Middle Miocene (Badenian) brachiopods from Yasen, northwestern Bulgaria: taxonomic composition and biogeographical significance

摘要

Nine brachiopod species, i.e. Discradisca sp., Novocrania anomala (MuLLER, 1776), Cryptopora lovisati (DREGER, 1911), Megathiris detruncata (GMELIN, 1791), Argyrotheca cuneata (Risso, 1826), Joania cordata (Risso, 1826), Megerlia truncata (LINNAEus, 1767), Platidia anomioides (ScAc-CHI & PHILIPPI, 1844), and Minutella bulgarica sp. nov., have been identified in the Middle Miocene (Badenian) assemblage of Yasen, northwestern Bulgaria. The genera Discradisca, Cryptopora, Megathiris are noted for the first time from Bulgaria, and this is the first fossil report of the genus Minutella. The dominance of megathyridids (Megathiris, Argyrotheca, Joania) and the presence of thecideides (Minutella) indicate a shallow-water, warm environment. The presence of Minutella in the Miocene of the Paratethys explains the disjunct recent distribution of this genus as a Tethyan legacy.