Cladoceramus (Bivalvia, Inoceramidae) – ammonite associations from the Santonian of KwaZulu, South Africa

Localities in the Lake St. Lucia area of KwaZulu (South Africa) yield a distinctive association of inoceramid bivalves and ammonites which comprises the following taxa: Cordiceramus platycephalus Sornay (1969), Co. bueltenensis mikobokaensis Sornay (1969), Rhyssomytiloides? arthriticus Sornay (1964), Cladoceramus cf. japonicus Nagao and Matsumoto (1940), Cl. mammillatus Sornay (1969), Cl. hokkaidoensis Noda (1983), Platyceramus ex gr. cycloides Wegner (1905), P. cf. colossus Sornay (1969), P. sp., P. cf. vanuxemiformis Nagao and Matsumoto (1940), Pseudophyllites indra Forbes (1846), Texasia gracile Collignon (1966), Pseudoschloenbachia (Ps.) subincisa Collignon (1966), Muniericeras triplicatum Collignon (1966), Plesiotexanites stangeri Baily (1855), Hyphaloceras howlettae gen. et sp. nov. and Baculites capensis Woods (1906). A comparison with the succession in Madagascar shows this association to correspond to the Lower Santonian Texanites hourcqi Zone. There is no evidence at outcrop of either the uppermost Coniacian or lowest Santonian in KwaZulu.