The genus Congestheriella Kobayashi, 1954 (Conchostraca, Afrograptioidea): redescription and new combination to Isaura olsoni Bock from Venezuela and a new species from Argentina (Upper Jurassic)

GALLEGO, OSCAR F.; SHEN, Y B; CABALERI, NORA G.; HERNÁNDEZ, M.

Alavesia

Provincial Council of Álava - Department of Culture

Lugar: Vitoria-Gasteiz; Año: 2010 vol. 3 p. 11 - 24

1887-7419

The genus Congestheriella Kobayashi was erected to Estheriella lualabensis Leriche from the Lualaba Series (Upper  Jurassic, Kimmeridgian) from the Congo Democratic Republic (Africa). Until now, Congestheriella was reported from the Central Africa and with some doubful from the northeast Brazil (Lower Cretaceous, Souza and Missão Velha Formations). In this work, based on new material the genus Congestheriella are emended. The species Isaura olsoni Bock 1953 from the La Quinta Formation (Upper Jurassic, Tithonian) from Venezuela is assigned to this genus. Also, Congestheriella rauhuti sp. nov. from the upper section of the Cañadón Asfalto Formation (Upper Jurassic) from the Argentina is described. Other South American species could be related with the new ones, as Graptoestheriella brasiliensis (Oliveira), G. fernandoi Cardoso, Graptoestheriella sp. and Estheriina? costai (Cardoso) from the Upper Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous from different Brazilian basins. The new species are compared with the African form. According with it stratigraphic distribution and age, Congestheriella is considered as a potential biomarker for the Upper Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous sedimentary succesions from the west Gondwana. Due to it paleogeographic distribution, allow us to propose a biogeographic province including northern South America and Central Africa. Also, different alternative migration routes are proposed for the dispersion across central Africa, northern South America and Patagonia.