cyprideis agrigentina Decima, De Deckker et al., p. 354.
1990 Cyprideis agrigentina Decima, van Harten, p. 196.
PLATE III
(a–c) Tyrrhenocythere ruggierii.
(a) Left valve in external view (LV7).
(b) Right valve in external view (LV7).
(c) Left valve in internal view (LV2).
(d) Tyrrhenocythere pontica, right valve in internal view
(LV1).
(e–h) Cyprideis agrigentina.
(e) Left valve in external view (LV1).
(f) Left valve in internal view (LV5).
(g) Right valve in internal view (LV5).
(h) Right valve in external view (LV1).
203
Material. LV1: 1 carapace, 3 adult left valves, 1 right valve,
8 instars; LV3: 1 adult left valve, 3 instars; LV4: 2 adult left
valves; 2 instars; LV5: 2 carapaces, 1 adult right valve; 1 adult
left valve, 1 instar; length 0.96 mm, height 0.57 mm (female);
length 0.95 mm, height 0.51 mm (male).
Remarks. This species is represented by juvenile and adult
valves. The specific attribution of Cyprideis species is gener-
ally difficult when specimens are not very abundant because
diagnostic characteristics can be often detected only on a sta-
tistical basis (Decima, 1964). Nevertheless, the comparison of
several characteristics such as the high outline, the weak me-
dian sulcus, the feebly punctate valve surface, the dimensions of
the female valves and the number of the marginal pore canals
correspond to those described by Decima (1964) for Cyprideis
pannonica var. agrigentina. According to Krstic (1968a,b), the
species C. pannonica does not extend westwards into the Tethys
and Decima’s specimens must be attributed to a phylogenetically
near but not identical different species. Van Harten (1990) men-
tions the species C. agrigentina as a typical ubiquitous form for
the Messinian Lago-Mare facies of the Western Tethys.
Geographical and chronostratigraphical distribution. C. agri-
gentina is recorded in the Western Tethys from the latest
Messinian of Eraclea Minoa (Sicily) (m in Fig. 1A) (Decima,
1964), of Le Vicenne (Abruzzi) (j in Fig. 1A) (Devoto, 1967,
1968, 1969) and, doubtfully from the latest Messinian of France
(Rhone Basin (c in Fig. 1A) (Carbonnel, 1969). It is widespread
in the Messinian of the western and eastern Mediterranean from
DSDP Site 372 (Algero–Provençal Basin) (b in Fig. 1A) and
DSDP sites 375–376 (Florence rise, west of Cyprus) of Leg 42A
(v,w in Fig. 1A) (Benson, 1978; De Deckker et al., 1988) and in
the Late Messinian of Corfou (o in Fig. 1A) (Vismara Shilling et
al., 1976).
Gramann (1969) reports this species from the Pontian (very
abundant) and Maotian (rare) of the Strimon Basin (eastern
Macedonia, Greece) (r in Fig. 1A).
Ecology and palaeoecology. The genus Cyprideis is a typical
brackish dweller with a wide salinity tolerance. It is defined
by Van Harten (1990) as ‘anomalohaline’ because also if it is
generally found in marine-derived waters, it can inhabit waters
with aberrant alkaline water composition.
The present living Cyprideis torosa Jones can survive in
extremely varied salinity conditions which range from 0.4 to
150‰ (Neale, 1988), but it is more typical of oligo–mesohaline
conditions.
Following Benson (1978), Cyprideis is a littoral genus which
inhabits shallow waters, probably not deeper than 50 m. This
figure is accepted also by Van Harten (1990), particularly for C.
agrigentina.
Cyprideis aff. C. tuberculata (Méhes, 1908) (Plate IVd–h)
1964 Cyprideis tuberculata tuberculata (Méhes), Decima, p.
125 (partim), pl. 27, figs. 1–6e, pl. 37, figs. 8–9.
1967 Cyprideis tuberculata (Méhes), Devoto, p. 30.
1968 Cyprideis tuberculata (Méhes), Devoto, p. 402.
1968b Cyprideis cf. tuberculata (Méhes), Krstic, p. 154.
1969 Cyprideis tuberculata (Méhes), Devoto, p. 20–21
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PLATE IV
 E. Gliozzi / Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 151 (1999) 191–208
Material. LV1: 4 adult valves, 3 instars; LV3: 1 adult right
valve; LV4: 1 instar; LV5: 2 adult right valves, 5 instars; LV6: 1
carapace, 1 adult right valve, 2 instars; length 0.85 mm; height
0.44 mm.
Remarks. Some Cyprideis valves, characterized by a punctate
to almost reticulate surface, ellipsoid outline and a remarkable
median sulcus, are clearly distinguishable from those of C. agri-
gentina and are comparable with those figured by Decima (1964)
from the late Messinian of Formignano (Romagna). Decima re-
ferred these specimens to C. tuberculata tuberculata (Méhes)
but, according to Krstic (1968a,b) they are not identifiable with
certainty as belonging to that species and, more probably, are
related to a different form, near to C. tuberculata. The scarcity of
specimens collected at Le Vicenne does not permit a taxonomical
revision, so these valves are generically referred to Cyprideys aff.
C. tuberculata (Méhes).
Geographical and chronostratigraphical distribution. Cyprideis
aff. C. tuberculata has been recorded only in Italy. In addition
to Le Vicenne (j in Fig. 1A) it is recorded from the latest
Messinian of Formignano (Romagna) (h in Fig. 1A) (Decima,
1964) and from the ‘Messinian’ of Belforte (Tuscany) (e in
Fig. 1A) (Devoto, 1967, 1968).
Cyprideis sp. (instars)
Material. LV1: 11 instars; LV2: 4 instars; LV7: 1 instar; LV8: 2
instars.
Remarks. Several juvenile valves are referable to the genus
Cyprideis, but no specific attribution is possible.
Family Loxoconchidae Sars, 1925
Subfamily Loxoconchinae Sars, 1925
Genus Loxoconcha Sars, 1866
Loxoconcha eichwaldi Livental, 1929 (Plate Id)
1929 Loxoconcha eichwaldii Livental, p. 34, pl. 1, figs. 42–43.
1961 Loäoconcha eichwaldii Liv., Agalarova et al., p. 141, pl.
79, figs. 4a–b.
PLATE IV
(a–c) Cyprideis agrigentina.
(a) Right juvenile valve in external view (LV1).
(b) Muscle scars of a right valve, inside view (LV5).
(c) Carapace in dorsal view (LV1).
(d) Cyprideis aff. C. tuberculata, right valve in dorsal view
(LV1).
(e) Cyprideis agrigentina, left juvenile valve in external view
(LV1).
(f–h) Cyprideis aff. C. tuberculata.
(f) Right valve in internal view (LV1).
(g) Right valve in external view (LV1).
(h) Muscle scars of a right valve (detail of (f)), inside view
(LV1).
205
1961 Loäoconcha bairdyi Müll., Agalarova et al., pl. 89, figs.
2a–b (fide Krstic, 1972).
1967 Loxoconcha eichwaldii Livental, Sokac, pl. 4, fig. 6.
1972 Loxoconcha (Loxoconcha) cf. eichwaldii Livental, Krstic,
p. 248, pl. 7, figs. 4–5.
1978 Loxoconcha eichwaldii Livental, Carbonnel, p. 114, pl. 1,
fig. 4.
Material. LV1: 12 adult valves, 4 instars; LV2: 1 adult valve, 1
instar; LV3: 1 adult valve, 2 instars; LV4: 1 adult valve; LV5:
7 adult valves, 15 instars; LV6: 1 adult valve, 2 instars; length
0.57–0.73 mm; height 0.39–0.48 mm.
Remarks. Following the articles 25–28 and Appendix D (III)
of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature the name
eichwaldii must be emended into eichwaldi (Kempf, 1980, 1991;
International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, 1985).
According to Krstic (1972) L. eichwaldi is a true Loxoconcha
referable to the rhomboidea group.
Geographical and chronostratigraphical distribution. In the
Paratethyan domain, the species is widespread in the Pliocene
of Azerbaijan (Caspian Basin), in the Pontian of Azerbaijan,
Turkmenistan, Crimea, Caucasus and Moldavia (Agalarova et al.,
1961), in the Pannonian and Pontian of Serbia (Krstic, 1972) and
in the Pontian of Bosnia (Sokac, 1967).
In the Tethyan domain, L. eichwaldi is reported from the
latest Messinian of Corsica (Aléria Basin) (d in Fig. 1A), of
France (Rhone Basin) (c in Fig. 1A) and of Italy (Maccarone,
Marche) (i in Fig. 1A) (Carbonnel, 1978).
Ecology and palaeoecology. The genus Loxoconcha comprises,
at the present day, numerous species inhabiting mesohaline to
euhaline waters worldwide. Some of them are stenohaline and
limited to the marine littoral environment (Loxoconcha multifora
(Norman): 25–35‰; Loxoconcha batei Bate and Gurney: around
50‰) (Neale, 1988), while others are euryhaline such as L.
rhomboidea (Fischer), which can tolerate salinities from 7 to
>30‰ and L. elliptica (Brady) (0.5–30‰) (Wagner, 1957).
Loxoconcha sp. (Plate Ih)
1978 Loxoconcha kochi Méhes, Carbonnel, p. 114, pl. 1, figs. 5,
9–10.
Material. LV1: 1 carapace; LV3: 2 adult valves; LV5: 1 adult
valve; length 0.53–0.57 mm; height 0.32–0.33 mm
Remarks. The specimens collected at Le Vicenne are comparable
to those figured by Carbonnel (1978, pl. 1, figs. 5, 9–10) as
Loxoconcha kochi Méhes, but not with the holotype of this
species figured by Méhes (1908, pl. 9, figs. 5–9) or to the
specimens of L. kochi illustred by Krstic (1972, pl. 1, fig. 9 and
pl. 5, fig. 4). The specimens of Le Vicenne differ from L. kochi
for the lacking of the median depression which, in the holotype,
divides the anterior and posterior surfaces of the male valve, that
are slightly inflated.
The scarcity of the material from Le Vicenne does not allow
any specific attribution.
Geographical and chronostratigraphical distribution. In the
Tethyan domain Carbonnel (1978) reports this form from the
latest Messinian of Spain (Vera Basin) (a in Fig. 1A), Corsica
206 E. Gliozzi / Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 151 (1999) 191–208
(Aléria Basin) (d in Fig. 1A) and France (Rhone Basin) (c in
Fig. 1A).
Loxoconcha cf. L. ludica Olteanu, 1989 (Plate Ig)
1989 Loxoconcha ludica Olteanu, p. 165, pl. 27, figs. 1–2.
1995 Loxoconcha ludica Olteanu, Olteanu, p. 307, pl. 30, figs.
Material. LV6: 2 adult valves; length 0.63 mm; height 0.38 mm.
Remarks. Two valves of Loxoconcha are doubtfully referred to L.
ludica Olteanu on the basis of the comparisons with specimens
figured by Olteanu (1989, 1995).
Geographical and chronostratigraphical distribution. The
species is known only from the Dacic Basin where is widespread
from the Portaferrian (middle Pontian) to the Parscovian (late
Dacian).
If confirmed, its recovery at Le Vicenne represents the first
record of L. ludica in Italy and in the Tethyan domain.
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