Morphological variability among European populations of Vestalenula cylindrica (Straub) (Crustacea, Ostracoda)

A morphometric valve variability analysis of adults and juveniles of Vestalenula cylindrica [Straub, E.W., 1952. Mikropaläontologische Untersuchungen im Tertiär zwischen Ehingen und Ulm a. d. Donau. Geologisches Jahrbuch 66, 433–524.] from Götzendorf–Pischelsdorf (Lower Austria, Upper Miocene) is presented. The data are compared with those from Studienka (Slovakia, Upper Miocene) and from Boliqueime (southern Portugal, Pleistocene). Specimens from Austria and Slovakia are very similar in their morphology. By contrast definite morphological differences between the Central European populations (from Austria and Slovakia) and the Portuguese one are identified, in both the valve shape and size. The valves from Portugal are more elongated and show a higher variability than the Austrian and Slovakian specimens. By considering the occurrence of a new Recent species of Vestalenula in southern France, these morphologic differences could be interpreted as micro-evolutionary changes, which could have occurred between the Miocene and the present time within the European populations.