CALLOCHITON MONTELEONENSIS N. SP., FIRST RECORD OF POLYPLACOPHORA (MOLLUSCA) FROM THE NEOGENE OF ARGENTINA

DIEGO URTEAGA; MIGUEL GRIFFIN; GUIDO PASTORINO

JOURNAL OF PALEONTOLOGY

PALEONTOLOGICAL SOC INC

Lugar: Lawrence; Año: 2011 vol. 85 p. 1181 - 1187

0022-3360

ABSTRACT—A new species of chiton is described from early Miocene deposits of the Monte Leo´n Formation, in Santa Cruz Province, Argentina. Callochiton monteleonensis n. sp. clearly differs from known fossil and Recent species of the southwestern Atlantic because the central area of its intermediate valves has a stepped appearance, in which each step is marked by a longitudinal rib. It is similar to Callochiton kapitiensis Mestayer, 1926, a Recent species from New Zealand. Biogeographic implications are discussed. This is the first record of a polyplacophoran from Neogene deposits of Argentina.