Late Aptian rudist faunas from the Zonguldak region, western Black Sea, Turkey (taxonomy, biostratigraphy, palaeoenvironment and palaeobiogeography)

In the western Black Sea region of Turkey (Zonguldak area), Late Aptian rudist-bearing carbonates (the Cengellidere Formation) yielded the following fauna: Toucasia gr. carinata - lonsdalei,Pseudotoucasia catalaunica , Polyconites verneuili, Horiopleura almerae, Eoradiolites plicatus and Eoradiolites sp. This assemblage dates the Gargasian and has a broad Mediterranean palaeobiogeographical significance. Because typical African elements are lacking, it is ascribed to the European Province, in agreement with palaeotectonic regional reconstructions. The rudist communities thrived on a mixed, carbonate-siliciclastic, coastal ramp facing a basin corresponding to the modern Black Sea. This mode of occurrence contrasts with the classical Urgonian-type flat, platform settings of wide extent.