A holoplanktic gastropod in a raised reef: Hopegate Formation, Jamaica (upper Pliocene)

Of the two highly fossiliferous but contrasting sedimentary successions in the upper Pliocene of Jamaica, only the fossils of the Bowden shell beds have received adequate study. The Hopegate Formation of the island’s central north coast is a thick and areally extensive unit, a raised reef rich in fo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Paläontologische Zeitschrift 2019-12, Vol.93 (4), p.599-603
Main Authors: Donovan, Stephen K., Janssen, Arie W., Portell, Roger W., De Winter, A. J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Benthos
Diacria trispinosa
Earth and Environmental Science
Earth Sciences
Fossils
Marine molluscs
Mollusca
Mollusks
Paleontology
Pliocene
Research Paper
Zooplankton
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Summary:Of the two highly fossiliferous but contrasting sedimentary successions in the upper Pliocene of Jamaica, only the fossils of the Bowden shell beds have received adequate study. The Hopegate Formation of the island’s central north coast is a thick and areally extensive unit, a raised reef rich in fossil scleractinian corals and benthic molluscs. However, it is well lithified and in part dolomitised, so it is difficult to collect the fossils, which are commonly indifferently preserved. To the fauna of the Hopegate Formation is added its first holoplanktic gastropod, Diacria trispinosa (de Blainville), a unique specimen preserved as an internal mould. All other molluscs from this formation are benthic. However, the presence of D. trispinosa is unexpected, as it likely spent most of its life in the deeper water zooplankton.
ISSN:0031-0220
1867-6812
DOI:10.1007/s12542-019-00449-y