New Heteroceratidae (Ammonoidea) from the late Barremian deepening succession of Marseille (Bouches-du-Rhône, France)
Authors
Camille Frau
Groupement d’Intérêt Paléontologique, Science et Exposition, 60 bd Georges Richard, 83000 Toulon
Gérard Delanoy
Département des Sciences de la Terre, Nice–Sophia Antipolis Université, 28, Avenue Valrose,
06108 Nice Cedex 2
Jean-Pierre Masse
CEREGE, Aix–Marseille Université (Centre Saint-Charles), Place Victor Hugo,
13331 Marseille cedex 03
Cyprien Lanteaume
CEREGE, Aix–Marseille Université (Centre Saint-Charles), Place Victor Hugo,
13331 Marseille cedex 03
Anthony J.B. Tendil
CEREGE, Aix–Marseille Université (Centre Saint-Charles), Place Victor Hugo,
13331 Marseille cedex 03
Keywords:
Ammonoidea, Heteroceratidae, Upper Barremian, Marseille, Southeast France, Micromorphy, Biostratigraphy
Abstract
Investigation of the late Barremian deepening succession of the Provence platform, cropping out south of Marseille (Bouches-du-Rhône, France), has yielded a new ammonite fauna belonging to the Martelites sarasini Subzone (Martelites sarasini Zone). The fauna is dominated by representatives of the Heteroceratidae Spath, characterized by different patterns of coiling, high intraspecific variabilities and dwarfism. These heteroceratids are distinctive and utterly different from all previously known taxa, and this justifies the introduction of the new taxa Heteroceras denizoti sp. nov., Heteroceras veratiae sp. nov., Calanquites gen. nov., based on Imerites katsharavai Rouchadzé; Giovaraites gen. nov., based on Giovaraites massiliae gen. et sp. nov., Barguesiella gen. nov., based on Barguesiella goudesense gen. et sp. nov. and the closely allied Barguesiella mantei gen. et sp. nov. The occurrence of the latter species at the top of the Maiolica Formation in Italy questions its early Aptian age assumed in the literature. The newly described fauna could be considered as the first case of micromorphy in the Heteroceratidae. Its biostratigraphy, palaeoenvironmental and palaeobiogeographical significance are discussed.
