Middle Miocene (Badenian) tusk shells (Scaphopoda) of the Višnjica area near Belgrade (Serbia)

Abstract

We re-examined the fossil scaphopod assemblage from the Middle Miocene (Badenian) deposits in Višnjica locality near Belgrade (Serbia) reveals high biodiversity of this neglected fossil group. The study of the nearly 300 specimens has revealed the presence of twelve species of scaphopoda, two of which are mantiened in open nomenclature. They belong to seven genera (in both orders, Dentaliida Da Costa, 1778 and Gadilida starobogatov, 1974): Fissidentalium badense (Partsch in Hörnes, 1856), Antalis cf. taurocostatum(Sacco, 1897), Antalis mutabilis (Hörnes 1856 ex Doderlein ms), Antalis cf. subprismaticum (Baluk, 1972), Antalis sp., Paradentalium sexangulum (Gmelin, 1790), Paradentalium michelottii (Hörnes, 1856), Dentalium sp., Omniglypta jani (Hoernes, 1856), Omniglypta emersoni (Caprotti, 1979), Gadilina taurogracilis Sacco, 1897, Pulsellum miocaenicum (Boettger, 1901). Representatives of the order Dentaliida da Costa, 1778, predominate. Among the identified species, Fissidentalium badense is the most common in the investigated material and comprised 40% of the collected specimens. the order Gadilida is represented only by Pulsellum miocaenicum (Boettger, 1901).

Keywords

• scaphopoda
• badenian
• višnjica (serbia)