Where: Holy See (Vatican City State) (41.9° N, 12.5° E: paleocoordinates 41.2° N, 11.2° E)
• coordinate based on nearby landmark
• outcrop-level geographic resolution
When: Monte Vaticano Formation, Zanclean (5.3 - 3.6 Ma)
• The nannoflora of the Monte Vaticano Formation indicate an age younger than the last occurrence (LO) of Reticulofenestra pseudoumbilicus, which was never observed in the samples, and below the LO of D. tamalis, within the MNN16a Zone (Rio et al., 1990). Moreover, since D. pentaradiatus was also absent, the interval including the Monte Vaticano Formation probably falls within the paracme interval of D. pentaradiatus. Finally, the presence of S. abies, although rare, together with the common occurrence of small Gephyrocapsa, which shows an acme interval just below the LO of Sphenolithus spp., suggests that the age of the Monte Vaticano Formation lies within the basal part of the MNN16a Zone (i.e., at the topmost part of the Zanclean, 3.84–3.70 Ma) (Cita et al. 1996). This age is confirmed by planktonic foraminifers corresponding to the Globorotalia puncticulata Zone (MPl 4a Subzone), which set the boundaries for the time interval for the Monte Vaticano Formation at 3.81–3.70 Ma.
• group of beds-level stratigraphic resolution
Environment/lithology: deep-water; poorly lithified, argillaceous marl
Size class: macrofossils
Primary reference: G. Ponzi. 1876. I fossile del Monte Vaticano. Atti della Reale Accademia dei Lincei, Serie Seconda 3(2):925-959 [M. Clapham/M. Clapham]more details
Purpose of describing collection: general faunal/floral analysis
PaleoDB collection 209253: authorized by Matthew Clapham, entered by Matthew Clapham on 27.04.2020
Creative Commons license: CC BY (attribution)
Taxonomic list
Thecostraca | |
Balanus ornatus n. sp.
Balanus ornatus n. sp. Ponzi 1876 barnacle | |
Anatifa ? scolpellum barnacle | |
Gastropoda | |
Chemnitzia paucicostata n. sp. Ponzi 1876 snail
Chemnitzia densecostata Philippi 1844 snail
Chemnitzia vaticani n. sp. Ponzi 1876 snail | |
Ringicula turriculata snail | |
Patella virginea limpet | |
Bullaea varicosa n. sp.
Bullaea varicosa n. sp. Ponzi 1876 snail | |
"Dolium galea" = Tonna galea
"Dolium galea" = Tonna galea Linnaeus 1758 tun shell | |
"Cassidaria echinophora" = Galeodea echinophora
"Cassidaria echinophora" = Galeodea echinophora Linnaeus 1758 snail | |
Mitra turricula mitre shell | |
Voluta magorum volute | |
Murex multilamellosus murex snail | |
? Marginella sp. Lamarck 1799 margin shell | |
Conus puschii, "Conus antidiluvianus" = Conilithes antidiluvianus
Conus puschii cone shell
"Conus antidiluvianus" = Conilithes antidiluvianus Bruguière 1792 cone shell | |
Fusus clavatus snail | |
? Fasciolaria sp. Lamarck 1799 tulip snail | |
Nassa mutabilis true whelk
Nassa costulata true whelk | |
Chenopus pespelecani snail | |
Carinaria pareti snail | |
Vermetus ? tracheaeformis worm shell
Vermetus quadricarinatus n. sp. Ponzi 1876 worm shell | |
Natica sordida, Natica macilenta, Natica bivaricosa n. sp., Sigaretus raynevalli n. sp., "Natica helicina" = Euspira helicina
Natica sordida moon snail
Natica macilenta moon snail
Natica bivaricosa n. sp. Ponzi 1876 moon snail
Sigaretus raynevalli n. sp. Ponzi 1876 moon snail
"Natica helicina" = Euspira helicina Brocchi 1814 moon snail | |
Scalaria torulosa wentletrap | |
Cerithium mammillatum cerith snail | |
Turritella subangulata turret shell | |
? Skenea sp. Fleming 1825 snail | |
? Trochus sp., "Solarium millegranum" = Trochus (Solarium), "? Solarium sp." = Trochus (Solarium), Solarium costulatum n. sp., Solarium rugosum n. sp., "Trochus conulus" = Calliostoma (Calliostoma) conulus
? Trochus sp. Linnaeus 1758 top snail
"Solarium millegranum" = Trochus (Solarium) top snail
"? Solarium sp." = Trochus (Solarium) top snail
Solarium costulatum n. sp. Ponzi 1876 top snail
Solarium rugosum n. sp. Ponzi 1876 top snail
"Trochus conulus" = Calliostoma (Calliostoma) conulus Linnaeaus 1758 top snail | |
"? Delphinula sp." = Angaria, Delphinula spiralis n. sp.
"? Delphinula sp." = Angaria Röding 1798 snail
Delphinula spiralis n. sp. Ponzi 1876 snail | |
Phorus infundibulum snail | |
Bulla coclis n. sp., Bulla infundibulum n. sp.
Bulla coclis n. sp. Ponzi 1876 snail
Bulla infundibulum n. sp. Ponzi 1876 snail | |
Limacina helicina snail
Limacina stenogyra snail | |
"Cuvieria astesana" = Cuvierina astesana, Vaginella calandrelli, Vaginella spinifera, Vaginella depressa, Vaginella ovatoconica n. sp., Vaginella acicula, Balantium riccioli, Diacria tridentata, Diacria trispinosa
"Cuvieria astesana" = Cuvierina astesana Rang 1829 snail
Vaginella calandrelli snail
Vaginella spinifera snail
Vaginella depressa Daudin 1800 snail
Vaginella ovatoconica n. sp. Ponzi 1876 snail
Vaginella acicula Renz 1829 snail
Balantium riccioli snail
Diacria tridentata snail
Diacria trispinosa de Blainville 1821 snail | |
Bivalvia | |
Tellina elliptica Brocchi 1814 tellin clam | |
Diplodonta vaticani n. sp.
Diplodonta vaticani n. sp. Ponzi 1876 clam | |
"Cytherea multilamella" = Venus (Ventricola) multilamella, Dosinia exoleta
"Cytherea multilamella" = Venus (Ventricola) multilamella Lamarck 1818 venus clam
Dosinia exoleta Linnaeus 1758 venus clam | |
"? Cryptodon sp." = Lutraria (Cryptodon)
"? Cryptodon sp." = Lutraria (Cryptodon) Turton 1822 clam | |
Corbula nucleus clam | |
Teredo navalis clam
Teredo norvegica clam | |
"Saxicava arctica" = Hiatella arctica
"Saxicava arctica" = Hiatella arctica Linnaeus 1767 clam | |
Pholadomya vaticana n. sp. Ponzi 1876 clam
Pholadomya miocenica n. sp. Ponzi 1876 clam
Pholadomya rigacci n. sp. Ponzi 1876 clam | |
? Poromya sp. Forbes 1844 clam | |
Pecchiolia argentea Savi and Meneghini 1850 clam
Pecchiolia exasperata n. sp. Ponzi 1876 clam | |
"Corbula costellata" = Cardiomya costellata
"Corbula costellata" = Cardiomya costellata Deshayes 1833 clam | |
Lucina solida clam
Lucina haidingerii clam | |
Axinus flexuosus, Axinus quadratus n. sp.
Axinus flexuosus clam
Axinus quadratus n. sp. Ponzi 1876 clam | |
Arca mytiloides ark
Arca aspera ark | |
| |
? Plicatula sp. Lamarck 1801 scallop | |
"Lima decussata" = Limatula decussata, Lima strigilata
"Lima decussata" = Limatula decussata Goldfuss 1835 file clam
Lima strigilata file clam | |
Pecten philippi, Pecten cristatus, Pecten antiquatus, Pecten fimbriatus, Pecten retiolum n. sp., ? Spondylus sp.
Pecten philippi scallop
Pecten cristatus scallop
Pecten antiquatus scallop
Pecten fimbriatus scallop
Pecten retiolum n. sp. Ponzi 1876 scallop
? Spondylus sp. Linnaeus 1758 scallop | |
? Pinna sp. Linnaeus 1758 oyster | |
Ostrea corrugata oyster | |
"Modiola laevissima" = Modiolus
"Modiola laevissima" = Modiolus mussel | |
"Leda dilatata" = Nuculana, "Leda bonelli" = Nuculana, "? Leda sp." = Nuculana, Leda striatella n. sp., Leda vaticani n. sp.
"Leda dilatata" = Nuculana pointed nut clam
"Leda bonelli" = Nuculana pointed nut clam
"? Leda sp." = Nuculana Link 1807 pointed nut clam
Leda striatella n. sp. Ponzi 1876 pointed nut clam
Leda vaticani n. sp. Ponzi 1876 pointed nut clam | |
Solenella transversa n. sp.
Solenella transversa n. sp. Ponzi 1876 clam | |
Solemya gigantea Awning Clam | |
Cephalopoda | |
Sepia rugulosa cuttlefish | |
Argonauta biarmata n. sp., Argonauta argo
Argonauta biarmata n. sp. Ponzi 1876 octopus
Argonauta argo Linnaeus 1758 octopus | |
Scaphopoda | |
Dentalium sexangulum, Dentalium tetraquetrum, Dentalium lani, Dentalium circinatum, Dentalium laevigatum n. sp., Dentalium triquetrum
Dentalium sexangulum tusk shell
Dentalium tetraquetrum tusk shell
Dentalium lani tusk shell
Dentalium circinatum tusk shell
Dentalium laevigatum n. sp. Ponzi 1876 tusk shell
Dentalium triquetrum Tate 1887 tusk shell | |
Rhynchonellata | |
"Terebratulina caputserpentis" = Terebratulina retusa
| |
Chondrichthyes | |
? Lamna sp., "Oxyrhina hastalis" = Carcharodon hastalis
? Lamna sp. Cuvier 1816 mackerel shark
"Oxyrhina hastalis" = Carcharodon hastalis Agassiz 1838 white shark | |
Mammalia | |
? Balaenotus sp. Van Beneden 1872 right whale | |
Echinoidea | |
Cidaris remiger n. sp.
Cidaris remiger n. sp. Ponzi 1876 pencil urchin | |
Hemiaster canaliferus heart urchin | |
Brissopsis genei heart urchin | |
? Spatangus sp. Gray 1825 heart urchin | |
Anthozoa | |
Trochocyathus arenulatus n. sp., Trochocyathus umbrella n. sp.
Trochocyathus arenulatus n. sp. Ponzi 1876 stony coral
Trochocyathus umbrella n. sp. Ponzi 1876 stony coral | |
Flabellum vaticani n. sp.
Flabellum vaticani n. sp. Ponzi 1876 stony coral | |
Cleodora | |