Gastropods from the Cretaceous-Palaeogene boundary in Denmark
Author
Hansen, Thomas
text
Zootaxa
2019
2019-08-12
4654
1
1
196
journal article
26049
10.11646/zootaxa.4654.1.1
9ce1d103-9234-4fbe-9544-f1c294bb8783
1175-5326
3365803
CFD82CC0-3110-472E-972B-7ADC0C523A04
Unitas heinbergi
n. sp.
Figs 33
O–R
Diagnosis.
Protoconch conical with 2 ¾ whorls. Anterior canal of teleoconch moderately long and shallow. Sculpture moderately coarse with around 16 transverse ribs per whorl and four spiral ribs.
Derivation of name.
In honour of Claus Heinberg, who has been of great help with the initial field work and discussions on the palaeo-environment during the deposition of the
Cerithium Limestone Member.
Type stratum and type locality.
The
holotype
was collected 50 to 60 centimetres above the Cretaceous-Palaeogene boundary (= the P1b planktonic foraminifer zone), corresponding to the top of the
Cerithium Limestone Member
at Flagbanken, Stevns Klint.
Type material.
The
holotype
MGUH 33295
is a nearly complete internal and external mould
.
Paratype
MGUH 33296
is an internal and external mould from the
Cerithium Limestone Member
just north of the
Holtug Quarry
.
Occurrence.
Unitas heinbergi
n. sp.
is known from the
Cerithium Limestone Member
north of Holtug Quarry and from the P1b planktonic foraminifer zone 50 to 60 centimetres above the Cretaceous-Palaeogene boundary, corresponding to the top of the
Cerithium Limestone Member
at Flagbanken, Stevns Klint.
Description.
Protoconch conical with a somewhat flattened or planispiral apex and consisting of 2 ¾ flattened to later convex whorls. Initial whorls smooth, while last half whorl has three weak spiral threads. Suture moderately deep. Protoconch measuring about
1.2 mm
in height and
1.3 mm
in width. Transition to teleoconch marked by the appearance of strong transverse ribs.
Teleoconch slender fusiform with adapically convex whorls separated by deep suture. Spire whorls twice as wide as high. Base less convex, ending in wide canal. Aperture elongated oval in outline, abapically reaching out into moderately long and shallow canal. Columella deflected slightly to the left, with two moderately strong adapical folds and a much weaker abapical fold. Callus moderately thick and wide on parietal region. Outer lip with low varix and seven rounded teeth at an even distance from each other; the abapical one much weaker than others.
Teleoconch sculpture dominated by sharp and strong, moderately prosocline transverse ribs numbering around 16 per whorl. Ribs fading out at transition to canal. The transverse ribs are crossed by around four weaker spiral ribs on spire whorls, forming sub-reticulate pattern. Base and especially canal more dominated by spiral ribs. Unevenly distributed and thin varices occur throughout.
Measurements.
Holotype
MGUH
33295 approximately
5.2 mm
high and 3.0 mm wide, consisting of protoconch and two teleoconch whorls.
Remarks.
Unitas heinbergi
n. sp.
differs from the Danian
Unitas malaisei
(
Briart & Cornet, 1877
)
from
Belgium
by the higher number of transverse ribs per whorl, the longer anterior canal and the more adapical location of the central columellar fold relative to the columellar termination. It differs from the middle Danian
Unitas anderseni
Schnetler & Petit, 2006
and
U. aliceae
Schnetler & Petit, 2006
from Faxe,
Denmark
, by the distinctly less elongated teleoconch outline with its coarser sculpture. It appears very closely related to the Palaeocene (Selandian)
U. scalata
Traub, 1989
from
Germany
, but differs by a less convex whorl outline and a larger protoconch.