N.V.P. Blue No. 3892 - Cantaure Formation (Miocene of Venezuela)

Where: Falcon, Venezuela (11.9° N, 69.8° W: paleocoordinates 11.2° N, 66.6° W)

• coordinate based on nearby landmark

• local area-level geographic resolution

When: Cantaure Formation, Burdigalian (20.4 - 16.0 Ma)

• Clays, sandstone, and limestones of up to 75, thick, although no single section is completely exposed. Collection apparently derived from near middle part of that thickness. Overlies unconformably Cretaceous rocks and is conformably overlain by limestones on middle to upper Miocene. Jung (1965) regarded the collection as early Middle Miocene, though more recent authors, including Vermeij (2001) indicate an Early Miocene (Burdigalian) age. Formation formerly referred to as "Cerro Pelado". Díaz de Gamero (1974), based on planktic forams, assigned a Lower Miocene age to the Cantaure Formation, placing it in the Globigerinatella insueta and Praeorbulina glomerosa Zones of Bolli (1966) and Zones N7-N8 of Blow (1969). Rey (1996) confirmed this age based on the nannofossil assemblage, and placing it in the Helicosphaera ampliaperta and Sphenolithus heteromorphus Zones, NN4-NN5.

• group of beds-level stratigraphic resolution

Environment/lithology: transition zone or lower shoreface; unlithified, micaceous, shelly/skeletal, silty claystone

• Tropical shallow-water assemblage, neritic, no deep-water genera present, normal salinity, perhaps nearby brackish source. Cantaure Formation consists predominantly of siltstones with some muddy sandstones and bioturbated sandstones. The crustacean, foram, mollusk, otolith, and chondrichthyan faunas all support shallow depths (< 50 m), but the relatively fine grain size may indicate offshore-transition rather than shoreface environments.
• Clay, massive, micaceous, slightly silty, and locally containing abundant fossils.

Size class: macrofossils

Reposited in the BMNH, NMB, PRI, USNM

Collection methods: quarrying,

• All material is reposited in the Natural History Museum (NMB), Basel, Switzerland, with some voucher specimens in the British Museum, PRI, and USNM.

Primary reference: P. Jung. 1965. Miocene Mollusca from the Paraguana Peninsula, Venezuela. Bulletins of American Paleontology 49(223):389-652 [A. Miller/A. Hendy]more details

Purpose of describing collection: taxonomic analysis

PaleoDB collection 60144: authorized by Austin Hendy, entered by Austin Hendy on 03.05.2006

Creative Commons license: CC BY (attribution)

Taxonomic list

• Exhaustive for Bivalvia and Gastropoda. Balanus, corals, numerous otoliths, and Calianassa fragments are commonly found, though not listed.
Cephalopoda
 Nautilida - Aturiidae
"Aturia curvilineata n. sp." = Aturia cubaensis6
"Aturia curvilineata n. sp." = Aturia cubaensis6 Lea 1841 nautiloid
Gastropoda
 Epitonioidea - Epitoniidae
Scalina pseudoleroyi Maury 1925 wentletrap
 Neotaenioglossa - Calyptraeidae
"Calyptraea (Trochita) cf. radians" = Trochita radians, Crepidula cantaurana, Crucibulum (Dispotaea) ecuadorense, "? Crepidula (? Crepipatella) insculpta" = Crucibulum (Dispotaea) insculpta, Crucibulum (Dispotaea) waltonense
"Calyptraea (Trochita) cf. radians" = Trochita radians Lamarck 1816 slipper shell
Crepidula cantaurana slipper shell
"? Crepidula (? Crepipatella) insculpta" = Crucibulum (Dispotaea) insculpta Jung 1965 slipper shell
Crucibulum (Dispotaea) waltonense Gardner 1947 slipper shell
 Cerithioidea - Cerithiidae
 Cerithioidea - Turritellidae
Turritella machapoorensis Maury 1925 turret shell
Subspecies: T. machapoorensis paraguanensis and T. machapoorensis wiedenmayeri
Turritella matarucana Hodson 1926 turret shell
Turritella cocoditana Hodson 1926 turret shell
Turritella cf. venezuelana Hodson 1926 turret shell
 Cerithioidea - Potamididae
Potamides suprasulcatus Gabb 1873 horn snail
 Pseudomelanoidea - Pseudomelaniidae
Crassispira conica Jung 1965 snail
 Neogastropoda - Mitridae
 Neogastropoda - Olivellidae
Agaronia testacea Lamarck 1811 snail
Subspecies: A. testacea costaricensis
 Neogastropoda - Olividae
"Oliva (Oliva) cylindrica" = Oliva cylindrica
"Oliva (Oliva) cylindrica" = Oliva cylindrica Sowerby 1850 olive snail
 Neogastropoda - Buccinidae
Cymatophos paraguanensis Hodson and Hodson 1931 true whelk
? Antillophos "sp. A" Woodring 1928 true whelk
Antillophos aff. landesi Marks 1951 true whelk
"Antillophos candei" = Antillophos candeanus d'Orbigny 1842 true whelk
Subspecies: A. candei gatunensis
 Neogastropoda - Nassariidae
 Neogastropoda - Fasciolariidae
 Neogastropoda - Columbellidae
 Neogastropoda - Melongenidae
Melongena melongena Linnaeus 1758 snail
Subspecies: M. melongena consors
 Neogastropoda - Conidae
Conus aristos cone shell
Conus aff. molis Brown and Pilsbry 1911 cone shell
Conus talis Jung 1965 cone shell
Conus trajectionis Maury 1910 cone shell
Conus aff. imitator Brown and Pilsbry 1911 cone shell
 Neogastropoda - Drilliidae
Clathrodrillia puertocolombiana Weisbord 1929 snail
"Crassispira henekeni" = Hindsiclava henekeni Sowerby 1850 snail
"Crassispira aff. consors" = Hindsiclava consors Sowerby 1850 snail
 Neogastropoda - Borsoniidae
"Borsonia (Paraborsonia) cantaurana" = Paraborsonia
"Borsonia (Paraborsonia) cantaurana" = Paraborsonia snail
 Neogastropoda - Clathurellidae
"Glyphostoma dentiferum" = Glyphostoma (Glyphostoma) dentiferum
"Glyphostoma dentiferum" = Glyphostoma (Glyphostoma) dentiferum Gabb 1872 snail
 Neogastropoda - Terebridae
Hastula lissa, Terebra (Paraterebra) sulcifera, Terebra (Paraterebra) inaequalis, "Terebra (Strioterebrum) "sp. A"" = Strioterebrum, "Terebra (Strioterebrum) ulloa" = Strioterebrum ulloa
Hastula lissa auger snail
Terebra (Paraterebra) sulcifera Sowerby 1849 auger snail
Terebra (Paraterebra) inaequalis Sowerby 1849 auger snail
"Terebra (Strioterebrum) "sp. A"" = Strioterebrum Sacco 1891 auger snail
"Terebra (Strioterebrum) ulloa" = Strioterebrum ulloa Olsson 1932 auger snail
 Neogastropoda - Turridae
Polystira barretti Guppy 1866 turrid
 Neogastropoda - Turbinellidae
Turbinella falconensis Hodson 1931 snail
 Neogastropoda - Costellariidae
Knefastia kugleri ribbed mitre
"Knefastia aff. lavinoides" = Knefastia limonensis Olsson 1922 ribbed mitre
Fusiturricula cf. jaquensis Sowerby 1850 ribbed mitre
 Neogastropoda - Marginellidae
Prunum (Prunum) quirosense Hodson 1927 margin shell
 Neogastropoda - Cystiscidae
Persicula lavelana4 Hodson 1927 snail
Subspecies: P. (R.) venezuelana lavelana
 Neogastropoda - Muricidae
Cymia buchivacoana, Cymia cocoditana, "Murex (Subpterynotus) textilis" = Murexiella (Subpterynotus) textilis, Eupleura kugleri, "Typhis (Laevityphis) sawkinsi" = Siphonochelus (Laevityphis) sawkinsi, "Murex (Murex) polynematicus" = Vokesimurex polynematicus, Murex (? Siratus) triangularis, Chicoreus (Triplex) cornurectus4, "Paziella (? Panamurex) cf. gatunensis" = Poirieria (Panamurex) gatunensis
Cymia buchivacoana murex snail
Subspecies: C. buchivacoana cantaurana
Cymia cocoditana Hodson 1931 murex snail
"Murex (Subpterynotus) textilis" = Murexiella (Subpterynotus) textilis Gabb 1873 murex snail
Eupleura kugleri Jung 1965 murex snail
"Typhis (Laevityphis) sawkinsi" = Siphonochelus (Laevityphis) sawkinsi Mansfield 1925 murex snail
"Murex (Murex) polynematicus" = Vokesimurex polynematicus Brown and Pilsbry 1911 murex snail
Chicoreus (Triplex) cornurectus4 Guppy 1876 murex snail
"Paziella (? Panamurex) cf. gatunensis" = Poirieria (Panamurex) gatunensis Brown and Pilsbry 1911 murex snail
 Neogastropoda - Volutidae
Falsilyria sp. Pilsbry and Olsson 1954 volute
 Neogastropoda - Cancellariidae
"Cancellaria (Euclia) werenfelsi" = Euclia werenfelsi, "Cancellaria (Bivetiella) beata" = Bivetiella, Bivetiella dariena5, Cancellaria paraguanensis, Cancellaria (? Cancellaria) lavelana, Cancellaria (Cancellaria) sp.2, "Cancellaria (Characolleria) terryi" = Massyla terryi, Trigonostoma woodringi
"Cancellaria (Euclia) werenfelsi" = Euclia werenfelsi Jung 1965 snail
"Cancellaria (Bivetiella) beata" = Bivetiella snail
Bivetiella dariena5 Toula 1908 snail
Cancellaria (Cancellaria) sp.2 Lamarck 1799 snail
"Cancellaria (Characolleria) terryi" = Massyla terryi Olsson 1942 snail
Trigonostoma woodringi Jung 1965 snail
 Sorbeoconcha - Ficidae
Ficus carbasea Guppy 1866 fig shell
Subspecies: F. carbesea carbesea
 Sorbeoconcha - Personidae
Distorsio jungi1 snail
Subspecies: D. (R.) decussata gatunensis
 Sorbeoconcha - Cassidae
Sconsia laevigata Guppy 1850 snail
 Sorbeoconcha - Bursidae
Bursa rugosa4 Sowerby 1835 frog shell
Subspecies: B. (C.) caelata amphitrites
 Sorbeoconcha - Eocypraeidae
"Marginocypraea wegeneri" = Sphaerocypraea wegeneri
"Marginocypraea wegeneri" = Sphaerocypraea wegeneri Schilder 1939 snail
 Sorbeoconcha - Cypraeidae
"Cypraea aff. isabella" = Luria isabella
"Cypraea aff. isabella" = Luria isabella Linnaeus 1758 Isabell cowry
 Sorbeoconcha - Naticidae
Neverita paraguanensis Hodson 1927 moon snail
Sinum dodoneum moon snail
Sinum gabbi Brown and Pilsbry 1913 moon snail
"Natica (Naticarius) canrena" = Naticarius canrena Linnaeus 1758 moon snail
Subspecies: N. (N.) canrena antinacca
 Sorbeoconcha - Hipponicidae
Hipponix ceras hoof shell
 Heterostropha - Architectonicidae
Architectonica kartseni4 sundial
Subspecies: A. (A.) nobilis nobilis and A. (A.) nobilis karsteni
 Patellida - Lottiidae
 Neritoidea - Neritidae
"Nerita (Nerita) fulgurans" = Nerita (Theliostyla) fulgurans, Neritina seani3
"Nerita (Nerita) fulgurans" = Nerita (Theliostyla) fulgurans Gmelin 1791 snail
Neritina seani3 Landau et al. 2016 snail
Bivalvia
 Arcida - Noetiidae
"Eontia aff. centrota" = Noetia (Eontia) centrota, Noetia dauleana
"Eontia aff. centrota" = Noetia (Eontia) centrota Guppy 1867 clam
Noetia dauleana Marks 1951 clam
Subspecies: N. daueana paraguanensis
 Arcida - Arcidae
"Anadara (Scapharca) tirantensis" = Anadara (Rasia) tirantensis Hodson et al. 1927 ark
"Anadara (Scapharca) aff. cornellana" = Anadara (Rasia) cornellana Hodson et al. 1927 ark
Anadara (Scapharca) veatchi Olsson 1922 ark
Subspecies: A. (S.) veatchi matarucana
"Arca (Arca) umbonata" = Lamarcka imbricata Bruguière 1789 clam
 Arcida - Glycymerididae
Glycymeris (Glycymeris) aff. jamaicensis, "Glycymeris (Glycymeris) aff. democraciana" = Tucetona democraciana
"Glycymeris (Glycymeris) aff. democraciana" = Tucetona democraciana Hodson et al. 1927 clam
 Pectinida - Plicatulidae
"Plicatula cf. guppyi" = Plicatula gibbosa
"Plicatula cf. guppyi" = Plicatula gibbosa Lamarck 1801 scallop
 Pectinida - Pectinoidae
Spondylus aff. lucasi Maury 1920 scallop
 Ostreida - Pinnidae
Atrina sp. Gray 1842 oyster
 Ostreida - Gryphaeidae
"Ostrea aff. aguaclarensis" = Hyotissa aguaclarensis
"Ostrea aff. aguaclarensis" = Hyotissa aguaclarensis Hodson et al. 1927 oyster
Subspecies: O. aff. aguaclarensis
 Ostreida - Ostreidae
Ostrea cf. portoricoensis Hubbard 1920 oyster
Ostrea aff. vaughani Dall 1915 oyster
Subspecies: O. aff. vaughani insularis
 Pholadida - Corbulidae
"Corbula (Caryocorbula) quirosana" = Caryocorbula quirosana, "Corbula (Caryocorbula) fortis" = Caryocorbula fortis, "Corbula (Tenuicorbula) aff. tenuis" = Tenuicorbula tenuis
"Corbula (Caryocorbula) quirosana" = Caryocorbula quirosana Hodson 1931 clam
"Corbula (Caryocorbula) fortis" = Caryocorbula fortis Jung 1965 clam
"Corbula (Tenuicorbula) aff. tenuis" = Tenuicorbula tenuis Sowerby 1833 clam
Subspecies: C. (T.) tenuis lupina
 Cardiida - Chamidae
Chama aff. berjadinensis Hodson 1927 jewel box
Arcinella arcinella7 Linnaeus 1767 jewel box
 Cardiida - Veneridae
Pleiorytis caroniana Maury 1925 venus clam
Clementia (Clementia) dariena Conrad 1855 venus clam
"Cyclinella venezuelana" = Cyclinella cyclica Guppy 1866 venus clam
Macrocallista maculata Linnaeus 1758 venus clam
"Chione (Chionopsis) paraguanensis" = Chione (Chionopsis) tegulum Brown and Pilsbry 1911 venus clam
"Antigona (Ventricolaria) palmerae" = Ventricolaria harrisiana Olsson 1922 venus clam
 Cardiida - Mactridae
"Mactra (Micromactra) maracaibensis" = Mactrotoma, "Mactra (Mactrotoma) ? quirosana" = Mactrotoma quirosana
"Mactra (Micromactra) maracaibensis" = Mactrotoma surfclam
"Mactra (Mactrotoma) ? quirosana" = Mactrotoma quirosana Hodson 1931 surfclam
 Cardiida - Cardiidae
 Cardiida - Tellinidae
Tellina (Eurytellina) paraguanensis, "? Psammacoma sp." = Macoma (Psammacoma), "? Psammacoma cf. falconensis" = Psammacoma gatunensis
Tellina (Eurytellina) paraguanensis Hodson 1931 tellin clam
"? Psammacoma sp." = Macoma (Psammacoma) Dall 1900 tellin clam
"? Psammacoma cf. falconensis" = Psammacoma gatunensis Toula 1909 tellin clam
 Cardiida - Semelidae
Semele sp. Schumacher 1817 clam
 Carditida - Carditidae
"Cardita paraguanensis" = Glyptoactis paraguanensis
"Cardita paraguanensis" = Glyptoactis paraguanensis Hodson 1931 clam
 Carditida - Crassatellidae
"Eucrassatella trinitaria" = Eucrassatella (Hybolophus) trinitaria
"Eucrassatella trinitaria" = Eucrassatella (Hybolophus) trinitaria Maury 1925 clam
Subspecies: E. trinitaria venezuelana
 Nuculanida - Nuculanidae
Nuculana (? Politoleda) forcati, "Nuculana (Saccella) gnonom" = Saccella, "Nuculana (Saccella) aff. gnonom" = Saccella, Nuculana (Saccella) parva, Nuculana (? Saccella) gracillima
"Nuculana (Saccella) gnonom" = Saccella pointed nut clam
"Nuculana (Saccella) aff. gnonom" = Saccella pointed nut clam
Nuculana (Saccella) parva Jung 1965 pointed nut clam
Nuculana (? Saccella) gracillima Jung 1965 pointed nut clam
Scaphopoda
 Gadilida - Gadilidae
"Cadulus (Cadulus) aff. phenax" = Cadulus (Gadila) phenax
"Cadulus (Cadulus) aff. phenax" = Cadulus (Gadila) phenax Pilsbry and Sharp 1898 tusk shell
 Dentaliida - Dentaliidae
Dentalium (Dentalium) bocasense Olsson 1922 tusk shell